When I came out, wrapped in my worn robe, my phone was ringing insistently. Annabelle.
“So? How was it? Did you see him? Did you talk?” The questions fired out the moment I answered.
“Hello to you too,” I muttered, dropping onto the bed.
“Cut the crap. Spill.”
Í sighed deeply.
“Yes, he was there. Yes, we talked.”
“And…?” Her impatience was palpable even over the phone.
“And nothing, Annie. It was professional. Polite.”
“Liar.” Her tone left no room for argument. “I’m coming over. I’ll bring food.”
Before I could protest, she hung up. Typical Annabelle. When she was set on something, no force in the universe could stop her.
Half an hour later, she burst into my apartment with a bag of food. Her critical gaze swept over me from head to toe.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Or better yet, an ex.”
“Very funny.” I grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the bag, opening a box of yakisoba.
Annabelle poured herself some wine, settling on the couch like she owned the place.
“Come on. Details. I want everything.”
Between bites of noodles and sips of wine, I told her about the event. About how Christian showed up impeccable in his tailored suit. About our interrupted conversation. About Edward and his veiled questions. About Francesca.
“So he was about to say something important when the ex-witch swooped in?” Annabelle summed up, refilling her glass. “Classic. The universe conspiring against you two.”
“There’s no ‘us,’ Annie.” I pointed at her with the chopsticks for emphasis. “It was just a weird moment. Confusing.”
“Sure.” She rolled her eyes. “And that’s why you’re here, on a Friday night, eating takeout food with your sister instead of, I don’t know, moving on?”
“I am moving on!” I protested. “I’ve got a new job. My own apartment. A life completely different from three months ago.”
“But you still keep the ring in your nightstand.”
My eyes darted involuntarily toward the bedroom, where the small velvet box rested exactly where she said. Heat rushed to my face.
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
“It means you haven’t closed that chapter, Zoey.” Her voice softened. “And from the looks of it, neither has he.”
“You can’t know that.”
“He went to talk to Dad.” Annabelle set her glass down and leaned toward me. “What kind of man goes to his ex’s father to explain a breakup? That’s not normal.”
Her words echoed inside me with startling force. It was true that I had asked him not to just disappear-that we should have a story that made sense for my family… but I never imagined he’d speak to my father personally. Why go to all that trouble when he could’ve just left me to handle the explanations?
“Maybe he’s just decent.”
“Or maybe he still cares about you.” She studied me for a moment. “The real question is: do you still care about him?”
I opened my mouth to deny it, to say it was ancient history, that I’d moved on. But the words didn’t come. Instead, a knot formed in my throat.
“I don’t know.” My voice came out almost in a whisper. “Sometimes I think I do. Other times I convince myself it was just an intense phase, something circumstantial. It didn’t last long enough to be love.”
“And yet, three months later, here you are, replaying every word he said.”
There was no way to refute that. But before I could respond, my phone buzzed on the table. Edward’s number.
“I have to take this. It’s my boss.”
Annabelle gestured for me to go ahead, topping off her wine glass.
“Zoey, sorry to call so late,” Edward’s voice came across artificially casual. “I just wanted to check how you’re doing after the event. It was quite… intense.”
“I’m fine, thank you. It was a success.
“
“Agreed! We’ve received excellent feedback.” He paused deliberately. “And how was the reunion with Kensington? Did he seem… receptive?”
There it was again. The casual question that wasn’t casual at all.
“Strictly professional,” I answered cautiously. “We talked about the event and the industry.”
“Of course.” Another pause. “Did he mention any of their new projects? I’ve heard rumors about an expansion into the Ascian market.”
Christian’s warning echoed in my mind. ‘Edward is a calculating man. He wants something from Kensington, and you’re his way to get it.’
“We didn’t discuss Kensington business,” I said firmly. “Our focus was the event and their participation in the intersector.”
“Ah, yes, of course.” He didn’t quite manage to hide his disappointment. “Speaking of which, I have news about the intersector. It’s been confirmed-it’ll be in Highridge Valley next week.”
My stomach lurched.
“Highridge Valley?”
“Yes, at the Crestview Complex.” His tone picked up with renewed enthusiasm. “All the biggest names in the industry will be there. Including Kensington, of course.”
Highridge Valley. Where Christian’s winery was. Where we’d spent those days pretending to be a couple. Where everything between us had started to change.
“You’ll be leading our representation, Edward went on. “Recognition for the excellent work you’ve done so far.”
I forced an upbeat tone.
“Thank you for the opportunity.”
“I’ll send you the details tomorrow. It’s a golden chance for Sunvale.” His voice dropped slightly. “And for you, of course.”
When I hung up, Annabelle was staring at me with one eyebrow raised.
“Well?”
“I’m going to Highridge Valley next week. For the intersector event.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.