“Of course I’ll remember, but you need to take care of yourself too, you know.” Ca muttered, slightly stung by Vera’s words.


    “Don’t worry. Today was just an exception. Have you ever seen me like this any other time?” Vera replied, a faint smile in her voice.


    Ca thought about it and realized Vera had a point, so she let it go. She picked up her phone, then paused as if something had suddenly struck her, and set it down again.


    “Oh, right! That video came in handy, didn’t it?”


    Ca spent her days in the hospital with nothing to do but browse the inte. Vera often talked about her boss, so when Ca saw Alessia’s name online, she immediately called Vera.


    Vera had been busy coordinating with suppliers at the time and had just mentioned it in passing. She hadn’t expected Ca to remember the very first video she’d sent, urging her to check at home to see if she’d thrown it


    away.


    That was what led to this morning’s events.


    But Ca had spent the whole day in treatment and physical therapy, so she’d forgotten all about it until she picked up her phone and everything came rushing back.


    “Yeah, we used it,” Vera confirmed.


    “That’s good, then. Such a sweet girl–she shouldn’t be targeted by those shameless gossips.”


    “Don’t worry. Rumors like these can’t touch her.”


    Vera chuckled softly. The two women had never met Alessia in person, and yet Ca followed her every move online. “Fan” barely did her fixation justice; nearly everything she read on the inte was about Alessia,


    10:01


    Chapter


    But Vera understood. It was the old story: you care about the things and people your loved ones care about. Affection by association, perhaps.


    “She’s barely out of high school–no wonder kids born with a silver spoon are so different,” Ca mused.


    Vera didn’t respond, turning her attention to her dinner instead.


    She’d met with Fortune that evening but hadn’t eaten a bite with him. Aftering home, she’d gotten caught up organizing files, working straight through until now.


    And she had no intention of telling Alessia about dinner with Fortune. It wasn’t that she worried Alessia would misunderstand–Alessia simply wasn’t that kind of person–and besides, Vera had nothing to feel guilty


    about.


    Fortune had only wanted to lure her over to hispany. He needed a reliable right hand, and if he managed to poach her, it would catch both A&P and Alessia off guard.


    He was smart–he knew she was well–known in the industry, that plenty of others had tried to recruit her with high sries, but money alone wouldn’t tempt her. So, he’d dangled a different, more enticing carrot: free treatment for her mother’s leg, from the top specialist in the country. Vera had to admit, Fortune knew people’s weaknesses. He’d clearly done his homework to know exactly what to offer.


    He assumed she’dpromise for her mother’s sake–or for money. What he didn’t realize was that Alessia wasn’t just her boss anymore. Their rtionship had long since gone beyond something that could be measured by a paycheck.


    When Vera finished her takeout, she saw that Ca had already fallen asleep. She tossed the empty containers, washed her hands, and gently tucked the nket around Ca’s shoulders before settling back at herputer to finish her work.


    The spreadsheets that had once felt so daunting now seemed almost


    212


    10.02


    Chapter


    effortless.


    “You’re working way too slowly. If you just select everything first and then check the box here, it’ll be done in seconds,” came a young, slightly impatient voice from behind her.


    “Okay,” Vera replied, startled by little Alessia Tate’s sudden appearance, but she immediately followed her instructions. Sure enough, what had taken her ages was now finished in less than ten seconds.


    She let out a relieved sigh. Turning around, she realized Alessia was still standing by her side, and jumped in surprise.


    Alessia shot her a look, unfazed, her brow furrowed in concentration.