WHEN WE MET

Chapter One: Everybody Knows His Name

**Monday, August 21, 2028**
**7:02 A.M.**
**Nova, Cypress State**

The crystal vase shattered against the white penthouse wall.

Glass exploded across the hardwood floor.

Silence lasted exactly one second.

Then—

"What the fuck do you mean you're leaving?"

Jessica's voice echoed through the penthouse.

Chris Davis stood in the middle of the living room with a black duffel bag hanging from his shoulder.

His jaw tightened.

"I said I have to go."

Jessica laughed.

Not because anything was funny.

Because she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"No."

She shook her head.

"You don't get to say it like that."

Chris looked exhausted.

"Celine—"

"Don't."

She pointed at him.

"Don't call me Celine right now."

That made him stop.

Whenever she refused to let him call her Celine...

he already knew the argument had gone too far.

She was Jessica now.

Only Jessica.

"You lied to me."

Chris rubbed a hand over his face.

"I didn't lie."

"You absolutely fucking lied."

"I told you I had meetings."

"In Nova."

"I—"

"In Nova, Chris."

Her voice cracked.

"You never once said you were going back to New York."

Chris looked away.

That was answer enough.

Jessica stared at him.

"You planned this."

"No."

"You packed a bag."

"I packed this this morning."

"You already bought the plane ticket."