Once Carter was completely gone, Lina closed the door, listening as his car's engine faded into the distance before turning back to her apartment. The second she stepped inside, she groaned. Clothes were scattered across the small space, the same mess she had left in the morning. She regretted not arranging it earlier, but now, exhaustion weighed on her. The thought of cleaning up felt like too much, so she ignored it.
With a sigh, she dropped to her knees and started unpacking. The food her mom had given her needed to be sorted first—the perishable items placed in the fridge while the rest remained on the floor, waiting for whenever she found the energy to deal with them. It wasn't happening tonight. There was no way in hell she had the energy to deal with it all now. She needed sleep.
Stripping down, she stepped into the tiny bathroom, the familiar tiles cool against her feet. The shower sputtered before a steady stream of warm water flowed, rolling over her skin and easing the tension in her shoulders. She closed her eyes, letting the heat soak into her, washing away the exhaustion clinging to her body. It felt good, the kind of warmth that made her want to stand there forever. But time wasn't on her side. With a reluctant sigh, she reached for the soap, lathering up and scrubbing away the long day before rinsing off and wrapping herself in a towel.
Sleep called to her the moment she stepped out. She barely had the energy to dry off before collapsing onto her bed, the towel forgotten. The cool air brushed against her damp skin, but she was too far gone to care. Within seconds, she was out.
---
The next morning, Lina woke up feeling more refreshed than she had in days. But one glance at the time sent a wave of panic through her. "Shit!" She shot out of bed. If she didn't get ready now, she was going to be late for work.
Jumping out of bed, she rushed through her morning routine. She picked a fitted black pencil skirt, stopping just above her knees, and paired it with a soft lilac blouse that draped neatly over her frame. A pair of nude heels completed the look—nothing too flashy, but enough to look professional. She ran a hand through her hair, smoothing out the strands before grabbing her bag and heading out.
She made a mental note to call Bella after work—her room was still a disaster, and there was no way she'd get through it alone. For now, she had bigger problems. Like getting to work on time.
By the time she rushed downstairs, she barely paused before flagging down a cab. The ride to Aurum Scents took about thirty minutes, and she spent the time staring out the window, half-lost in thought. The city buzzed with its usual morning chaos—horns blaring, people moving with urgency, the rhythm of life continuing without pause.
Once the cab pulled up in front of the building, she paid and stepped out, the familiar sight of Aurum Scents bringing a small sense of comfort. It wasn't Vega Corporation or Blackwood Enterprises, but it had its own reputation in the industry. She crossed the street and walked in, greeting coworkers as she made her way to her office. Her mood was surprisingly good. Maybe it was the extra rest. Or maybe it was the lingering thought of Carter giving her those chocolates.
She had barely sat down when her phone rang. Bella.
Lina sighed and answered. "Hey, what's up?"
"Good morning to you too, sunshine." Bella's voice was annoyingly chipper. "Listen, I need a favor. A big one."
Lina leaned back, already skeptical. "This better not be another one of your schemes."
"It's not a scheme. It's an opportunity!" Bella's excitement was palpable. "So, you know where I work—Elara Designs? Well, my boss wants to collaborate with Aurum Scents. Now that the whole connection with Vega is public, this could be huge for us."
Lina frowned. "Wait… already? How does everyone know about that?"
"Are you kidding? It's everywhere. The second your company got linked with them, people started paying attention. My boss is practically foaming at the mouth to get in on it. And Lina…" Bella lowered her voice as if she was about to drop a life-changing secret. "If I pull this off, I'm looking at a serious promotion."
Lina frowned. "Bella, I don't have that kind of influence."
"Bullshit!" Bella shot back. "You work directly under Carter fucking Hayes. You have access. I just need you to pitch it to him."
Lina pinched the bridge of her nose. "Bella—"
"Please," Bella cut in before she could argue. "Come on, you know I've been busting my ass at this job. This is my shot. Just talk to your boss, put in a good word. That's all I'm asking."
Lina hesitated. She knew how hard Bella had been working. "You think it'll actually happen?"
"It's worth a shot. Worst case, he says no. Best case? I get promoted, and you get to be my favorite person in the world."
"Fine," she finally relented. "I'll see what I can do."
"Yes! I owe you big time."
"Yeah, yeah, you better. I'll call you after I talk to him."
"You're the best, Angie."
"Shut up."
Bella laughed before hanging up, leaving Lina staring at her phone.
She had no idea how she was going to do this. Her boss wasn't exactly the easiest person to approach, and she wasn't the type to pull favors. But she had already said yes, and Bella wasn't going to let her back out now.
She stood, smoothing out her skirt before heading toward the elevator. Carter's office was at the top, which meant she had the entire ride up to figure out how to phrase this without sounding like a complete idiot.
The elevator ride up felt like an eternity. By the time she reached the top floor, her nerves were kicking in. What if he shut her down immediately? What if he thought she was overstepping?
Too late to turn back now.
She walked up to his door, barely giving herself time to think before pushing it open.