“Then at least talk to him. About the kiss. About what happened. If you want any peace,you have to do this.” She pauses. “Your only other option is to quit.”
Quit.
The word lands in my chest like a stone dropped into still water. Ripples spreading outward farther and farther.
I could quit. Walk away from Rossi Industries and never see Nico again. I got my first paycheck the other day, so in theory I have some breathing room to find another admin job and start over.
But even as I think it, something inside me rebels.
And then I realize it.
Oh no.
“Sora,” I say slowly. “I think I might be developing feelings for him.”
She laughs over the line. “Yeah, no shit. You think?”
I shake my head. “This is bad. This is really bad.”
“It’s only bad if you keep avoiding it. I know you’re scared of being seen as the secretary who sleeps with her boss. And look, I know Kendrick messed you up. But you’re not that girl anymore.”
I want to believe her. I really do.
“I have to go,” I tell her. “Lunch break’s almost over.”
“Promise me you’ll think about what I said.”
“I promise.”
“And text me later. I want updates.”
“You’re such a gossip.”
“I prefer ‘invested friend.’ Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I hang up and sit in the stairwell for another minute, staring at my phone. The screen saver is a photo of me and Sora from college. Both of uslaughing at something I can’t remember. We look so young. So unburdened.
It was taken before Kendrick royally screwed me.
Talk to him. Be vulnerable. Or quit.
None of those options feel survivable.
I stand up, brush off my slacks, and head back up to the twenty-eighth floor.
Before I open the door, I’ve made a decision.
I’m going to talk to him.
I just have to work up the courage first.
Tomorrow. I’ll do it tomorrow.
18
Nico
