Page 18 of Kentrell

“What is wrong with me?” I whispered to my reflection.

The woman staring back looked polished. Unbothered. But behind the blurred glass, I knew better.

There was a buzz in my stomach that wouldn’t quiet down. No matter how long I stood there.

“What the hell was that? Zoe, do you know him?”

Stacia burst through the restroom door first, heels clicking like gunshots, with Ayesha and Mars hot on her heels. She took her place on my right, Ayesha to my left—grabbing a freshtowel and pressing it gently against my cheek while Mars circled behind and rubbed my back in slow, grounding circles.

I hated causing a scene.

But God, I loved these girls.

They didn’t ask permission to protect me. They justdid.

“Zoe?” Stacia pressed again, her voice softening.

“I don’t know him,” I blurted out, sharper than I meant to. I just needed her to stop talking so I couldthink.

I licked my lips, eyes fluttering shut as I pulled in a deep breath. But all I could see behind my eyelids… washim.

Mr. Caldwell.

Thatman.

His presence replayed in my mind on a loop. The way he looked at me. The size of his frame. The stillness that somehow shook me.

I bit down on my bottom lip, trying to bite the thoughts away.

I’d never fantasized about a man before. Not likethis.

Well—there was that one time when I caughtMenace II Societyon MTV. Tyrin Turner had me glued to the screen. I remember scouring the internet after, only to find out the movie was decades old and he was very much married.

After that, I went back to my books.

But Mr. Caldwell?

No ring. No fantasy.

Real.

I had actuallymethim.

He wasn’t a fictional crush or a distant celebrity. He was flesh and blood—and somehow now tied to my job.

“Thanks,” I whispered, accepting the paper towel from Ayesha. Her warm palm lingered against my cheek, and I gave her a faint smile. “I’m fine.”

Lie.

The butterflies were still doing somersaults in my stomach. I doubted I’d fully recover from a face like that. But I had to keep it together.

My colleagues were still present. Myreputationwas still present.

“So, what’ll you do if he shows up at your office tomorrow?—”

“Mars!” Stacia hissed, shooting daggers at her through clenched teeth.

“What?” Mars huffed, brows raised like her question wasn’t perfectly reasonable. “She needs to be ready.”

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