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 fingers

noticeably warmer than hers, making the

hand once she

but

doing

but then

it, no

irate, but her anger dissipated as

accidentally

the

hold a grudge

OLMS

Corley?

she subconsciously didn't see him as just

was a

the coffee shop, Corley walked her to

parted, Roseanne suddenly said, "You're too cunning. It's better we keep our

at her

of what?"

charmed by me, losing your heart without even

of

Corley resembled

about being tricked into falling into a

"Ah, same difference."

was puzzled. How was it the