The company cafeteria was unusually calm for the lunch rush.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, pooling across the polished tabletop where two trays of food waited untouched. Beyond the glass, the afternoon shimmered in waves of heat, but inside, the steady hum of conversations, clinking utensils, and distant coffee machines blended into a familiar rhythm Denisse had long since grown used to.
She glanced at her phone one last time before slipping it beside her tray.
Lunch? Cafeteria.
The message she'd sent Gigi earlier had been answered almost immediately.
Denisse had gone ahead and ordered for both of them, knowing exactly what Gigi would choose anyway.
She folded her hands loosely on the table and let herself wait.
Movement from a nearby table caught her attention.
Denver stood, gathering the empty plates from their table onto a tray as his colleagues rose with him. Judging by the stack of dishes and the easy conversation between them, they had just finished lunch.
As they walked past Denisse's table on their way out, Denver happened to glance in her direction.
Their eyes met.
Recognition crossed his face, and he gave her a casual smile.
Denisse smiled back without thinking before returning her attention to the food at her table.
There was something different about him these days.
Not physically, although he'd certainly grown into himself since college. It was quieter than that. More confidence in the way he carried himself. More certainty. The awkward student she remembered had become someone people naturally followed.
As Denver and his colleagues continued toward the exit, another familiar voice rose above the cafeteria chatter.
"Hi, Denver."
Denisse looked up.
Gigi had just stepped inside, pausing long enough to greet him as they crossed paths.
Denver smiled politely.
"Hey, Gigi."
Nothing more.
The brief exchange ended as naturally as it began, and Gigi continued toward the table.
She slid into the chair opposite Denisse with an appreciative sigh.
"You already ordered?"
"I know you too well."
"I'll never complain about that."
Gigi picked up her spoon before glancing over her shoulder toward the hallway Denver had disappeared into.
"Have you noticed?" she asked. "Denver's changed a lot since college."
Denisse followed her gaze for a brief moment before smiling.
"Yeah."
She stirred her rice absentmindedly.
"He's all grown up now."
There was unmistakable pride in her voice.
"And just look at everything he's accomplished in his department."
Gigi nodded with an approving smile.
"Couldn't be more proud of him."
"Me too."
For a while, conversation gave way to the comfortable silence of two friends enjoying lunch together.
The food was warm, the cafeteria pleasantly busy around them, and for several minutes the only sounds between them were the quiet scrape of utensils against ceramic plates.
Then Gigi set down her spoon.
A knowing smile slowly spread across her face.
"So..."
Denisse didn't even have to look up.
She already knew where this was going.
"How did the confession at the birthday party go?"
The excitement in Gigi's voice was impossible to miss.
"I figured the two of you sneaked off together. After you excused yourself to the restroom, I didn't see either of you for quite a while."
Denisse's hand paused midway to her mouth.
A smile tugged at her lips despite herself.
She lowered her gaze to her plate, gently shaking her head.
Gigi frowned.
"What?"
She leaned forward immediately.
"Oh, come on. Don't do that."
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Spill. I want every single detail."
Denisse couldn't help laughing quietly under her breath.
If only there were details to tell.
She took another bite, buying herself another second before finally looking across the table.
A sheepish smile settled on her face.
"Actually..."
She let the word hang for a moment.
"...no confession happened."
Gigi froze.
"What?"
She stared at Denisse in disbelief before nearly inhaling the spoonful she'd just taken.
"What?" she sputtered after swallowing. "Why?"
Denisse laughed softly at her reaction.
"Well..." She shrugged helplessly. "Aside from Lesley being ridiculously busy at her own birthday party..."
Her smile turned fond at the memory.
"...I finally managed to get her alone."
For one perfect moment, she'd thought the timing had aligned.
She'd had the words ready.
Her heart had been racing so loudly she was sure Lesley could hear it.
Then—
"Daphne interrupted."
The words came with an amused sigh.
"She walked in right when I finally had the chance."
Gigi threw her head back dramatically.
"Oh, God."
She rubbed a hand over her face.
"Of all the possible moments she could've interrupted..."
She pointed her spoon accusingly at the invisible culprit.
"...she chose your confession."
Denisse could only laugh.
"When you put it that way..."
She shook her head, unable to decide whether the memory frustrated her or amused her more now.
"It almost feels unreal."
"Seriously," Gigi groaned. "The universe owes you a do-over."
