The Queen's Back

Ever since Ava and Bud said she had given up on Bud, it wasn't just words-it was concrete action.

After returning from her trip abroad, Ava even had a boyfriend. Now that Chelly and Bud have broken up, to say that Ava had anything to do with it would be completely wrong. "It's because of you that he broke up with me!" Chelly sobbed, glancing at the crowd gathered near the entrance.

She then took out her cell phone and played the recording of her conversation with Bud from the night before.

As the phone connected, Chelly spoke first, "Bud, why are you calling me so late today?"

Everyone around could hear that it was Chelly's voice, slightly quavering.

After that, there was a long pause without anyone speaking.

No one knew how long it took, but finally, Bud's voice came through. "Chelly, let's break up. I'm sorry."

Again, there was a long silence, until Bud added, "It's my fault. I'll make it up to you materially. I'm hanging up now."

As Bud prepared to end the call, Chelly cried out, "But can you tell me why? Did I do something wrong? Didn't you say you would be responsible for me?"

Bud sighed on the other end and then said, "It's not your fault. You're fine. It's my problem. I love someone else."

"Is it Ava?" Chelly asked.

Bud responded with a soft "yeah" before hanging up.

When the recording ended, Chelly pointed at Ava and said, "You said it wasn't because you that I broke up with my boyfriend. Then what was that just played? We were both going to get married! If you hadn't given Bud any hints, he would not have resolutely broken up with me! Everyone judge for yourselves-does this have anything to do with Ava? Is it okay for me to confront her?"

Once Chelly's words hung in the air, combined with the earlier recording and Bud's last response, it was clear that most people sided with Chelly.

A few gossip-loving coworkers whispered among themselves, "Can you believe it? The new coworker is a homewrecker!"

She seems like the kind

boyfriend is gone just like

pathetic, but her boyfriend is also not a

*****

the recording. According to it, Bud had broken up with Chelly because of her. Knowing that Bud loved her made her feel a little funny

plague,

felt like a

not, I didn't give Bud any hints.

was as if Chelly's words had

won't be with him

her words had a surprising weight that made people feel a

Bud, just take an oath. It's not like

with you, just take

and held out her fingers. "I, Ava, swear that if Bud confesses his

Bud rushed over, yanked her away, and pulled her behind him. "Ava, what

he arrived, he heard the chatter here and walked over Unexpectedly, he heard Chelly pressuring

pointing

as Bud approached, the people around them whispered accusations,

clear they believed Bud had broken up

you have any anger, take it out on me. Why did you come to her?" Bud said,

the compensation she needed, and since she had accepted it, it

so special about her that made you ditch me, the one you were about to

cheeks. Her eyes

you two broke up over is none of my business. I already have

straight out of the company, not