“See you tomorrow, Ms. Stonfeld.”
I shut my apartment door and kicked off my shoes. My bag and keys hit the sideboard. Shopping bags dangled from my hands as I crossed into the kitchenette. The place was simple—just enough furniture, a few personal marks. In the open living space, my morning reading still sat on the table, beside an empty cup andhalf a glass of water. Sunlight slid through the windows, pale and steady.
I unpacked the groceries, slid lunch from its container, and sank into the couch. The smell of pasta clung to the air as I forked my first bite and typed a message.
12:15 – Daisy:Got the job! Training starts tomorrow.
12:17 – Mom:So proud of you, sweetheart. I’ll call later. I knew they’d hire you. Love you.
12:17 – Daisy:Thanks, Mom.
I switched to Jenn.
12:18 – Daisy:Guess what.
12:22 – Jenn:You got the job?
12:22 – Daisy:Yep.
12:22 – Jenn:Knew it! When do you start?
12:23 – Daisy:Tomorrow.
12:23 – Jenn:I’m so happy for you! But I miss you. I’ll visit soon.
12:23 – Daisy:I miss you too.
12:24 – Jenn:What’s your new boss like?
12:24 – Daisy:Haven’t met him yet. Can you talk?
12:26 – Jenn:In a lecture.
12:27 – Daisy:Later then.
12:27 – Jenn:Long day. I’ll call you tonight or tomorrow.
12:27 – Daisy:Do that.
After sending, I scrolled through feeds and headlines, letting the noise blur. I set the phone aside and returned to my lunch. But the thought came fast, cutting through everything.
I picked up the phone again and typed into the search bar:Damian Miller.
A flood of results filled my screen. Damian Miller.
Image after image—tall, magnetic, never alone. Women clung to his arm at galas, rooftop parties, red carpets. One article called himthe king of antiques.Another claimed he’d inherited the empire after his parents’ death. His brother, the investment banker, had refused it; his sister had fled to Paris to paint. But Damian—he had taken it all.
I screenshotted a photo and sent it to Jenn.
12:50 – Jenn:Who’s that?
12:50 – Daisy:My boss.
12:50 – Jenn:No way.
12:51 – Daisy:Not kidding.
12:51 – Jenn:Damn, Daisy.
