Marcus

I glance at the clock, the minutes ticking by agonizingly slow. Talk about bad luck. Just as I was getting ready to leave work, the foreman barged into my office, his expression grave, to inform me about some problem with the production line. And now, here I am, stuck at work, trying desperately to figure out what's wrong so I can get the hell out of here and go to Melanie.

I can't shake off the anxious knot in my stomach, knowing that Melanie and Mallory will be parting ways soon. I had promised Melanie I'd pick her up from the café after she's done with Mallory, and I intend to keep that promise. But with this unexpected delay, I fear I might not make it in time.

To make matters worse, my nerves are all riled up, especially with the thought of Melanie running into Daniel again. The mere idea sends a shiver down my spine, igniting a surge of protectiveness within me.

All of this makes it nearly impossible for me to concentrate on the task at hand.

"Hey, Marcus, you okay?" The foreman's voice breaks through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality.

I blink, momentarily disoriented. "Yeah, I'm fine," I reply absentmindedly, barely registering his concern. "Any of the pressure indications off?"

"No, everything seems normal," the foreman replies, his brow furrowed with concern.

I grunt in frustration, running a hand through my hair as I continue to stare at the production monitors. What the hell is going on?

Suddenly, Jason appears beside me, his voice breaking through my inner turmoil. "Why the long face, Marcus?"

I shoot him a glare, irritation bubbling up inside me. "It's nothing," I snap, my frustration boiling over.

He raises his hands in mock surrender. "Whoa, no need to bite my head off. It's not my fault things go haywire in production units, you know," he retorts defensively.

I curse under my breath, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "Yeah, but why now?" I mutter to myself.

Jason's tone turns serious as he asks, "What's got you so moody, Marcus?"

I glance around, making sure the foreman is out of earshot, before leaning in closer to Jason. "I'll tell you later," I whisper, my voice barely above a murmur.

"Is it about you know who?" Jason asks in a hushed tone, a knowing look in his eyes.

I roll my eyes, exasperated. "Can't you be patient, Jason?" I retort, trying to keep my frustration in check. "I'll fill you in later. And please, stop referring to Melanie as if she's Voldemort."

Jason chuckles, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "Hey, at least you haven't lost your sense of humor," he quips, offering me a reassuring smile.

I straighten up, determination coursing through my veins. Without another word, I grab my safety helmet from the hook by the door, slipping it on with practiced ease.

"Where are you going?" Jason's voice is laced with curiosity as he watches me prepare to leave.

"I'm heading out to the field," I reply briskly. "I need to take a look at the local pressure indicators. Something tells me the problem lies there, even though all the pressure readings on the screen are showing normal."

Jason furrows his brow, concern etched on his face. "You want me to come with you?" he offers, stepping closer.

I shake my head, grateful for his concern but needing to handle this on my own. "No, I've got this," I assure him, flashing him a tight-lipped smile. "I'll let you know if I find anything."

With that, I stride out of the office, determination fueling my every step. Melanie's waiting for me, and I'll be damned if I let anything—or anyone—stand in my way.

Melanie

I step into my apartment, the familiar scent of home enveloping me like a warm embrace. Home sweet home. With a sigh of relief, I shrug off my coat, letting it fall haphazardly onto the nearest chair. There's nothing quite like the feeling of being back in my own space after a long day. Or should I say, two long days.

Despite my disappointment at Marcus having to work late, I can't help but feel a surge of excitement at the thought of him joining me here soon. He promised he'd be here as soon as he could, and I trust him to keep his word.

I make my way to the bathroom, the anticipation building with each step. A hot shower sounds like the perfect way to unwind while I wait for Marcus. I strip off my clothes and step under the steady stream of warm water, letting it wash away the stress of the day.

As the water cascades over me, I close my eyes and let out a contented sigh. The warmth seeps into my bones, soothing away the tension that had been coiled tight within me.

I begin by washing my hair, massaging the shampoo into my scalp with gentle, circular motions. The scent of jasmine fills the air, mingling with the steam to create an intoxicating aroma that wraps around me like a soft blanket.

Next, I turn my attention to my body, lathering up with my favorite shower gel. The rich, creamy texture glides over my skin, leaving behind a trail of floral fragrance that lingers in the air long after I've rinsed it away.

