Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life

"Who says we're definitely going to lose?" Brianna huffed, clearly annoyed. "And having her here doesn't mean we're going to win either!"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it." Ivan tried to calm her down. "But it took a lot of effort to get her on board. We even helped a small company just to bring her in. If she leaves now, wouldn't all that be for nothing?" "Yeah, Princess, we'd be totally at a loss!" The others chimed in quickly.

"All this talk, you just want to keep her around, don't you?" Brianna accused.

Ivan cleared his throat. "It's also for your own good."

Brianna still looked skeptical.

"What's done is done at your cousin's place. Getting mad now won't change anything. Think about it. If you keep Flora here, under your watchful eye, she's like a lamb ready for slaughter. Letting her go would be doing her a favor, wouldn't it?"

Brianna started to feel swayed but was still grumpy. "Do you think Flora's computer skills are better than mine?"

"She... she's just better at the hands-on stuff. She's not even a computer science major, so her theory can't be as strong as yours," Ivan said, feeling a bit guilty for bending the truth. "She can't possibly be better than you. Keeping her on the team and outshining her with your skills would be much sweeter, wouldn't it?"

keep her

that did the trick. Ivan

guys around him felt a collective weight lift

the Princess. She might be high-strung and fiery, but she was

to talk to Flora! You all have to back me up!" "Of

feeling a bit exasperated. "Princess, we're really hungry. Can we go

"Yeah, I'm starving too."

were in the next

edge the whole time, almost tearing up when he saw Ivan's

head out. It's all

nodded slightly and followed

walked out of the classroom, they

said warmly, only to get a hard stomp on his foot from Brianna. Ivan winced in pain but kept