Saturday morning crept in quietly, the sun’s warm rays slipping through the curtains of Aria’s bedroom. Jenna had invited her the week of her boyfriend's beach hangout. She must come with Noah, Jenna had insisted.
Stirred in her sleep, tangled in her sheets, her body still tired from the emotional toll of the week. The office buzz, the stares, the whispers—Vanessa's voice echoing like a bad song she couldn't turn off. It played over and over in her head, reminding her of the accusation she couldn't shake: leaking confidential company information.
Despite the sleepless night, Aria forced herself up. Her phone buzzed with a text from Jenna:
Jenna: Hey, babe. Don’t forget today. Beach hangout. You and Noah better show up or I’ll come drag you two out myself.
A faint smile tugged at Aria’
