The Red String Between Us Part II: Frayed Threads

第43章Whispers

      The news spread faster than I'd expected. By the next morning, the Los Angeles gala was all anyone in the office could talk about. I overheard conversations drifting through hallways, at the coffee machine, even in passing glances when I walked by.

"They'll want photos of Kenji and Mallory together, of course. Childhood sweethearts turned business partners—it's practically made for headlines."

Each word was a pinprick, subtle but sharp. I reminded myself that none of it was malicious, just idle chatter, people connecting dots that weren't theirs to connect. Still, the repetition wore at me, the idea settling like an unwelcome shadow in the corners of my mind.

Mallory, for her part, carried herself with perfect composure. She asked questions in meetings, studied her briefings, and once or twice stopped by my office with thoughtful notes about client strategies. Professional, polished, disarmingly warm. There was nothing to fault—and maybe that was what unsettled me most.

By Thursday, I caught Mia giving me a cautious look as she dropped off reports. "Don't let it get to you," she murmured. "People like a story, especially one they think they already know. Just... remember, they don't know your story."

Her words struck deeper than I wanted to admit. Because she was right—the story was being written for us, without us.

      I texted Kenji after leaving the office, letting him know I had something important to do and would be spending the evening at home. I didn't wait for a reply, simply slipping my phone into my purse as I stepped out. Lately, I'd felt myself subtly pulling back—not intentionally, just instinctively—but I knew it was something I needed to confront