No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

"Felicia!"

Dustin's voice, as smooth and pleasant as ever, pierced through the air.

Yet, the moment it reached my ears, it felt like a soft thorn, painfully stabbing at my heart.

How could someone, who appeared so harmless on the outside, harbor such darkness within? To achieve his goals, he wouldn't hesitate to go to extreme lengths.

Suppressing the pain, I went straight to the point, "Dustin, I need a favor."

"Sure, tell me," Dustin's tone was different now. Taking over the reins of the Wagner Group from Conrad had lent him an air of authority.

Seems like your position not only shapes your thoughts but your actions as well.

"Our colleague, Deborah, also a good friend of mine, up and quit her job under some weird circumstances. I have no clue where she is now and was hoping you'd use your contacts to help track her down." "Deborah?" Dustin repeated, "Okay."

"Thanks, Dustin," I replied, maintaining the same courteous tone as before.

"Felicia," he called out softly, "Can we meet up?"

"Sure, when's good for you?" I agreed readily.

free," Dustin always had this way of accommodating me. He never expected me to adjust my

for me was hidden in these small gestures, but back then, my eyes were only for

and we could go see your parents. It's been a while since I visited," I suggested, catching Dustin off guard. "...Okay, I'll

Why did you want me to stay away? I might not listen to you this time..." At the department dinner that night, everyone was

Mr. Collins hadn't shown up at the

news with everyone else, simply saying he had

I spoke, the sadness hit me again, leading me

his voice faint in my

gone...My

next day, I woke up to the ringing

Hudson, have you sobered up

me home," I managed to say, despite having drunk a lot, my

much after all.

so I asked

lot of

how could he have said anything of

early, you're

up on me, are