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.

up her leg, making every moment of standing

misunderstandings personally,” Brian

“That

forth on cue, her features arranged in perfect distress. “Rachel, please understand. I never intended any harm. I know about your relationship with Brian. I shouldn’t have allowed him to comfort me or

word, each glistening tear crafted to evoke

the kind of display that typically wrapped men around

Rachel saw

energy toward your professional duties. Your theatrical displays are wasted here. And if you truly respect my relationship with Brian, maintain appropriate boundaries instead of clinging to him while begging for

mask cracked, revealing genuine

backfired spectacularly. She’d expected

beside Brian. “Brian, I’ve only made things worse.

at fresh

every movement designed to

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

that?” Tracy’s voice quavered with

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

fiancée, watching this scene unfold exactly as she

preparations, steeling herself for this moment, the reality struck

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

crushing pressure building in her chest, an invisible

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

Brian acquiesced, turning to address

stemmed purely from fear, nothing more. You’ve always been so understanding, Rachel. Surely you can see

word

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

clouded Brian’s features, surprise evident in his

clearly caught

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

to Brian’s sleeve, the perfect