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.

sent waves of discomfort coursing up her leg, making every moment of standing

feels compelled to address any misunderstandings personally,” Brian explained, his protective stance

held winter’s chill. “That won’t be necessary. Her apology means nothing

about your relationship with Brian. I shouldn’t have allowed him to comfort me or sought his help. But my claustrophobia—it overwhelmed me. I was terrified. Don’t let this create a rift

performance was masterful—every trembling word, each glistening tear crafted to evoke

kind of display that typically wrapped men around her finger,

Rachel saw through

this energy toward your professional duties. Your theatrical displays are wasted here. And if you truly respect my relationship with Brian,

constructed mask cracked, revealing genuine

orchestrating this apology before Brian had backfired spectacularly. She’d expected easy forgiveness,

things worse. My attempts at reconciliation have failed. Rachel’s

at fresh tears

act was seamless, every movement designed to

a tissue, his voice gentle as summer rain. “Here, dry your eyes. I harbor no ill

Tracy’s voice quavered with carefully calculated

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

watching this scene unfold exactly as she had

preparations, steeling herself for this moment, the reality struck deeper than any imagined

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

the crushing pressure building in her chest,

me?” Tracy’s voice dripped with sweetness as she dabbed her eyes, tugging at Brian’s sleeve with

Brian acquiesced, turning to address Rachel with

darkness and confined spaces. That embrace earlier stemmed purely from fear, nothing more. You’ve always

The word mocked

carried arctic frost. “You seem quite confident in reading my thoughts. What makes you so certain

Darkness clouded Brian’s features,

defiance had clearly

enough. She needs only to vanish from our presence, maintain

she clung to