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 grip lingered, their

was noticeably warmer than hers, making the contact feel significantly

quickly withdrew her hand once she had the

expression remained unchanged, but his smile

definitely doing it

but then

no

irate, but her anger

accidentally

on the street was

a grudge

OLMS

Corley?

that mean she subconsciously didn't see him

was a

leaving the coffee shop, Corley walked her

too cunning. It's better we

smiled at her words. "You're

of what?" Roseanne

me, losing your

of

resembled a proud and

only worried about being tricked into falling

"Ah, same difference."

How