The days slipped around Priya's shoulders, each one weighing heavier and heavier. But still she kept her chin up and eyes calm while around her the whispers spread and moral evaporated. The pool was down to six and by now everyone knew they'd lost the war. All that remained was the pending announcement to follow as Marai named the firms newest first year associate.

The morning after her win at court, Jessica had hurried over, thin hair cut in soft layers around her oval face, eyes round and lips skewed into her closest version of a smile as she congratulated Priya. In the two months together at MNS, this was only the third time they'd ever exchanged words, though she had come to learn it wasn't a mark of competitiveness but rather a sort of social awkwardness. Jessica didn't know how to immerse herself in social niceties, but, from the glimpses Priya had witnessed around the office, though she was tiny, Jessica was a fierce, confident litigator with a bite far more savage than her bark.

Taryn had taken to casting heated glances over the tip of her upturned nose, occasionally standing shoulder to shoulder with an equally morose Mark. Calvin, on the other hand, appeared oddly relieved as his usually hunched shoulders lifted, lightening the bulk of his heavy frame.

Hadrian hadn't said a word to her, or she to him, in almost a week since she'd fled from his penthouse. Though she could track his gaze watching her from time to time, he'd otherwise given her a wide berth.

Priya smoothed a hand over her belly, adjusting the waist of her slacks even though everything was pristine after her pit-stop to the women's room. At the sound of a woman's voice, giving her permission to enter, Priya twisted the crystal doorknob and stepped into the lush corner office.

Marai stood by the wide bank of floor to ceiling windows curving in a stunning sightline over central park. She wore grey on grey with her skirt, heels, blouse and pearls. At the sound of Priya's entry, her head swivelled around and that wing of hair flipped back, revealing her stark gaze and burgundy lips.

"Close the door."

Priya did as she was told, then crossed the suite to the settee where Marai was already seated, legs crossed and arms spread on either side of her. "I think you know why I've called you in," she began.

Priya faltered on the barest fraction of a second as she sank down into the ivory cushions facing her boss. "Yes, I think so."

She'd scored fifteen million dollars. As this was a pro-bono case, none of the money would come to the firm, but the coo in and of itself was a major victory. There wasn't a news station or paper, that wasn't talking about this and overnight, Priya Seth had gone from a speck in a sea of thousands to a name on the rise.

"Admittedly, you've exceeded my expectations," Marai continued, and set down a folder Priya hadn't noticed on the table between them. "You should be proud of yourself. I don't say those words lightly."

As the weight of that file settled, Priya's heart stopped beating for a full three seconds before kicking back with a fierce lurch. Inside was an employment agreement. Her contract with MNS. The start of her life as a prized litigator. "Thank you."

"Now, let's talk about Hadrian."

Priya's gaze snapped to hers. "What about him?"

"This is my firm and very little escapes my notice. Including the fact that you and Marek Junior are no longer on speaking terms." Marai's gaze scrutinized her for a moment longer and her hands came around to settle in her lap. "Not that I blame you. I never cared for his father. Aurelio Marek was...a difficult man who wasn't above recognizing an opportunity and manipulating it to his advantage."

Tension worked up back of her thighs and she fought against the urge to squirm. "But...wasn't he your mentor? The one who brought you up and put your name on the door?"

"Yes. He did. And not without his reasons. I don't think I have to explain to you the challenges women face in ascending the corporate ladder," Marai continued after a bracing pause. "At the time, having women and minorities in positions of power was a rising, hot button issue and as the firm was expanding, he wanted a lieutenant. A right hand to check all the boxes in his favour but someone he thought wouldn't challenge him for authority or position. I was to be a face. A marketing tool, and he did everything he could to keep me in powerless chokehold." Battle glinted in the dark depths of her eyes and for a moment Priya saw a glimmer of the fierce warrior that earned Marai Nagao her reputation. "He was brilliant man, an excellent lawyer, but this firm has had its fair share of Marek's. "I'm not interested in giving a hand up to the next generation."

