4
But Mandy spotted me.
“Well, look who it is. Merrin.”
Steve and his parents turned to look. The moment he saw me, he instinctively pulled his hand away from
Mandy’s.
“Merrin, what are you doing here?”
Mandy feigned innocence. “Steve, Merrin is so devoted to you. She shows up wherever you are. I bet she has a tracker on you.”
“Oh, Merrin, don’t misunderstand,” she continued sweetly. “Steve and I are just childhood friends. His paren- ts are like my own. We have family gatherings like this all the time. If you mind, I can leave right now.”
“Why would you leave?” Steve grabbed her hand, glaring at me. “Merrin, the firm is swamped. What are you doing here, stalking me? Are you out of your mind?”
“Do you enjoy being so paranoid? Get back to the firm right now. And report to HR for a penalty. You’ve lost your pay for the day, and your perfect attendance bonus for the month.”
His parents chimed in. “Steve, why do you keep a parasite like her around? Just fire her. You’re too soft. How do you expect a talented employee like Mandy to feel valued?”
Mandy pretended to be kind. “It’s no problem. I can just clean up Merrin’s messes. But Merrin, you’re not gett ing any younger. What will you do if you lose your job at the firm? You should apologize to Steve. Don’t be so
stubborn.”
Steve’s parents praised Mandy for her kindness and maturity. Steve’s expression turned even more disgust-
“What are you waiting for? Get back to work. And I’m telling you now, if I don’t see you at the office by the end of the day, when the countdown ends, don’t even bother trying to make up with me. We’ll be done for
good.”
He then paid the bill and left with his family.
Later that day, just before closing time, Steve made a point of stopping by the office. When he saw that I hadn’t returned, he flew into a rage and went straight to a bar. He had a colleague “casually” leak his location
to me.
I ignored it-all.
Eleven o’clock. The day was almost over.
Steve had drunk himself sick, but the agitation in his heart wouldn’t subside. He kept glancing at the door of
1/12
16:02
Chopre
the private room, his heart leaping every time it opened. But it was never me.
His phone was silent. He asked his assistant to check if it was broken. After confirming it was working fine. his mood plummeted. He was used to me chasing him, coddling him. This was a new, unsettling feeling.
He looked at his phone’s wallpaper. It was a picture of our first kiss, a candid shot he’d taken in a moment o pure joy. A small smile touched his lips.
In the end, he couldn’t resist. He sent me a text.
“Merrin, don’t say I didn’t warn you. The three days are almost up.”
The message went unanswered.
Steve’s brow furrowed. The lively atmosphere in the room slowly died down under his icy demeanor. The a
grew thick, and everyone breathed a little quieter.
Just then, the door to the room was pushed open. Everyone looked up.
A colleague burst in, breathless and beaming. “She’s here, she’s here! Mr. Hytner, she’s downstairs!”
“She’s all dressed up, she looks amazing! You should go see!”
Steve’s expression instantly relaxed. He leaned back in his chair, a smug smile spreading across his face.
Go tell her she’s too late. It’s already 12:01. If she wants me back, it won’t be that easy.”
