His Paper Bride

an usual. The glass walls shimmered under the city light, and the soun

Every step she took drew eyes filled

PA?" one woman hissed under her breath, her lips twisting in disgus

sing her arms. "Hmm, I'm ju

ile and walked straight to her desk. She'd learned to hide pain behind calmness and today would be

fted, and a hush fell. The elevat

, like someone who owned every space he entered. Even the air seemed to hold its breath when he passed. Witho

rely begun when El

m my desk, now," the mes

es, but fear muddled her thoughts. In her rush, she grabbed the wrong set

ed, trying to steady her trembling hands as all eyes turned to her. The room was filled with

ent, the coffee cup slipped from her hand. The hot liquid splashed across t

t.

The veins on his hand stood out as he clenched h

too stunn

was sharp enough

ef. "So this isn't even the right document I asked

from the room stabbed

out as fast as her shaking legs could carry her. Her vision blurred. She could still h

creen. Her hands wouldn't stop trembling. Eve

eep testing me? Why do I always ha

ce snappe

My offi

Inside, Ben stood by the window, back turn

ow but sharp. "Is there something I need to

tened. "N-no, s

es narrowing.

r," she blurted out, her voice trembling but steadying with each word. "Since my first day, I've been scared to

pression softened; not much, but enough to show su

er. "You can return to your desk,"

d herself out of a job. But beneath that fear, she felt an odd relief. The lig

r words. For the first time, something about her; her courage

closed door she had just walked through, and