The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Madeline said, "I'm still not hungry."

Sasha nodded in agreement. "Right. We'll just skip a meal or two if we're short on money."

Madeline's head bobbed once. "I'll look out for him after work. You can leave through the basement parking lot if he's waiting by the door. If he isn't, we'll leave through the main entrance." "Thank you!" Sasha threw her arms around Madeline gratefully. "You're the best. I love you!"

Madeline chuckled as she said, "Don't mention it."

They chatted some more before their supervisor came over to urge them to return to their workstations. Only then did the two women let each other go.

Before starting work, Sasha leaned close to Madeline and whispered, "We'll talk after we get off work."

The latter nodded imperceptibly, "Got it."

Upon getting home, Jessica sat in the living room and fell into deep thought. Steven seemed to always have to bear the brunt of whatever favor she asked of him, including speaking up for her.

she would have to resort to other

seeing Annalise do better than her. She went on Instagram and found Casper's profile. She clicked on their conversation and found that he had left her a torrent of messages, none of which she replied to. She reckoned he would be apprehensive if she told him the real reason she

couldn't help

all this while?

forgotten to respond

texts.

M

replied to her, still grinning from ear to

warmer, Jessica figured it was time to strike. She laid bare her purpose and typed, "If I remember correctly, you

she posted the video of Annalise and Casper on the Internet, would Zane still be willing to overlook the matter? Jessica doubted it. She knew men too

she only texted him because

her an immediate confirmation. Instead, he asked,

hesitation, "Could you send me the

me what you plan to do with it, and I'll consider it," was all Casper wrote. He had more or less figured out what Jessica wanted to do with the video, but he refused to believe it. She had been nothing short of angelic when they were together. How could she stoop so low