Chapter 10: Cracks Beneath the Ice
421 Words
Brad watched her go, jaw clenched, and for a long moment, he said nothing.
Then Dylan let out a slow breath. “That was brutal, man.”
“She’s an employee.”
“She’s also human. And newsflash you’re not hiding it very well.”
Brad shot him a glare. “Hiding what?”
Dylan smirked. “Whatever it is that makes you act like a teenager throwing sand at the girl he likes on the playground.”
Brad turned away, pacing toward the window.
“I don’t like her.”
“You stare at her like she’s a math problem you can’t solve.”
“She needs to toughen up. This company isn’t some playground for kids.”
Dylan folded his arms. “You didn’t have to humiliate her. Especially after she’s been here busting her ass.”
Brad ran a hand through his hair. His chest felt tight. That look on her face like she was trying so hard not to fall apart had seared itself into his brain.
“She’ll be fine.”
“Maybe,” Dylan said. “But you won’t. Not if you keep pushing her away just because she makes you feel something.”
Brad didn’t respond.
Because Dylan was right. And that made it worse.
Later That Night
Nicole sat on her tiny apartment balcony, a blanket around her shoulders and her laptop still open beside her. She hadn’t cried,not really, but her throat still felt sore from the effort.
Amelia’s voice came through the phone, calm and steady.
“He said what?”
Nicole exhaled. “That I’m slow. That I’m a distraction. That I can’t keep up.”
“You should have told him where to shove it.”
Nicole let out a weak laugh. “I need this job, Amelia.”
“You don’t need that man.”
Nicole fell silent. The wind brushed past her cheeks.
“I’m just tired of feeling like I’m always fighting for something,” she whispered. “First it was keeping Dad from leaving. Then it was keeping Mom from collapsing. Now I'm fighting to keep myself together.”
Amelia was quiet for a moment. “You’re stronger than you think.”
“I don’t feel strong.”
“Well, fake it. That’s what we do, right? Smile, work, don’t let the world see us bleed.”
Nicole stared out at the city, lights twinkling like stars she’d never reach.
Maybe Amelia was right. Maybe all she could do… was fake it one more day
- Writer
