MARRY MY HUSBAND

CHAPTER FOUR( lines in the sand )

The office always smelled the same in the afternoon, burnt coffee that had been sitting too long on the warmer .

I set my file down with care,

From across the floor came Claire's laughter, too high , the kind she used when she wanted attention, her voice carried a deliberate tune .

She was leaning against Henry's desk , her hands resting lightly on his sleeves

He tilted towards her smiling in that stupid and easy way that used to make my stomach ache with pride . Now I only felt a dull tightening in my jaw .

I didn't look away when her eyes caught mine

For yhe first time in history, I let her catch me watching.

Her lips curved into a sweet , practiced smile she mounted ,what ?

I raised my coffee cup slowly as I steady my hands even as my pulse jumped under my skin . One sip , no answer , no reaction, i acted cold as a corpse. silence had weight, and i let her carry it .

Her smile slipped, just a fraction. the kind no one else would notice before she turned back to Henry. Her nails drummed lightly against his desk .

By lunch , Henry was at my side , he found me near the vending machine, his cologne hit first , too strong for yhe cramped space .

“Sophie “ he said whispering as though it mattered,” why didn't you answer me last night? .

I let the machine hum fill the pause then I pressed the button for water .

“ I was busy “ I said simply.

“ too busy for me “ he laughed, sharp and shallow , like he was testing my reaction.

I twisted the cup from the bottle and drank

“ do I need to report my schedule to you now ?” The line hit , his jaw dropped and for a moment his eyes went flat , then he forced another laugh stepping closer “ what's gotten into you lately?

That question again . I almost smiled .

“ nothing “ I said , softer this time , meeting his eyes “ Maybe you're just not used to hearing me say “no”

His hand twitched at his side , like he might grab my arm , but he didn't, instead he gave that same laugh , sharp and mocking and stepped back .

“ Don't play games , Sophie you're terrible at it “.

I tilted my head letting the faintest smile touch my lips “we'll see”.

Back at my desk, I felt Claire eyes on me , when I finally glanced up , she was sitted in her chair , she waved her fingers lazily, Like we were still school girls sharing secrets .

I didn't wave back .

Her hand dropped and for the first time her smile didn't come so easily.

By the time the day wound down, the office was quite, I took my time packing up, drawing the zipper of my bag closed with care .

The elevator dinged open , Claire slipped in beside me , the smell of her perfume crowding the small space , she stood closer than necessary.

You've been ….different “ she said her eyes fixed on the numbers above the door

“ different how ?”

She stammered “ I don't know just not the Sophie I know . The hum of the elevator filled the silence between us .

I turned to her smiling faintly.

“ Maybe you never knew me as we as you thought “ Her gaze focused to me then ,searching, but the doors open before she could answer I stepped out first , leaving her standing in the glow of the elevator light, her expression caught between a smile and a frown .

That night the city light bled through my curtains , I sat at my desk , the diary opened , pen resting against my hand .

I wrote everything, the way their movement nk longer matched , the old rhythm I remembered , they were different , too more desperate , quicker to act .I paused stairing at the dented paper.

I wasn't just writing anymore

I was plotting.

And I couldn't shake the thought pressing at the back of my head , this life wasn't just a simple replay , it was a game with no rules and I had already moved my first piece .