After finishing my shower, I turn off the water and step out, the cool air of the bathroom contrasting with the warmth that still lingers on my skin. I wrap a towel around my hair, securing it in place, and grab another towel to dry my body.

As I reach for my favorite lotion—peaches and cream—I can't help but smile. It's been a while since I've used it. Marcus always loved the scent on me, and I couldn't bring myself to wear it while I was with Daniel. But now, as I massage the lotion into my skin, I revel in the familiar fragrance and the way it leaves me feeling refreshed and renewed.

With my skin feeling soft and smooth, I step out of the bathroom and glance at my phone. Still no message from Marcus. I can't help but feel a twinge of disappointment, but I push it aside, reminding myself that he'll be here soon. I slip into my favorite pajamas, a sense of anticipation bubbling inside me. Marcus will be here soon, I'm sure of it.

I fumble with my phone in my hands, the weight of Mallory's words heavy in my mind. "You should probably meet Daniel again." Her advice echoes in my head like a broken record, each repetition only adding to my uncertainty. Could the solution really be this simple? It's a risk, but maybe it's worth a shot.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I consider my next steps. First, I'll need to call Daniel, ask him if he's willing to meet. Then, I'll have to arrange for Mallory and Adam to be there too, just to be safe. The thought of facing Daniel again fills me with dread, but maybe Mallory is right; Pushing an already troubled mind may have worse results.

But what about Marcus? My heart sinks at the thought of his reaction. He'll definitely freak out if I tell him I'm meeting Daniel. But he has to understand, doesn't he? If there's even the slightest possibility that this could make things better, I have to try.

I glance at my phone, steeling myself for what I know will be a difficult conversation. Taking a deep breath, I dial Daniel's number, my fingers trembling as I wait for him to answer.

My heart skips a beat as Daniel's voice fills my ears, his endearing nickname sending a shiver down my spine. "Baby, I've missed you," he says, his tone laced with longing.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself as I reply, "Hey, Daniel."

"I'm so glad you called," Daniel continues. "I was devastated last night."

His words send a chill down my spine, and I can't help but feel a surge of unease. "You scared me yesterday, Daniel," I finally manage to say, my voice trembling.

"Why would you be scared of me, baby?" Daniel asks, confusion in his tone. "I would never hurt you; you know that."

"Why were you following me and Evie with your car, then?" I ask, my voice filled with frustration.

Daniel sighs, his tone pleading. "You have to understand, Melanie. I want you back, and I'll do anything to make that happen."

My heart sinks at his words, a sense of dread settling over me like a heavy fog. "That's not the way to get me back, Daniel," I reply, my voice firm.

"So there is a way," Daniel says eagerly, hope seeping into his tone.

I close my eyes, willing myself to remain calm. "No, Daniel," I say softly, shaking my head. "There's not."

"Don't say that, baby," Daniel pleads, his desperation growing by the second.

I cringe at the endearment, my skin crawling at the sound of it. "Please don't call me baby," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

"You know I can't do that, Melanie," Daniel replies, his voice tinged with resignation.

I choose not to dwell on it for now, pushing aside the sinking feeling in my chest. "Anyway, I called because I think we should meet to talk about our breakup," I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "I need you to understand that it's over between us."

Daniel's response is immediate. "When do you want to meet?" he asks, his eagerness palpable.

"Tomorrow," I suggest, hesitating slightly before adding, "And just so you know, Mallory and Adam will be there too. I won't feel safe otherwise."

"Baby—" Daniel starts, but I interrupt him.

"It's that or we don't meet at all," I say firmly, cutting off any protest before it can begin.

"Okay," Daniel says immediately, his tone defeated.

"Okay, see you tomorrow," I say, relief flooding through me as Daniel agrees to the meeting. "After work, at the café we met last time."

"I can't wait to see you," Daniel replies eagerly.

"Goodnight," I say quickly before hanging up. My heart is racing, and my hands tremble slightly as I set the phone down.

Now all I have to do is text Mallory about the meeting tomorrow. I quickly type out a message to her, explaining the details, and hit send.

With that taken care of, I hesitate for a moment before composing another message, this time to Marcus. "Are you going to be late?" I type, my fingers hovering over the send button. With a final breath, I hit send and wait for his response, my heart fluttering nervously in my chest.