She stood and approached me, then dropped to her knees.
"Kholod, please forgive me," she sobbed. "I can apologize to Noelle personally... please don't blame her for my mistake... this is entirely my responsibility..."
I looked down at her kneeling form—face streaked with tears, voice trembling, remorse seemingly authentic. I still wanted to believe she was well-intentioned. After all, without her, there would be no Morozov left in this world.
"Stand up."
"Kholod..."
"Get up and sit down." My tone softened slightly.
She slowly rose and perched nervously on the edge of the sofa, still sniffling quietly.
"This matter..." I remained silent for a moment. "I'll get to the bottom of it."
"I can do anything to make amends..."
"That's not necessary." I cut her off. "But don't see Noelle for the time being."
Her face paled. "Am I no longer worthy of being her friend?"
"No," I said. "It's just that the situation is complicated right now. We'll see when things settle."
"I understand..." She kept her head down. "Is Noelle... is she all right?"
The question made my chest tighten.
"She's fine." I lied.
"That's good..." Isabella looked relieved. "Kholod, if... if there's anything you need me to do, please let me know. I owe Noelle an apology, and I owe you one as well..."
"If you truly want to make amends," I said, "then stay away from her. At least for now."
"I understand."
"Dmitri will escort you home. If you need anything in the future, have him relay it to me."
"All right... thank you, Kholod..."
She turned to leave, but glanced back at me when she reached the door.
"Kholod, I really am... so very sorry..."
"I know. Go."
After the door closed, I sank back into the sofa.
Every detail about her told me she was innocent, that she'd simply done wrong with good intentions.
I rubbed my temples. Perhaps I really was being overly suspicious. Maybe she truly was just too naive, underestimating Lorenzo's obsession.
"Boss." Dmitri had returned.
"What is it?"
"Before Miss Vance left," he handed me an envelope and a note, "she asked me to give you these."
The note bore Isabella's elegant but slightly shaky handwriting.
