Dangerously Mine

Nine

I stopped sulking when it stopped accomplishing anything.

Grandma left the morning after our argument. She hugged me too tightly, said it hadn’t been an ambush but only love expressed in a way i did not appreciate. I nodded like I understood. I didn’t. Love wasn’t supposed to feel like criticism.

But I was done spiraling, replaying conversations in my head and feeling sorry for myself.

Work was something I could control so i buried myself in it.

By Sunday night, I still hadn’t checked my phone for a text from the case worker. A small victory. I laid out one of my favorite suits for Monday and wrapped my hair in heatless curlers before bed.

My alarm rang and I groaned.

Coffee came first. I let it wake my brain before getting Flavian ready for school. An hour later, we sat at the breakfast table, the morning light soft through the blinds.

“You look really pretty today, Mommy,” he said around a mouthful of peanut butter sandwich.

My chest warmed. “Thank you, baby.''

The curls had come out better than expected. Soft waves framed my face, blush brought color back to skin that had been living on stress, and concealer hid the evidence of sleepless nights. Maybe the fifty dollars i splurged on it was worth it afterall..

For the first time in days, I felt like myself instead of a crisis.

Drop-off was thankfully uneventful. No whispers or lingering looks. Just routine.

I got to work just before Luna. She’d been incredible through all this, but I didn’t want her to think i was taking her patience for granted. She was still my boss.

It was close to lunch when she stepped out of the conference room and called my name.

“Mr. Hale would like to speak with you in his office now”

My stomach dipped.

Richard Hale — senior partner. Lead on the Delaney case.

I walked in. “Miss Carlisle,” he said, gesturing to a chair. “Have a seat.”

“thank you, sir.”

“This is short notice, but I need you to step up. Luna speaks highly of you.”

“I have a deposition this afternoon. A Tech billionaire. The DA believes one of his companies built software Delaney used to conceal transactions. Data aggregation, encryption. He’s a material witness.”

“So we’re clarifying how the system functions,” I said.

“Correct. He has a tight schedule so we’re going to meet him at his office. Luna has priorities here. You’ll come with me and my associate. so get ready, Three o’clock.”

“Understood.”

The next thirty minutes blurred ; instructions, files, reminders about discretion. It was my first time this involved. Nerves fluttered, but beneath them was something steadier.

I can do this.

At three sharp, we left.

The car ride was quiet. I sat beside Mr. Hale, the associate up front. The building we pulled into was all glass and steel, the kind that reflected the sky like it owned it.

One name stretched across the front.

NAVARRO.

A strange unease slid into my stomach.

Don’t be dramatic, I told myself.

The receptionist A tanned, cheerful blonde confirmed our names and spoke softly into an earpiece. “He’s ready. Twelfth floor.”

The elevator felt too slow.

It can’t be him.

The doors opened. We were guided into a sleek conference room by an older woman with kind eyes. I set my bag down, fingers suddenly unsteady.

The door opened again.

And he walked in.

Flavian Navarro.

The man who had detonated my life with one phone call.

Our eyes locked.

Shock hit his face first. Then recognition.

And just for a second—

Remorse.