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The boutique hummedwith the usual rhythm of a weekday—customers browsing racks.
The soft rustle of tissue paper as Candy wrapped purchases, the faint buzz of music playing in the background.
Normally, this environment calmed me.
I loved being surrounded by my work, seeing customers light up when they found something they loved. But today, I couldn’t focus.
Candy noticed it too. She leaned across the counter as I sorted through receipts for the third time.
“You okay, boss?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
I forced a smile, trying to keep my hands steady.
“Yeah, just a bit tired. Didn’t sleep well last night,” I admitted.
Candy tilted her head, unconvinced.
“You sure? You’ve been zoning out all day. If something’s up, you know you can talk to me, right?” Candy asked.
Her kindness made me ache. The truth sat heavy on my chest, but I couldn’t bring myself to unload it on her. Not yet.
Not when I hadn’t even figured out how to deal with it myself.
“I’m fine,” I lied, giving her what I hoped was a reassuring smile.
Candy hesitated but eventually nodded.
“Okay. But if you need me, I’m here,” Candy said.
I nodded, grateful for her understanding but still unwilling to let her in.
She went back to helping a customer, and I let out a shaky breath.
My thoughts drifted to the black roses I’d thrown into the garbage bin last night.
The memory made my stomach twist. Marcus always had a way of getting under my skin, even now, years after I’d left him.
The fact that he knew where I lived sent a chill through me.
Had he hired a private investigator? It wouldn’t be out of character for him.
Marcus thrived on control, and he’d never hesitated to cross lines to get what he wanted.
The bell above the door jingled, snapping me back to the present.
For a second, I panicked, thinking it was Marcus, strolling in with another bouquet of black roses, fake smile on his face.
It wasn’t him. I let out a sigh of relief and plastered on a smile as a customer walked in.
The hours dragged, and by the time the last customer left, I realized I’d barely registered the entire day.
“Have a great night, Tori,” Candy called as she grabbed her bag.
She paused at the door. “You’ve got another date with Cole tonight, don’t you?”
I blinked, startled. The day had slipped through my fingers, and I hadn’t even noticed. That wasn’t like me.
“Yeah,” I said, though my voice sounded distant even to my own ears. “Have a good night, Candy.”