Denisse answered with nothing more than a small smile, the corners of her lips lifting before fading just as quickly.
"You think the universe is being cruel to us again?" she asked quietly. "Just like before?"
Gigi snorted, leaning back in her chair. "Or maybe Daphne interrupted on purpose." She shrugged, her grin turning mischievous. "She probably wants Ms. Ashford all to herself."
Denisse let out a soft hum.
Her gaze drifted across the cafeteria, but the employees moving from table to table blurred into the background.
Instead, her thoughts slipped back to Lesley's birthday.
She hadn't gone there expecting to have Lesley all to herself. With family, friends, and colleagues filling the venue, she'd known that was unrealistic. Still, somewhere in the back of her mind, she'd held on to the hope that a quiet moment might present itself.
It never did.
Every time she caught sight of Lesley, someone else needed her attention. A guest stopped her for a conversation. Another pulled her away for a toast. The evening seemed determined to keep her just out of reach.
Then, as the celebration stretched on, Denisse had wandered down to the dock for a little peace and quiet.
She could still remember the soft glow of the setting sun on the water.
And then Lesley had come to her.
For a brief moment, it had been just the two of them.
She'd thought that was finally her chance.
Just as the words were about to leave her lips, Daphne had appeared as if summoned by fate itself.
Coincidence.
It had to be.
Still...
She pressed her lips together, unable to completely dismiss the thought.
Gigi caught the look on her face and pointed a finger at her. "No. Don't overthink it."
Denisse blinked, meeting her friend's knowing stare.
"You need to make your move before Daphne crawls her way back into Ms. Ashford's life."
A quiet laugh escaped Denisse.
"Yeah," she admitted with a small nod. "You're right."
"Good." Gigi clapped her hands together once. "Then invite her over tonight. Your apartment. Just the two of you."
Denisse raised an eyebrow.
Gigi's smile widened into one that spelled trouble.
"I promise I won't disturb you."
"You better not," Denisse replied, narrowing her eyes in mock warning.
Gigi placed a hand over her heart, looking thoroughly offended. "Denisse, I'm deeply hurt that you'd even think I'd interrupt."
"You absolutely would."
"...Okay," Gigi conceded with a grin. "But only if it was really entertaining."
After lunch, the afternoon settled into its usual rhythm.
The phones rarely stopped ringing. One client call bled into the next, each ending with another meeting to schedule, another calendar to rearrange. Denisse moved through it all with practiced efficiency, jotting down notes, confirming appointments, and answering emails in between.
Lesley had left the office shortly after lunch, mentioning she had a personal matter to attend to.
The office had felt a little quieter after that.
Denisse finished writing the last detail on her notepad and set her pen beside the keyboard. A glance at the clock in the corner of her computer screen told her there was still an hour left before the end of the workday.
One hour.
She leaned back slightly and closed her eyes, rubbing away the dull ache that had settled behind them.
A soft vibration broke through the silence.
Her phone lit up on the desk.
Lesley.
Denisse straightened almost immediately, picking it up before the screen dimmed.
A message.
Come by the restaurant after work.
The words sat there for a second longer than necessary.
Then, slowly, Denisse's lips curved into a small smile she didn't try to hide.
She angled her phone slightly, already thinking of what to reply, thumb hovering over the keyboard—
Footsteps cut through the office.
Sharp and deliberate.
Denisse looked up.
Daphne.
Daphne stood in front of her desk, dressed as impeccably as ever, her posture straight and composed.
Denisse immediately sat up.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Phillips," she greeted with a polite smile. "Ms. Ashford isn't here. She left the office early."
Daphne returned the greeting with a faint nod.
"It's all right." Her voice was calm. "I didn't come to see her."
Denisse blinked.
For a brief second, she wondered if she'd misheard.
Not here for Lesley?
Then why...
"I came to talk to you," Daphne said.
Her gaze remained fixed on Denisse's, unreadable.
"Privately."
The word lingered between them.
Denisse felt her fingers tighten ever so slightly around the edge of her desk.
A dozen possibilities flashed through her mind, none of them making much sense. She barely knew Daphne beyond the handful of times they'd crossed paths.
Why would she want a private conversation?
And why now?
"...Of course," Denisse replied after a beat, masking her uncertainty with the same professional composure she wore every day, though the question continued to echo in the back of her mind.
What could Daphne possibly want to talk about?