Mirabelle’s POV:
The bouquet on my desk was obnoxiously large, it had both roses and lilies arranged. I didn’t bother to check the card to know who they were from, but I read it anyway.
“To my beautiful Mirabelle. I’m sorry. Please let me explain. Love, Noah.”
A sigh escaped me. Love. The word used to mean something. I could feel my fingers tighten around the card as my mind replayed the last few days. The picture of Noah with Natasha had branded itself in my memory, flaring up like a fire whenever I closed my eyes. He said it was innocent, that I had misunderstood, but how was I supposed to believe him? Even now, he was still working with her.
I shoved the card into the drawer and pushed the bouquet aside. I had half a mind to toss them in the trash, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. As I tried to go back to work, my thoughts kept wandering back to Noah.
Deep down, I wanted to forgive him. Part of me yearned for things to be as they once were, before Natasha and her perfect smile and his endless excuses. But every time I softened, every time I felt the slightest tug of forgiveness, I remembered how easily I had lost Ken to Mitchelle.
A soft ping from my phone pulled me from my thoughts. It was a message from Ken.
“Hope you’re having a good day, Mira. Need a distraction? I’m always here.”
Ken. He’d been there for me, hadn’t he? And maybe that’s exactly what I needed, a distraction. I bit my lip, glancing at the bouquet once more. Perhaps it was time Noah felt what I’d been feeling these last few days.
My office door opened, and I looked up to see Anna, one of my assistants. “Mirabelle, you have a meeting at 3, but your schedule’s free after that.”
“Thank you, Anna,” I murmured. “I’ll head out after the meeting. If anyone asks, tell them I’ve gone home for the day.”
She nodded, casting a quick glance at the flowers on my desk before leaving. I didn’t care to explain. I had my own plans.
After the meeting, I gathered my things and decided to head to the nearby mall. A walk among bustling crowds might clear my head, I thought. But as I wandered from store to store, my thoughts kept drifting back to Noah. I wished I could simply hate him, but my feelings were black and white. It was a mix of anger, disappointment, and something I didn’t want to admit was love.
My phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my bag, hoping it wasn’t Noah. But no, it was Ken.
“If you’re free later, we could grab a coffee? No pressure, though.”
I typed out a quick response, agreeing to meet him for a drink. Maybe talking to Ken would help ease the ache in my chest.
Or simply help me to get Noah jealous.
Just as I slipped my phone back into my bag, I looked up-and froze. There, across the atrium of the mall, was Noah. And Natasha.
They were standing outside a boutique, talking. He looked serious, saying something to her, and she was nodding, her gaze fixed on him like he was the only person in the world. I felt my heart twist painfully. I wanted to turn away, to leave before either of them saw me. But I couldn’t. It was like I was glued to the spot.
Then she laughed, reached out, touching his arm, and he didn’t pull away. My chest tightened, and something inside me snapped.
He’d had his chance to explain, but seeing this… No, I wasn’t going to forgive him. Not this time.
I typed out a quick message to Ken.
“Come over tonight.”
Ken arrived at my office an hour later, looking a little confused as he stepped inside. He dressed up just a bit, a casual look with a hint of perfume.
“Thanks for inviting me over,” Ken said, giving me a warm smile. “I wasn’t sure you’d actually want company.”
I smiled back, gesturing for him to sit. “I could use a friend tonight,” I admitted, feeling a pang of guilt. Ken didn’t deserve to be used like this. But I needed someone. Anyone. And he was here.
He chuckled softly, relaxing into the couch. “Well, you know I’m always just a call away.”
Just as I was about to suggest we order some takeout, there was a knock on the door. My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t have to guess who it was. And in a way, I was glad he’d shown up.
Ken noticed my hesitation. “Are you expecting someone?”
I forced a casual shrug. “Probably just a delivery. I’ll be right back.”
I opened the door, and there he was. Noah, looking tired and frustrated, his gaze flickering to the space behind me where Ken was sitting.
“Mirabelle,” he began, but his voice trailed off when he saw Ken. A flicker of anger passed over his face, and for a moment, I almost felt guilty.
Almost!
“Noah,” I said coolly, blocking his view of the room. “What are you doing here?”
He glanced past me again, his jaw tight. “I wanted to talk. To apologize.”
“Oh, now you want to talk?” I replied, keeping my voice calm even as my heart pounded. “Funny, because when I wanted to talk, you were too busy spending time with your colleague.”
His eyes narrowed, and I could see the jealousy flaring in them. “So, this is what? Payback?”
Ken, sensing the tension, stood up. “Maybe I should go-”
“No,” I cut in, reaching out to stop him. “You’re fine, Ken. Noah was just leaving.”
Noah clenched his fists, his eyes burning into mine. “Mirabelle, can we talk-alone?”
I hesitated, torn between wanting to hear him out and wanting to make him feel the same sting of jealousy he’d inflicted on me. “I think I’ve heard everything I need to,” I said, stepping back to close the door.
“Mirabelle, don’t do this,” he said, his voice softer now, almost pleading. “I know you’re hurt, but you don’t understand. Nothing happened with Natasha.”
“Nothing happened?” I repeated, my voice shaking. “Because from where I was standing today, it looked like you were pretty cozy with her.”
He looked down, guilt flashing across his face. “She’s a partner, Mirabelle. We were discussing work. That’s all.”
“I don’t care what you were discussing,” I said, my voice rising. “The point is that you are always with her. Every time.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but no words came out. And in that silence, I felt a strange sort of satisfaction. Finally, he understood, if only for a moment, how it felt to be on the outside.
“This is unfortunately not about me, it’s about him isn’t it?” He began. “You don’t want to believe me because of what he did to you, how you lost him to another woman. But what I find dumb is how you could foolishly go back to him just to make jealous.”
“I think you should go, Noah,” I said, glaring at me.
He looked at me for a long moment. But he didn’t fight it. He turned and walked away, leaving me with a heart that felt both broken and strangely whole.
When I closed the door, Ken gave me a curious look. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, managing a smile. “I will be.”
And as we settled back onto the couch, a part of me knew that maybe, just maybe, it was time to listen to Noah.