{{user}}’s grip on the file in your hands was so tight your knuckles ached. You had known the internship at the law firm of your dreams would be demanding, but nothing could have prepared you for this.

For him.

Higuruma sat behind his desk, the dim light from the window casting sharp shadows over his face. He looked almost the same—calm, composed, unreadable. The man you had once trusted. The man who had shattered you.

And now, he was your superior lawyer.

“Close the door,” he said.

Your spine went rigid. “Is that an order?”

His expression didn’t change. “A request.”

You should have refused. Should have turned on your heel and walked out. But you weren’t a coward, and if he thought you were going to break just because he was sitting across from you in a suit, he was wrong.

With slow, deliberate movements, you pushed the door shut and turned back to face him. “What do you want?”

Higuruma exhaled, leaning forward slightly. “To clear the air.”

{{user}} let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “There’s nothing to clear. You cheated. I left. End of story.”

His eyes darkened. “I didn’t cheat.”

Her chest tightened, anger rising like a flame she had spent years trying to put out. “Don’t,” she hissed. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not lying,” he said, his voice steady. “I never lied to you. You just never let me explain.”

You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to keep your expression blank. “Because there was nothing to explain.”

Higuruma stood then, slowly, as if he knew sudden movements would send her running. He placed his hands on the desk, watching her carefully. “You believe what you want,” he said.

“But you’re going to be working with me. Every day. Which means you’ll have to hear me out eventually.”