Matt’s shoulders slumped as he trudged down the crowded sidewalk, the bitter sting of Emily’s mocking laughter and Derek’s triumphant smirk still fresh in his mind. He replayed their words over and over, each syllable cutting deeper than the last. They’d humiliated him in front of everyone, tearing down what little pride he had left. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he tried to shove the memory away, but the wound was too fresh.
As he crossed the street, his head down, he didn’t notice the man walking briskly toward him until they collided. The impact jolted Matt from his thoughts, and he staggered back, muttering a curse under his breath.
“Watch where you’re—” Matt stopped mid-sentence as he looked up and recognized the man.
It was Frank. The man who worked at his company
