Chapter 3

The next day, Ethan called Sarah's work phone.

Her personal cell number was already changed.

"Sarah? It's Ethan."

His voice was tight.

"What the hell was that last night?"

"And Chloe tells me you quit the freelance work you were doing for my startup?"

"The new UI mockups are due, you know."

"I have a new project at my actual job, Ethan," Sarah said, her voice calm, professional.

"I don't have the bandwidth."

"Bandwidth?"

He scoffed.

"Sarah, we need to talk."

"About us."

"I know things have been... tense."

"But this Olivia deal is huge."

"Once it's locked, we can finally focus on our future."

He paused, then dangled the bait.

"Look, the TechForward Expo is next month."

"I have keynote passes."

"You always wanted to see Janna Croft speak, right?"

"Consider it a date."

Sarah felt a tiny, treacherous sliver of something she refused to name.

Hope, maybe.

Or just old, stupid habit.

Then, faintly in the background, she heard Olivia's distinct laugh, followed by her voice, "Ethan, darling, are you coming?"

"The caterers are here for the pre-launch party planning."

Ethan's voice dropped.

"Gotta go."

"Critical stuff."

"We'll talk expo soon."

He hung up before Sarah could respond.

That sliver of whatever-it-was died instantly.

She took a deep breath, picturing his face, Olivia's smug smile.

This was it.

No more.

Ethan texted a few days later: "Expo keynote. Our date. Confirmed. Don't be late. E."

Sarah stared at the message.

"Our date."

He hadn't even asked if she was free, if she even wanted to go after that disastrous phone call.

He just assumed.

Because he always assumed.

Because she had always, eventually, caved.

Seven times, she'd caved.

Against her better judgment, against Chloe's very vocal protests ("Are you insane? He's just going to use you as a prop or cancel if Olivia needs her nails buffed!"), a small, stupid part of her considered it.

Maybe, just maybe, this time...