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“Yeah, well. Takes one to know one.”

That gets a real smile out of him. Small, but real. “I mean it,” he says. “I’m sorry. For all of it.”

I think about that night. His hand on my thigh, his breath on my neck. The fear and the confusion and the painful thud of my panicked heart.

Then I think about him sitting here with me now. In a cold stairwell. Checking on me when I’m crying.

People are complicated. We all have hidden traumas. I know that better than most.

“Apology accepted,” I tell him.

He exhales. Some of the tension leaves his shoulders. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” I scrub at my face one more time and try to pull myself together. “Seriously—don’t mention it. To anyone. Ever. I have a reputation to maintain.”

He laughs again. “Your secret is safe with me,” he promises.

I push myself to my feet. My legs are wobbly, but they hold.

“Let me walk you back,” Kir offers.

“No.” I shake my head. “I’m fine. Really.”

“Rae—”

“I need to get back to work.” I force myself to sound steady. “Thank you for checking on me. But I’m okay now. Pinky promise.”

He looks like he wants to argue, but he doesn’t. “Alright,” he says. “But if you need anything?—”

“I know where to find you.”

I leave him in the stairwell and take the stairs back to 50. I push through the door and take a handful of steps toward my desk.

Then I freeze.

… Because Lukas is back.

15

RAE

EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW - CONFIDENTIAL

Employee: Everett, Rae

Reviewer: L. Lazarev

STRENGTHS:

? Punctual (when threatened)

? Follows instructions (eventually)

? Looks good in red

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT:

? Emotional regulation (cries in stairwells)