Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

The moment the words left her lips, Roseanne instantly regretted it.

But like spilled milk, there was no taking it back.

Corley chuckled, "You know... I'm intrigued by you."

Roseanne rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.

The corner of the man's mouth twitched. "Don't play dumb. I know you understand me."

"What's that? Can't hear you, cough! Let's not talk about it anymore."

Seeing her feign ignorance, Corley couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Run all you want, dodge once or twice, but eventually..."

"Oh dear," Roseanne interrupted, "I forgot my tissues. Do you have one?"

"Sure."

"Lend me one, thanks."

"Now you can hear?" Corley said, half-smiling.

Roseanne was silent.

She was right. Corley indeed had something he needed from her.

But it wasn't until her coffee was nearly finished that he got to the point-

"Mr. Olson is facing a bottleneck with an ongoing project. It's been two months without progress. He's interested in your perspective. Here's all the data." Saying so, he handed over a USB drive.

out to take it, Corley's

hers, making the

her hand once

but his smile grew more

doing it on

annoyance, but then he handed her

it, no hard

but her anger dissipated as quickly as it

all, accidentally

on the street was

a

OLMS

Corley?

didn't see him

was a paradox either

leaving the coffee shop, Corley walked her to

said, "You're too cunning. It's

smiled at her words.

of what?"

charmed by me, losing your heart without even

of

resembled a proud and confident

I'm only worried about being tricked into falling into

"Ah, same difference."

was puzzled. How was