Nicole hurried down the steps, her shoes striking madly on the marble floor.
She had not slept properly.
The weight of the last few days hung over her, and each step felt heavier than the last.
Her thoughts were already focused on the day ahead, on the jobs that awaited her at the office. She couldn't afford to be sidetracked by the stress at home or the fact that Julie was still around.
As she approached the bottom of the steps, the aroma of food wafted towards her.
She paused, looking into the dining room, where Tyler and Julie were sitting and talking over coffee.
Tyler looked up as she approached, and his eyes sparked with what appeared to be respect.
Nicole had carefully chosen her outfit: an exquisite, tailored black dress paired with a blazer. She wanted to make a statem
