VALERIA.

My heart drops when I hear my name. I slowly step away from the office, staring at the door like it’s death itself.

Eden tries to reach out to me. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I somehow manage to say, but my voice sounds strangled and stiff, even to my own ears. “I… I need to go now. Excuse me.”

“Valeria!” she calls out, but I’m already running away from her and the office. From everything else.

The beat of my ...