Around noon, a soft knock pulled me from the stream of numbers on my screen.
The door opened a tiny bit. "Want me to grab you lunch?"
Her voice.
I didn't look up. I couldn't—not right now. I already knew that if I did, I'd lose whatever fragile focus I had left.
"I'm not hungry. Go ahead and take your break."
I heard her pause. Just a beat. Then—
"Alright."
The door clicked shut again.
****
The call ended with a final exchange of polite smiles. I tapped the screen of the tablet, ending the video meeting, and set it down with more force than necessary.
Another client satisfied. Another deal sealed.
I should've felt accomplished.
Instead, I stood there for a moment staring into empty space at the surface of my desk before my eyes drifted toward the window.
Just a glance. That's all it was supposed to be.
But then I saw her.
Isabella
