The office was buzzing Monday morning, but Aria felt like she was moving through fog. She kept her head down as she walked past the glass doors of Voss Global, her heart slamming in her chest the moment she spotted Liam’s tall figure by the elevators. He was speaking to one of the directors, his expression hard, detached, and unreadable.

Her stomach twisted. She gripped her bag tighter and darted toward her desk, praying he wouldn’t notice her.

“Morning, Aria,” Sophie chirped, plopping into the chair beside her. “Rough weekend?”

Aria fumbled with her files, forcing a thin smile. “Something like that.”

Sophie leaned closer. “You look pale. Are you sick?”

“No. Just tired.”

Janice from across the aisle joined in. “Tired? You’ve been tired for weeks now. What’s going on? New boyfriend keeping you up?” She grinned, waiting for a reaction.

Aria froze, her throat tight. “No, nothing like that. Just… stress.”

Sophie tilted her head. “Stress from what? You barely started here.”

Aria gave a weak laugh. “Guess I’m still adjusting.”

Before they could press further, Liam’s voice cut through the air. “Conference room. Now.” His gaze swept over the team, lingering briefly on Aria before sliding away, cold as steel.

Her chest constricted. She forced herself to gather her things and follow.

Inside the conference room, Liam outlined targets, his tone clipped, his eyes sharp. He didn’t look at her directly, but every time she shifted in her seat, she felt his presence like a weight pressing down on her.

When the meeting ended, Aria hurried to pack her notes. She needed air, distance—anything. But his voice stopped her.

“Aria. Stay back.”

The others filed out, exchanging curious glances. Sophie mouthed good luck before slipping through the door.

Aria’s palms dampened. She swallowed and turned to him. “Yes, Mr. Voss?”

His jaw tightened at the formality, but his voice was cool. “You’ve been distracted. Twice last week you missed details in your reports. That doesn’t happen here.”

“I’ll fix it,” she whispered.

“Fix it isn’t good enough,” he said sharply. “This is a workplace, not—” His eyes flicked over her, and for a split second the mask slipped, showing something raw beneath. Then it was gone. “—not a playground. Get your focus back, or you won’t last here.”

The words stung, more than they should have. She bit her lip to keep the tears down and nodded. “Understood.”

“Good. Dismissed.”

She left quickly, but her chest ached, her vision blurring as she made it to the ladies’ room.

Mia’s call came during lunch break. Aria slipped outside, needing to hear a voice that wasn’t harsh, cold, or judging.

“So?” Mia’s voice was cautious. “How’s work?”

Aria leaned against the wall, closing her eyes. “Awful. He’s colder than ever. It’s like I don’t even exist unless I mess up. And when he does look at me—it’s like he wants me gone.”

“That’s his guilt talking,” Mia said firmly. “Not yours. He knows what happened that night, and pretending it doesn’t matter is easier for him than facing it.”

Aria’s throat tightened. “But it does matter. Every time I see him, it feels like—like I can’t breathe. And now this—” Her hand drifted to her stomach, hidden beneath her blouse.

“You don’t have to tell him yet,” Mia soothed. “Not until you’re ready.”

“When will I ever be ready? How do I even start that conversation? ‘Hey, remember that mistake you said we should forget? Surprise, it comes with a baby’?”

“Aria,” Mia said gently, “you don’t owe him anything right now. Focus on yourself. Take one day at a time.”

Aria let the silence stretch, her chest rising and falling unevenly. “I feel like I’m living two lives. The one everyone sees—where I’m just the new employee trying to fit in. And the one only you know about. The real one.”

“Then lean on me,” Mia said. “Don’t carry this alone.”

Aria pressed her forehead to the wall, whispering, “I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.”

Back inside, Sophie pounced the moment she sat down. “So what did the boss want?”

Aria kept her voice steady. “Work stuff.”

“Work stuff that made you look like you saw a ghost?” Sophie arched a brow.

Janice laughed. “Or maybe she’s just not used to the Voss effect. Everyone cracks eventually.”

Aria forced a smile, though her hands trembled under the desk. “I’ll survive.”

But when she glanced up, she caught Liam watching from his office door, his expression unreadable. The moment their eyes met, he turned away, disappearing behind the door.

Her stomach churned. Every encounter was like this now—brief, sharp, leaving her more unsettled than before. She told herself she’d avoid him, keep her head down, and stay invisible.

But it was impossible when he was everywhere—meetings, hallways, the elevator. His presence was inescapable.

By the end of the day, her nerves were shot. She ducked into the bathroom one last time before heading out, gripping the counter and staring at her reflection.

She barely recognized the girl in the mirror—pale, weary, eyes shadowed with secrets.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Mia: You okay?

Aria typed back: Trying to be.

She shoved the phone away, whispering to her reflection, “One day at a time.”

But deep down, she knew the longer she avoided the truth, the harder it would hit when everything finally came crashing down.