The audience was still clapping when Lisa raised her eyes to Oliver, her eyebrows faintly furrowed. The tension lingered on her face like a mist that refused to lift. "What did you mean back there?" she breathed, her lips barely moving as they smiled for the audience.Oliver leaned in close, his cheek brushing against hers under the guise of a friendly gesture. "In a good way," he whispered, then pulled back with a smile. "You handled that like a queen. That's all I was saying."Lisa exhaled slowly, her chest easing as the weight inside her sank just enough to allow a tiny, contained smile. She inclined her head slightly to him, and they continued their imperial procession to their seats. The crowd cheered, the music swelled, and cameras flashed like a thousand tiny lightning bolts.But no sooner had they sat down than Oliver turned his head toward her and growled, "Can you believe the nerve of that idiot?"Lisa turned to him, her eyes narrowing. "Eric?""Who else?" Oliver snorted. "S

The night air was charged with an unnormal stillness, one felt only after there had been too much laughter to bounce off a room. Inside the Rodriguez mansion, the walls pulsed with golden light, the scents of champagne and foreign candles hanging in the air late into the night after the guests had left. Lisa stood barefoot in front of the large window, wrapped in a white satin robe that reflected in the moonlight. The city lights painted her figure in soft gold as she stared out silently into the night.Behind her, the bathroom door creaked open. Steam curled into the room as Oliver stepped out, water still dripping from his toned frame. He had a towel around his waist and a smirk hanging off his lips.“You’re quiet,” he said, walking up behind her. “That’s rare.”Lisa didn’t flinch. “Just thinking…”"About what?" he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck.She turned her head slightly, not pushing but not leaning in at all. "If this is real," she said, her voice

The cold fluorescent lights that flooded the hospital corridor cast a pale light over the sterile walls. It was deep into the night, but the tension between Nora and Sandra made the time seem to grind to a complete standstill. The only noise that cut through the sterile silence was the gentle beeping of Eric's monitor from the ICU room resting just beyond the glass.Sandra sat next to the vending machine, her legs crossed over each other, her arms wrapped tightly around her chest. Nora paced, her pale face illuminated by the screen light of her phone revealing worry built over the hours.Ping.Nora paused. Her phone vibrated once more, this time harder. She glanced at the screen, and her stomach dropped.Boss [1:12 AM]: "Nora, your on-going inconsistency on your night shifts is affecting operations. If you are unable to commit, please let us know. We may have to reassess your position."Her fingers trembled slightly as she read the message for the umpteenth time. A lump formed in her

The door swung shut behind Nora with a gentle jingle, lost under the clatter of cups, the roar of espresso machines, and the building hum of a crowd that had no idea how close to shattering she was. She lingered, surrounded by the aroma of coffee brewing and pastries, grounding herself in the warm, hectic chaos of the café."Nora! This evening we're serving alcohol, fewer teas and coffees," her boss shouted to her."Since when?" Nora shot back."You can look at the sign outside," her boss snapped back.Nora was taken aback.Her shift had only just begun, and already she could feel the tension behind her eyes.Customers waited in a zigzag line almost to the door, thumping their phones or scowling in over-the-top frustration. Others clustered beside the counter, shouting into frazzled employees as if they were on oxygen and at risk of suffocation.Nora smoothed her apron, tucking the necklace she'd found a while earlier discreetly into her pocket. Her mind was still going over the memor