Once Carter was completely gone, Lina closed the door and lingered there for a moment, listening as the low hum of his car's engine faded into the distance. Silence wrapped around her apartment like a familiar blanket—except it didn't bring comfort tonight. It reminded her of everything she still hadn't done.
She groaned the second she turned around.
Clothes were still scattered across the floor, tossed carelessly from this morning's frantic rush. She had promised herself she'd deal with it when she got home, but now, with exhaustion clinging to every limb, she could barely muster the strength to care.
Still, some things couldn't wait. With a sigh, she dropped to her knees and began unpacking the food her mom had given her. The perishables went into the fridge, while the rest she left on the floor, forming a small pile of delayed responsibility. It would have to wait. Everything could wait. All she wanted now was sleep.
She stripped down slowly, every movement heavy, and stepped into the tiny bathroom. The tiles were cold beneath her feet, a sharp contrast to the warmth that began trickling from the sputtering showerhead. As soon as the water turned steady, she stepped in and let the heat melt into her skin. It was a different kind of relief—one that made her forget about cluttered rooms, awkward elevator rides, and complicated men with hazel eyes.
Her muscles loosened under the stream, and she tilted her head back, eyes fluttering shut. For a moment, she allowed herself to pretend there was nothing waiting for her outside of this small space.
But time was never kind, and neither was morning traffic.
Reluctantly, she washed up, stepped out, wrapped herself in a towel, and padded toward the bed. She didn't even bother drying off properly. The moment her body hit the sheets, she was gone.
---
The next morning slapped her across the face.
"Shit!" she hissed, bolting upright the moment her eyes caught the time.
She threw on a fitted black pencil skirt that stopped just above her knees and paired it with a soft lilac blouse that draped gently over her body. Nude heels—nothing too flashy but polished enough—completed the look. She quickly ran a brush through her hair, grabbed her bag, and made a mental note to definitely call Bella after work. Her room looked like it had been hit by a tornado, and there was no way she'd get through it alone. For now, she had bigger problems. Like getting to work on time.
By the time she rushed downstairs, she barely paused before flagging down a cab. The ride to Aurum Scents took about thirty minutes, and she spent the time staring out the window, half-lost in thought. The city buzzed with its usual morning chaos—horns blaring, people moving with urgency, the rhythm of life continuing without pause.
Once the cab pulled up in front of the building, she paid and stepped out, the familiar sight of Aurum Scents bringing a small sense of comfort. It wasn't Vega Corporation or Blackwood Enterprises, but it had its own reputation in the industry. She crossed the street and walked in, greeting coworkers as she made her way to her office. Her mood was surprisingly good. Maybe it was the extra rest. Or maybe it was the lingering thought of Carter giving her those chocolates.
She had barely sat down when her phone rang. Bella.
Lina sighed and answered. "Hey, what's up?"
"Good morning to you too, sunshine," Bella chirped, her voice annoyingly chipper. "Listen, I need a favor. A big one."
Lina leaned back in her chair. "Bella, if this is another one of your half-baked schemes—"
"It's not a scheme. It's a business opportunity. Huge. Okay, so you know how I've been working at Elara Designs, right? Well, my boss wants to pitch a collaboration with Aurum Scents. Ever since that Vega connection went public, people are watching you guys. My boss is drooling over it."
Lina blinked. "Wait, hold on. It's public already? That fast?"
"Girl, are you living under a rock? The minute the Vega name touched your company, the industry went crazy. People talk. And my boss? She's already drafting proposal emails like her life depends on it. And Lina…" Bella lowered her voice as if she was about to drop a life-changing secret. "If I pull this off, I'm looking at a serious promotion."
Lina frowned. "Bella, I don't have that kind of pull."
"Bullshit!" Bella snapped. "You work directly under Carter fucking Hayes. You have his ear. I just need you to bring it up to him, casually. Just plant the seed."
Lina pinched the bridge of her nose. "Bella—"
"I know, I know. But I've been busting my ass at this job. If I can get this to happen? I'm looking at a serious promotion. I'm talking better hours, more pay, maybe even an office with a door."
Lina hesitated. She knew Bella had been grinding for months. She also knew Carter wasn't the easiest person to approach, especially with a favor.
"I don't know…"
"Please, Lina," Bella softened. "I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. Just… talk to him. That's all I need."
She sighed. "You really think this would go somewhere?"
"It's worth a shot. Worst case, he says no. Best case? I get promoted, Come on, you'd be my favorite person in the world."
"Fine," she finally relented. "I'll see what I can do."
Bella squealed. "You're the best. I owe you dinner. No, a weekend. I'll clean your room too."
"You better," Lina muttered. "I'll call you after I talk to him."
"Love you, Angie."
"Shut up."
Bella laughed and hung up, leaving Lina staring at her phone like it might explode.
What the hell had she just agreed to?
She had no idea how she was going to do this. Her boss wasn't exactly the easiest person to approach, and she wasn't the type to pull favors. But she had already said yes, and Bella wasn't going to let her off the hook.
The elevator dinged as she stepped in, her reflection staring back at her in the polished doors. She spent the entire ride trying to form the words in her head—rehearsing, rewriting, erasing.
By the time she reached the top floor, her palms were sweaty.
"Just don't sound like an idiot," she whispered to herself.
She approached his door, heart hammering in her chest.
Too late to turn back now.
She walked up to his door, barely giving herself time to think before pushing it open.