THE EX WHO BECAME MY BOSS

Chapter 4 : THE LATE NIGHT EMAIL"

2:17am.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand.

*From: d.sterling@sterlingtech.com*

*Subject: Re: Rebrand Proposal*

My heart did something stupid.

I told myself not to open it.

Professional only. 9-5 only.

But my thumb swiped anyway.

`Amara,`

`Attachment: Notes on your proposal. Good work.`

`But page 7. The color palette. It’s wrong.`

`It should be navy. Like the sweater you wore that night at the gallery.`

`The one you said made you feel powerful.`

`I still have it in my closet.`

`-D`

I sat straight up in bed.

That wasn’t about work.

That was about _us_.

That was about the night he proposed to me with a promise ring made of paper.

I typed, deleted, typed again.

`Mr. Sterling,`

`Thank you for the feedback. I’ll update the palette to navy.`

`Best,`

`A.O.`

Professional. Cold. Safe.

His reply came in 30 seconds.

`You didn’t call me Daniel.`

`You used to whisper it.`

I threw my phone across the room.

3:02am. Another buzz.

`I’m sorry. That was unprofessional.`

`But I can’t sleep.`

`Because every time I close my eyes, I see you walking out of that conference room today.`

`And I remember that I’m the reason you looked like that.`

My chest hurt.

I shouldn’t reply.

I shouldn’t.

I shouldn’t.

`Then don’t make me look like that again.` I sent.

`Stay in your lane, CEO.`

Three dots.

Then nothing.

Until 6:00am.

`Noted. See you at 9. Wear navy.`

`-D`

He knew.

He knew I’d listen.

Monday morning. I walked into the office in a navy dress.

His eyes found me the second I stepped off the elevator.

He didn’t smile.

He just nodded. Once.

Like he won.

And the worst part?

I felt like I won too.