Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 7

Chapter 7:

Rachel remained unmoved by the ringing phone, her expression a mask of practiced indifference.

“Tell him I’m preoccupied with work,” she stated flatly.

Samira, ever diplomatic, couldn’t mirror such directness. “I apologize, Mr. White, but Ms. Marsh is currently engaged in important matters. I’ll notify her of your message when she’s available.”

“Is that right?” Brian’s voice carried a sharp edge of displeasure. “Have her in my office within five minutes.”

His words fell like ice, brooking no argument.

Uncertainty flickered across Samira’s features. “Ms. Marsh, how should we proceed?”

Rachel drew in a measured breath, meeting her assistant’s concerned gaze. “Prepare the car and wait for me. I won’t be long.”

The moment Rachel’s knuckles met the polished wood of the top-floor office door, Tracy’s honeyed voice drifted through. “Please enter.”

As the door swung open, an electric silence filled the space between their locked gazes.

“Rachel, what a pleasure,” Tracy practically glided forward, her welcome dripping with sweetness.

She extended her hand in greeting.

Rachel deftly sidestepped the attempted contact, her movement subtle but deliberate.

Tracy’s composure faltered, her eyes growing glossy with tears as she turned to Brian. “You see? Rachel hasn’t forgiven me.”

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Unwilling to witness their theatrical display of closeness, Rachel cut to the chase. “Mr. White, what requires my immediate attention?”

Her stilettos had become instruments of torture, the swelling ankle trapped within screaming its protest.

of discomfort coursing up her leg, making every moment of standing increasingly unbearable. She had no time

any misunderstandings personally,” Brian explained, his protective stance

she now?” Rachel’s smile held winter’s chill. “That won’t be necessary.

I shouldn’t have

was masterful—every trembling word, each glistening tear

of display that typically wrapped men around her finger,

saw through

your professional duties. Your theatrical displays are wasted here. And if you truly respect my relationship with Brian, maintain appropriate boundaries

mask cracked,

She’d expected easy forgiveness, not this steel-spined

gracefully, Tracy sought refuge beside Brian. “Brian, I’ve only made things worse. My attempts at reconciliation have failed. Rachel’s rejection

at

seamless, every movement

a tissue, his voice gentle as summer rain. “Here, dry your

Tracy’s voice quavered with carefully

course. When have I ever blamed you in all our years of friendship?” In the expansive office, their

his fiancée, watching this scene unfold exactly as she had

preparations, steeling herself for this moment, the

each other perfectly, making Rachel feel like an outsider—a misplaced piece

her ankle now seemed trivial compared to the crushing pressure building in her chest, an invisible weight that threatened to suffocate

help me?” Tracy’s voice dripped with sweetness as she

Brian acquiesced, turning to address

embrace earlier stemmed purely from fear, nothing more. You’ve always been so

word

that what you think?” Rachel’s smile carried arctic frost. “You seem quite confident in reading my

Brian’s features, surprise evident in

defiance had clearly caught him

her glacial smile. “You hope I can forgive her? Simple enough. She needs only

tears flowed anew as she clung to Brian’s sleeve,