Fleming's frown deepened. "Alright, you two handle it for now."

He hung up and looked up, meeting Esmeralda's stiff, uncertain expression.

His lips pressed into a thin line as he watched her for a few seconds. "Sorry, something urgent just came up. I've already reserved our table. You can call your friend to keep you company."

Esmeralda hardly had a moment to process this.

Fleming had already snapped his seatbelt into place, pressed the gas, and sped off, kicking up a cloud of dust behind him.

She stared after his car for a long moment.

Finally, she blinked, shrugged her shoulders as if to reassure herself, and muttered, "Alright then."

Left alone, Esmeralda glanced around, feeling a little lost.

Her stomach growled. She thought, Well, I'm here already-why make things harder for myself?

With a sigh, she walked inside, found their table, and ordered a few dishes.

The food looked appetizing enough, but every bite tasted bland, as if she were chewing wax.

Her posture, so straight before, suddenly slumped. With a piece of foie gras stuffed in her cheek, she sat there, looking somewhat forlorn.

herself missing Elodie and

today had been

embarrassment and an undefinable sense of grievance welled up within

she thought about it, maybe she was just being petty. After all, they

herself

told herself. Sooner

to get worked

leaving, Jarrod took Elodie straight back

little worried

at him. "Shouldn't you be

fully recovered and was

off his coat. The faint outline of bandages was visible beneath

shape than you

momentarily at a loss for

worried-she just thought he was terrible

off work. The house was empty except for the two

water. She watched him tilt his head back, his Adam's apple

moment, she asked abruptly, "What's the deal

the ring had supposedly been rushed by some random jeweler-nothing

setting the glass down. "It's just like

this man was far more complicated than he

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