was still spinning. Ju

. Continue pursuing rejecti

r an AI

ring into a cup of lukewarm coffee in the breakroom. He

ked, slumping into t

ea," I muttered

e 'I've secretly loved you from afar for seven

a near-suicide mission,

on my behalf. "The Julian Vance? Mr. E

ne and

t' s... u

ed, rubbing my temples. "No

oe Sinclair. Julian' s on-again, off-again ex-fiancée.

d, bracin

ugar-coated condescension. "I heard about

ad. She probably

id, keeping m

tic. And marriage? Really, Ava, you do

ually did, a dull ache of humiliation. But

hospital funding. I knew he was i

uddenly louder, brighter, "Julian and

ked out. Julian was just exiting the conference r

alled out, making su

d up, su

rything. "She was asking about our plans. I was just telling her

nt on the other

n back to me. A flicker of something –

. This weekend sounds fine." He then spoke into

g up o

g up on Chloe S

look at enga

havior deviating significantly from establishe

ed to