THE BORROWED LIFE

of the engine humming beneath her. She was surrounded by unfamiliar luxury-leather seats that creaked slightly as she adjusted her posture, tinted windows that obscured

nd her grasp, so carefully constructed, tha

ress was in the heart of the financial district, one of the most prestigious areas in the city. The buil

d the edge of the phone, the weig

ut feel like she was walking into a lion's den. The atmosphere here was different-colder, sharper-and it made her feel out

The building loomed in front of her, its modern design sleek and intimidating. Sh

st behind the desk. The woman didn't look up immediately, but when she did, her eyes narrowed slightly. Juni

in a cool, polite tone. "Rayne i

ollowed the woman down a long corridor. The walls were decorated with modern a

rief interaction on the phone. But the way she had spoken to Juniper earlier-cold, distant, like she was already

ceptionist stopped in front of a set of double

Please, make you

weeping view of the city skyline. It was pristine, almost clinical in its cleanliness. In the middle of the room, a long, dark wood table wa

e focused on a stack of papers in front of her. She looked up as Junip

rmth in her expression-just an unsettling calmness, as though she were studying something beneath the sur

aid, her voice cutting thro

he table a barrier between them. The silence str

efore. "You've been... acting differently la

el her stomach twist in a knot, the wei

iper said, forcing her voice to stay steady.

ether on the table. "You don't look tired, Selene. You look... off. You're not focu

g in her chest. She had to keep this tog

irmer now, more authoritative. "J

sincerity in her words. Finally, she leaned back in her chair, a faint s

f there's a problem, it needs to be addressed. Our investors, our pa

trol stretch? How deeply was she embedded in this world? And why di

herself in the reality of the moment. It was almost too much, th

till unsettling. "I'll give you one mo

said it-an undertone of threat, of warni

oice tight, though she felt th

hing else. She simply

be in touch. But remember-do

yes following her every movement, watching her as i

was back in the hallway, she exhaled sha

rely escap

What was really going on in this life? And why d