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.

take it, Corley's

was noticeably warmer than hers, making the contact

hand once she had the

remained unchanged, but his

definitely doing it

widened in annoyance, but then he handed

it, no hard

anger dissipated as quickly as it had

all, accidentally bumping

the

a grudge

OLMS

Corley?

she subconsciously didn't see

a paradox either

the coffee shop, Corley walked her to

said, "You're too

at her words.

what?" Roseanne

of being charmed by me, losing

of

that moment, Corley resembled a proud

about being tricked into falling into

"Ah, same difference."

was puzzled. How was it