Priya pressed her lips together, swallowing her surprise. All this time she'd thought Hadrian had the advantage over all of them, as his father's son, when in truth it had been his biggest handicap.

"But, as you can understand and appreciate, I'm in a bind."

A fist closed tight around Priya's throat, each finger locking around like an invisible steel link, making it harder and harder to breath. Spots of panic danced in the periphery of her vision as she struggled through each breath. "Bind?"

"As Aurelio's son, I can't exactly...overlook his contribution to your case." Marai lowered her chin, narrowed her eyes to the point of slits as cold spiked from the base of Priya's skull in lancing bullets down her spine. "Was there a contribution?"

Understanding flashed warm to clash with the chill of panic, a warring of sensations and emotions that had her head spinning and disoriented. Marai wasn't so much as asking a question as she was declaring a statement. She was drawing a line in the sand and asking Priya to cross it and stand with her on the other side.

She wanted Hadrian gone and out of the firm. Question was, did Priya want that, too?

Guilt and doubt rose within her, the cold to clash with the heat of her determination. She may have clinched a solid victory for the firm, but only because of the information he'd given her. Regardless of how hard she'd worked, and how much she'd slaved over this case on her own, at the end of the day she owed him. But instead of holding it against her, he'd stepped back and gave her all the credit in front of the partners. The firm.

Not once had he stepped a single toe into her spotlight as Priya sat in on the meetings while Marai and the partners finalized the paperwork for Mrs. Maslow. According to their spoken agreement, this was the part of the deal where she was supposed to advocate for him. For them both.

So why couldn't she say the words? Why was her voice betraying her while a sneaky, dark voice deep within her slithered around at the edges, picking at her with its dark whispers.

Something happened between us. Something I don't have an answer for just yet, but when you decide you're brave enough to want to figure it out—you know where to find me.

Her heart kicked at the echo of his words and Priya pressed a hand there, rubbed the heel of her palm over the ache. She'd barely made it home that night before a massive, terrifying panic attack took root and left her shaking, trembling and breathless. The first to assail her since almost breaking down during her third year at Harvard.

If one night with him had left her so unsettled—so moved—how the hell could she take it a single step further without losing herself completely? All week she'd worked through the angles and variables, the pros and cons of what exploring a relationship with Hadrian Marek would entail, and it led to nothing good.

She was about to enter into the preliminary stages of a demanding career. A career that wouldn't settle for second place on the totem pole of her priorities while a fledgling relationship needed space and room to breathe. It needed dedication and time to flourish, all of which were luxuries she couldn't afford to spare. MNS had a strong policy against workplace relationships for this very reason, because sex and love and attraction were all breeding grounds for disaster.

Having him around, day after day, would be a distraction she couldn't afford, a weakness she couldn't resist for long. Even now, as she'd gone out of her way to avoid him, the pull was there under her skin. She didn't have to look up when entering a room to know he was already there. She could feel it. Feel him. He hadn't pushed matters by speaking to her to approaching her. He'd given her plenty of space, as she wanted, but it wasn't enough.

Seeing him, hearing him, knowing he was there...How long until she cracked?

Love made women stupid. Made them fall into the habit of perfecting themselves for their partner and made them lean away from their dreams instead of towards them. It took and took more, while making you think it was giving so much in return until that love went cold. Until the guy took one look and realized you weren't enough, or that you were selfish for wanting something for yourself—outside of the tangled mess of him and his needs.

It blinded women with thoughts of marriage and babies, of building a future that required all of her dreams, hopes and aspirations be set on the back burner while he was free to live unaccosted by change.

Love would ruin everything.

You have a plan, Priya. A carefully mapped out life plan. Stick to it.

There was no way around it. Hadrian had to go.

"No..." The words tumbled out of her without a hitch in her breath or the barest whisper of regret. "No, there wasn't."

#

Chilled, Priya slid her arms back into her blazer. Even though she was sitting at a table out in the hot summer sun every inch of her was cold. The same coldness that had latched on to her inside of Marai's corner suite and refused to let go. She'd signed the employment agreement with both Marai and Ben Silver, shook the named partners' hands, and immediately fled to the women's room to throw up.

