“Fine. Don’te running backter,” he said, before turning around and tossing the white roses into the trash.


    He walked away, and I stood there, staring at the discarded roses, feeling a sharp ache in my chest.


    “Don’te running backter.” Those words revealed what he truly thought-he probably believed I could never really walk away from him. Maybe that was why he’d been so willing to hurt me again and again.


    Even though things were over between Alvin and me, I was still his assistant, so I had to keep working. But now, my job had an extra responsibility: closure and handover.


    I didn’t quit immediately because I wanted to finish the projects I was working on, especially the amusement park project. It was something I had suggested, and it held a lot of personal meaning for me.


    Before my parents passed away, I had been a very happy girl. They spoiled me, and every year, they would take me to amusement parks all over the country.


    My dad Elisco Kemp had even promised that one day he would build an amusement park just for me. Unfortunately, after they died in a car ident, I was left an orphan.


    A year ago, Alvin acquired a new plot ofnd. When we discussed its potential use, I suggested building an amusement park.


    To my surprise, he actually agreed and gave me full control over the project. I was truly grateful to him for that—he helped me fulfill Elisco’s wish.


    I even thought that when the amusement park waspleted. I’d ride the Ferris wheel with Alvin and tell my parents not to worry about me anymore-that I was doing well, that I was loved, and cared for.


    Now, though, it looked like that dream would nevere true. But with the amusement park almost finished, I didn’t want to leave just yet.


    Around noon, as I was going through my work. Myra came rushing over, looking mysterious. “Zoe, did you get your periodst night?”


    I raised an eyebrow. “What’s it to you?”


    “No, no,” she said, shaking her head rapidly, “I just wondered why Mr. Dolton has been in such a bad mood today. Seems he’s not getting… satisfied.”


    I paused, then realized what she meant. I tapped her lightly on the head with my pen. “It’s work time, focus on work. Stop thinking about others.”


    Myra grinned and handed me the report we’d reviewed together yesterday. “I’m not thinking. It’s just that everyone’s scared of Mr. Dolton now. Anyone who went into his office today came out looking like they’d been hit by a truck.”


    I thought back to this morning, when Alvin had angrily thrown the roses in the trash. I wasn’t sure if his bad mood was because I didn’t let him charm me like usual, or because I had brought up breaking up.


    “Zoe, you didn’t have a fight with Mr. Dolton, did you?” Myra asked, full of curiosity.


    I snapped back to the present. “Get back to work. If you don’t, you’ll be the next one crying.”


    1 shooed her away and sat there for a moment, lost in thought, before getting back to work. After reviewing and revising Myra’s report, I sent it off to Alvin. He didn’t reply, and I didn’t press him.


    At 3 p.m., I went to the break room to get some water and ran into Alvin. His face, just like Myra said, was clouded with anger, and when he saw me, his expression darkened even more.


    Still, I greeted him. “Mr. Dolton, I sent you the report. If you’ve had a chance to look it over and everything’s fine, I’ll go ahead and get back to the partners.”


    He didn’t respond and just walked away.


    I didn’t take it personally. Just as I was heading back to my office, my phone rang. The number was unfamiliar. “Hello?”


    “Zoe, it’s me.” Thea’s voice came through the phone.


    I had no idea why she was calling, but before I could ask, she said, “I’m downstairs at the café in your building. Can we


    meet?”


    I thought, ‘Didn’t we just see each otherst night?’


    “I’m at work right now. If it’s something important, we can talk over the phone,” I declined.


    “Well, then I’ll wait until you’re off work,” she said, determined.


    I had clearly underestimated her persistence. But I knew this was just another one of her tricks to force me to meet her, so I didn’t give in. “Fine, you wait. I’ll be there when I’m done.”


    I stuck to my word and got back to work.


    When the office finally emptied out at the end of the day, I headed to the café, and sure enough, Thea was still there, waiting.


    I walked in, but hadn’t taken more than a few steps when I heard familiar footsteps behind me. Turning around, I saw Alvin stride past me, heading straight for Thea.


    “Alvin!” Thea’s voice trembled, a mix of excitement and panic.


    “What are you doing here?” Alvin’s face was a thundercloud.


    I had reached them by this point, so I couldn’t just turn around and leave. “She’s here to see me,” I said, not missing a beat.


    Alvin’s face darkened further. Thea quickly added, “Alvin, don’t misunderstand. I just want to exin things to Zoe. I don’t want any misunderstandings between you two because of me.”


    I couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. Thea’s moves were so transparent. Yesterday, she’d deliberately walked away to ruin my date with Alvin, and today, she was trying to y the peacemaker.


    “We don’t need you to interfere,” Alvin snapped, his voice ice-cold. “If you really don’t want there to be any issues between me and her then stay at home and stop running around ”