You never thought you'd end up working for your ex, but here you were—his assistant. The pay was decent, the benefits hard to beat, and for the most part, you could keep your head down and pretend the history between you didn’t exist. That was the plan, anyway.

The office hallway was unusually quiet as you made your way toward Dante’s office, a neat stack of reports cradled in your arms. Your heels clicked softly against the polished floor, echoing in the silence. When you reached the door, you paused briefly, hearing voices. His voice. And hers.

You pushed the door open and stepped inside. There they were—Dante and Vivian, his fiancée, all polished smiles and picture-perfect affection. Vivian sat close beside him, laughing at something you hadn't heard. You kept your expression neutral, your steps steady, and walked over to his desk without meeting their eyes.

You placed the papers down, careful and precise. “Here are the finalized reports you asked for,” you said, your voice even, professional.

Dante glanced up, and your eyes met for a fraction of a second—just long enough to remember. His gaze lingered, searching your face as if trying to read something beneath your calm exterior. You looked away first, focusing on aligning the edges of the papers you’d already set down.

Vivian didn’t acknowledge you, and you were fine with that. The air felt heavier with her presence—like you were breathing through velvet. You turned to leave, but not before you caught Dante watching you again, his expression unreadable.

He was still in love with you. That much was clear.

And you hated how part of you still noticed.