The glass doors sighed shut behind me, and before I could even take a breath—
"Jer! Oh, we can finally be together! I can't wait for our lives to start," Adel squealed, heels clicking against the polished floor as she rushed into my space.
Her perfume hit me first, cloying and over-sweet. Her arms circled mine before I even had the chance to dodge.
"Miss Bosten," I said, my voice sharp enough to draw a few glances from passing staff, "we are at the office. And I'm married."
The words tasted bitter. Why now did her touch make my skin crawl?
"I thought you got divorced. Like, days ago?" she chirped, tilting her head like she'd caught me in some long-awaited confession.
My stomach twisted. "What? Divorced? No. Who told you that?"
She pulled out her phone, swiping with those manicured nails. "Audrey. She sent an update on Instagram two days ago. See? Right here—her words, not mine."
I clenched my jaw. That post. I'd seen it too.
"There's no way she'd actually divorce me," I muttered. She couldn't. She wouldn't dare.
"Jer, who cares?" Adel pressed, slipping closer, eyes shining. "This is finally our chance to be together. You know it's time to leave her. We both know that."
"What? You think I miss her?" I snapped, though the hollow ring in my own voice made my pulse spike.
"You do," she accused softly, lips curling.
"Miss what? The living hell? Audrey," I sneered, yanking the wedding band off my finger. The metal felt heavier than it should have. I shoved it deep into my pocket. "Since she wants to play the little victim for attention, let's see how long she can keep up the act."
Adel grinned, triumphant, and threw her arms around my neck. "Let's have lunch to celebrate," she whispered, tucking herself against me like she belonged there.
But even as her warmth pressed into my side, my mind betrayed me. I couldn't stop seeing Audrey—her defiance, her voice, the way she looked at me that last time.
And for the first time, Adel's touch felt like nothing at all.
At the table, my mind was a mess of memories. Audrey peeling shrimp with that quiet smile. Audrey handed me coffee like it was nothing. Audrey was looking at me with eyes that made me feel… human.
"Jeremy!"
"Huh?" I blinked. Adel's voice snapped me back.
"This is the third time you've drifted off today. What is with you?" she said, her tone a perfect mix of irritation and sweetness.
"It's nothing," I muttered, forcing my eyes back to the table, to the plate of mussels she'd ordered.
Adel leaned forward, careful with her manicure. "I just got my nails done. I don't want to ruin them. You know I don't peel these things."
I stared at the shells. My fingers hesitated. In my head, Audrey's voice whispered: 'They're too delicious to miss out on. I don't mind peeling them for you.' She had said it with a smile, like it was a small kindness, not a chore.
"Jeremy? What are you waiting for? Aren't you gonna peel them?" Adel's voice pulled me back, sharper now.
I reached for a mussel, slipped, and cut my finger on the edge of the shell. A flash—another memory. Audrey took my hand once, when I'd done the same thing.
"You'd better heal quickly," she'd said, blowing air gently over the cut. "You belong to the greatest, richest man in Andoria. Even if he's lame sometimes, he needs all his fingers working."
I'd pulled my hand away, barking at her: "Stop talking to me like I'm a child!"
Now, the memory burned.
"Jeremy! Jeremy!" Adel's voice was sharp now. "Do you want me to leave you alone with your thoughts? You're clearly not here with me. You're somewhere else."
Before I could answer, a shadow fell across our table. Simon.
He stood there, cool and unbothered, hands in his pockets, but his eyes landed on me with a flicker of something—challenge maybe.
"Jeremy," he said evenly, "we need to talk about Audrey."
The air between us shifted. Adel straightened in her seat, sensing the change. My jaw clenched, my pulse spiked. The name tasted like fire in my mouth.