I pull out my phone from my bag. It had been off since the call with Silvia—I needed peace.
Now, as the screen lights up, notifications flood in.
Missed calls. Messages.
Dorian.
I don’t open a single one.
I simply lock the screen again and set the phone face-down on the table.
I will not let him in. Not into my mind. Not into my heart.
Not again.
Still, there’s a pinch of guilt pulling at me—not because of him, but because I left Adriana completely in the dark all weekend.
I call her right away.
“Della!” Adriana’s voice bursts through the phone, bright and teasing. “How was the big emotional reunion with your foster mom? I was about to call the embassy! You had your phone off the entire weekend.”
I laugh softly, easing back onto the bed.
“It was exactly what I needed. Quiet. Familiar.”
“Well, I hope your ‘quiet’ looked better than my weekend of burgers and beer with the Chicago office crew,” she teases.
“It actually does sound fun,” I reply, smiling.
“It was,” she says, laughing. “But I still feel abandoned.”
I smile, warmth creeping back in.
“Then let me make it up to you. There’s a little Mexican place near the hotel I spotted—tacos, burritos, margaritas… Come with me for dinner? You’ve had the burgers, now it’s time for some spice.”
Adriana laughs, delighted. “That sounds amazing. You’re on.”
Relief sweeps through me—light, simple, easy.
Tomorrow will bring its own storm.
But tonight, we just eat tacos.
* * *
Monday morning greets me with sharp light pouring through the glass walls of the Chicago headquarters—sleek, bright, designed to impress.
Adriana and I walk in together, heels tapping softly against the polished floor, the faint hum of productivity buzzing all around us.
Greg is already waiting when we step into the conference room.
Tall, lean, with light brown hair neatly styled, he wears a pale blue suit—just enough edge to soften his corporate sharpness. He’s known around the agency for his easy charm and razor-sharp instincts. A man who rarely misses details.
“Morning, ladies,” he greets, standing as we approach, his tone warm but professional.
Adriana smiles brightly, ever her usual self, while I offer a polite nod, settling in across from him.
He doesn’t waste time.
