Window closed.
1314 Words
The apartment is dimly lit, cozy, but there’s a heaviness in the air. Claudia sits on the edge of her bed, a glass of wine untouched in front of her. She stares at her phone — an unopened email from an international company offering her a prestigious role, an opportunity she once dreamed of.
She picks it up, fingers trembling. The subject line reads: **"Final Offer: International Position in London – Please Confirm."**
The room is still, as though time has paused.
COFFEE SHOP – DAY
Claudia , beaming, sitting across from her friend, LUCY, holding her phone in her hand. The screen shows the international job offer.
LUCY smiled enthusiastically,. “This is *huge*, Claudia!. The kind of chance that people wait a lifetime for! You can’t just let this go.”
Claudia sighs. “I don’t know… I’ve been thinking a lot about the future. About *him*. About what we’ve built together — or what we’re about to build.”
Lucy got furious. “Are you serious? This is the job of a lifetime, Claudia. You’d be crazy not to go for it!”
Claudia nodded positively “I know. But… this *thing* with Emmanuel— it’s different. I thought maybe this marriage would work out, that it’d be the start of something… real. If I give up now, I risk losing everything we’ve worked for. I can’t imagine letting go of that family wealth”
**LUCY tried persuading her to accept the job. “You’re not losing anything. You’re gaining everything. Don’t choose someone else’s life and wealth over yours. You can make a fortune for yourself by working hard.”
Her finger hovers over the email, and then, she deletes it.
Claudia whispered to herself. “I have it all figured out.”
She leans back, her head hitting the soft pillows behind her.
*****
The room is dark except for a desk lamp glowing in the corner. Papers, photos, and notes are scattered across the desk. Claudia stands in front of them, jaw clenched, eyes burning with quiet fury.
Behind her, the door swings open.
Mrs. Bernard(50s) enters — breathless, frantic, still wearing her coat. Her face is pale with dread. “Claudia.” She called.
Claudia freezes. Her mother never comes unannounced. She turns slowly. “You shouldn’t be here.”
MRS. Bernard took a deep breath and replied. “I know. But I had to come. I heard what you’re planning.”
A long pause. Claudia looks away. “It’s nothing you didn’t warn me about.”
Mrs Bernard tried persuading her out of it. “But I never wanted *this*. I told you to stay away from him because I knew you were capable of doing something… irreversible.”
Claudia rolled her eyes. “It’s no big a deal mom. It can’t end badly.” She shrugged.
BERNARD FAMILY LIVING ROOM – NIGHT**
Rain taps against the windows. The room is dimly lit — quiet except for the low hum of the storm outside.
Mrs Claire Bernard, stands near the fireplace, arms crossed. She’s composed, but her eyes burn with disappointment. Across the room sits her daughter Claudia, defiant but unsure. On the other side, Mr. Gerrard Bernard , the father, lounges with fake calm, nursing a drink.
Mrs Claire referred to Claudia . “You think standing with him makes you strong?”
Claudia shrugged. “I think I’m tired of pretending you’re the only one who ever got hurt.”
A beat. That stings. But Claire stays still.
Mrs Claire spoke calmly. “You don’t know what he’s done. He’s a very scheming person. What he is. And the fact that you defend him… makes me wonder how much of me you ever saw at all.”
Gerrard smirked. “That’s enough, Claire.”
CLAIRE scoffed. “Oh, I agree. It is enough.”
She walks to the cabinet, pulls out a thick envelope. Drops it on the coffee table between them. The sound is sharp. Final.
Mrs Claire Bernard continued. “Divorce papers. Signed. Filed. Effective as of this morning.”
Claudia’s eyes widen.
Gerrard shifts forward, no longer smug. “Claire, don’t be dramatic—“
Claire scoffed. “ dramatic? , I’m being exactly what I should’ve been ten years ago. Done.”
To Claudia , gentler now. “I didn’t say anything when you started following his footsteps and doing as he says and becoming scheming . When you started twisting peoples words without conscience . But I won’t let you turn into someone who thinks betrayal is a personality trait.”
Claudia looks away. Swallows hard.
Mrs Claire continued. “You can love your father, Claudia. But if you keep choosing him at the cost of your own clarity, one day you'll wake up not recognizing the mirror.”
She turns to Gerrard. She gave him a sad smile. “You broke the vows. The trust. And our daughter? You turned her into your little partner in crime.”
She grabs her coat from the chair. Calm, but unwavering. “This house is yours now. But the peace? That’s leaving with me.”
She walks out, her heels echoing across the wooden floor. Thunder rolls behind her exit.
Claudia spoke softly to herself. “She really did it...”
Gerrard doesn’t answer. The silence left behind is louder than anything he could say.
A week later
A cozy, modern space. Local art hangs on the walls. Guests sip wine and wander in small groups. Anna, ever the social butterfly whenever she’s around her hommies, is hosting tonight. She weaves through the crowd like she owns the room.
Cleo stands by a sculpture, pretending to be interested. But her eyes keep darting across the room — toward Tristan, tall, easy smile, in a slightly rumpled blazer, talking to a couple near the wine bar.
Jasmine slips beside Cleo, holding two glasses of white wine.
Jasmine whispered into Cleo’s ear. “You’ve been staring at that man like he’s a Monet and you just discovered brushstrokes.”
Cleo tried defending herself. “I’m not staring.”
Jasmine raised her brow at her. “You’re doing that thing with your hands. Fidgeting. You *only* do that when you like someone or you’re about to lie to airport security.”
Cleo glares playfully, snatches the wine. “That’s Anna’s colleague. The architect guy, right?”
Jasmine nodded positively. “Mhm. Tristan . Single. Smart. Has a dog named Rufus. Anna says he plays the piano when he’s stressed, which is weirdly adorable.”
Cleo was surprised. “Why do you know this much?”
Jasmine smirked. “Because Anna ships it. Hard. She practically dragged you here like bait.”
Cleo glances back at Tristan . He laughs at something, and even from across the room, it hits her — soft, but sure. “It’s… complicated.”
Jasmine shook her head. “Cleo . You *both* went through hell. You deserve something easy. Or at least something that makes your heart race in a good way.”
Anna surprised them. “Are we talking about my favorite coworker and my favorite friend falling helplessly in love?”
They turn. Anna grins, all-knowing, holding a tiny plate of cheese cubes.
Cleo was shy. “Anna—“
Anna cuts in. “ He’s been trying not to stare at you all night too, by the way. It’s very mutual. And very cute. Go say hi. Unless you want me to stage a "casual" bump-into by the hummus table.”
Cleo hesitates, then downs the rest of her wine. “I swear, if this ends in heartbreak—“
Jasmine cuts in. “We’ll egg his car.”
Anna completed her statement. “And toilet paper his office.”
The three laugh. Cleo takes a breath, straightens her jacket, and steps away — heading toward Tristan .
- Writer
