Read and Swoon

One night stand. Fake name. Out before dawn.

By Monday she was sitting in my orientation. On my payroll.
There’s a clause that says this can’t happen.

I’ve handled hostile takeovers with more predictable outcomes.

A transit strike locks us into the corporate townhouse
and I meet the version of Avery she tries to hide.

I get close.
She has a very compelling argument for why I shouldn’t.
The kitchen counter calls her bluff.

And just like that, I lose control of the script.
She doesn’t follow my lead.
She rewrites it.

Then my ex resurfaces with one photo and a story that fits too well.

The narrative was already written.
Seductress. Opportunist. Small-town girl playing a long game.

She moved to a new city,
left everything behind so no one could erase her again.
And fixing this might mean becoming exactly the man she ran from.