Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

He really couldn't wait for this kid to arrive.

But all that had nothing to do with Sylvia. She was totally focused on her work.

Around lunchtime, Sylvia's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen. It was her mom, Naomi.

"Hey, Mom, what's up?"

"Honey, all your packages keep showing up at the Garcia place. I figured I'd drop them off and maybe we could grab lunch together."

"Packages? I haven't ordered anything. And I never use the Garcias' address when I shop online."

Okay, maybe she had forgotten to update her shipping address after moving to campus recently. She'd had to take a few detours to pick up stuff lately.

She heard the sound of packages rustling on the other end.

"Nope, your name and number are right here. Anyway, I'm almost at your office. You can see for yourself."

Sylvia was about to say "sure thing," when she heard Naomi suddenly shriek. "Hey! What are you doing?!"

"Naomi, please! I'm begging you-help me!"

That voice... It was Freya!

Sylvia remembered hearing that after getting fired, Freya's parents still treated her like a cash machine for her younger brother. She really hadn't been having it easy these days.

Who knew what she might do now?

Sylvia. She sprang up from her desk and bolted

her coworker,

"Sylvia, where's the fire?"

"None of your business."

pulled her arm

queen, made a show of stumbling

go. She's always

freaked out. Maybe we should check it out? We are coworkers, after

hurried after Sylvia,

Bridget (she was pregnant, after all), nobody wanted to let her go alone. One

out the front door when she heard her mother

time, that's your

got big shots in the industry looking out for her now. Please, I'm begging you, tell her to stop sabotaging me! just want a normal

to the theatrics-dropping to her knees and making

clung to

hard it

used to work

never the same, so

not good

over and

crazy accusations! I have nothing to do

didn't even seem to hear

the ground,