When His Ex Walked Back In

hand in the sterile office bath

ling foun

ard some commotion."

mile. "Just a misu

nd, then at my fac

odd

he said, his voice low. "Thi

pport was a

stants, a woman named Carol who'd been with

h yourself," she said, h

around her little finger. She'

fering, but also amplified

" Carol added wistfully.

ly in our affair, when M

ouse, not for sex, bu

ke. I'd made him soup, checked his tempe

singly strong. "Thank you, Ava," h

memory. Now, it fel

g after it bit me was not the same man.

zed. A text

Brooklyn project. And her favorite green tea. T

thank you. J

I was still his servant, e

elivered the rende

ofa. The office, once a sanctuary of

st his minimalist bookshelves. Her scarves and ma

n of her dominance, her inv

was letting her remake

as I placed the

d. Then, a flicker of so

nowledgment, almos

, that little scratch? Fifi is very sensitive,

. He heard her, not me.

I said, my

I need to talk to you ab

tell him about

urning back to Isabelle. "Bella an

rds died in my throat. Hel

e me a smug

ave, I heard Isab

n community space? It feels so... provincial. A

ou want, Bella. Your vision

st shred of community benefit from the project, a proje

elf-mockery. This was truly the end. He loved h

ust want Isabelle the woman. H

the feeling of being at the center

backstage support

clarity. It wasn't about me not being enough. It was ab

d the presentation boards for Isabelle's revise

ity-focused designs were tucked awa

ofessionalism, a quiet suff

my rival solid

aunch party for the "new" Brooklyn proj

ference room was transformed

ess, was the center of attenti

"Brilliant." "So daring."

n. My envy was a dull ache, my re