Priyanka Seth was officially the new first year associate.

While the announcement was drafted, Priya decided the time had come to woman-up and face the rest of the music. To face Hadrian. He was about to be stabbed in the back, the least she could do was tell him it would be her hand holding the knife.

She'd texted his phone with an offer for him to join her for lunch. A message he'd received but hadn't responded to, not that she needed him to. He'd show up. And did, only two minutes late and judging the look on his face, the confession wasn't necessary.

He knew.

"Thank you for meeting with me."

"Sure. Can't stay long, though," he said, dragging out the chair with a heavy hand.

Priya couldn't hold back the wince as metal legs scored loudly and set her teeth on edge but she waited until he sat down and scooted his legs beneath the table before saying another word. "I want to apologize."

Hadrian snapped the cloth napkin with his wrist, draped it over his lap, his expression blank. "For what?"

Scheisse, he was really going to make her say it. For not upholding our agreement. For betraying you. For... Throat dry, Priya longed to down her glass of water but knew if she didn't choke it all out now, she never would. "I signed with MNS this morning. Truth is...I don't think working together is such a good idea. So, I made a choice. A choice that required me to go against my word while remaining true to my better judgement."

Hadrian nodded slowly as she spoke, finger poised against his lips. When she was finished a ghost of a smile filtered there.

"I figured at much." He eased into a short laugh, spread his hands. "The life of a litigator is cutthroat. It comes with the territory and if we can't understand that crucial element now, then how can we expect to do our jobs and ever be good at it?" His hand stroked over the edge of the table, as if wiping the slate clean.

"Hadrian—"

"I've accepted an offer with a London firm," he slammed through her feeble attempt of apology. "They were my second choice though they probably should've been my first. My father's gone and I can't keep living in his shadow or memory. I need to carve out my own truth, whatever that may be. I start next week."

Leaving for London. Those words should have been music to her ears, a balm to the vicious ache of guilt in her soul; instead they rang out like a screeching cry of a train veering off the tracks, and only made her ache all the more. "When did you apply?"

"A week ago."

Before she stabbed him in the back and almost like he'd known she would. So instead of fighting back, he'd bowed out. And that made her feel even worse.

"Hey, stop beating yourself up." Reaching between them, his hand closed over hers. Warm and reassuring. "You played the game well and the better person won. You'll make a fabulous lawyer." Though spoken sincerely, her guilt refused to interpret the statement as a compliment. Not entirely.

His chair legs scraped over tiles as Hadrian scooted around the side of the table, drawing them closer. A small box in his hand. In her moment of guilt, she hadn't seen him retrieve it or even noticed he was holding something until it was plunked down on the table in front of her.

Priya picked it up with stiff fingers. Leather trimmed in gold. Expensive and old. "What's this?"

"A gift."

Tears blistered the back of her throat and eyes. "You didn't have to do that."

"Open it," he said, ignoring her weak protest.

She chanced a glance up at him to see his eyes watching her weren't void of demand. This wasn't a request, or a challenge, but the settling of a debt. She'd wounded him, and now, apparently, it was her turn to bleed.

"Please. I don't deserve this, Hadrian."

"It's a gift, not an engagement ring." Amusement flashed through his eyes and for a moment, however small, this was the Hadrian she'd always known before her. Handsome and full of playful mischief. "Open it, Priya."

Bottom lip wedged between her teeth, she cracked open the top of the box and her breath caught in both grief and fascination. Nestled inside was a pendant, gold plated around the chiseled stone of an authentic arrowhead. She'd seen something similar in a museum once, amongst a display of fossils and broken crockery.

It was simple, honest and perfect.

"The night we first met, you told me that life is about risk and chance, without it there can be no reward," he said as the pendant settled against her fingers and the gold caught the light. "So let this stand as a reminder of those words, and of me. Be the arrow, shot from the bow, swift and powerful. Be bold. Be fearless, Priya. Always be fearless."

Her eyes fluttered shut as the rise of tears threatened to spill, catching in the web of her lashes and pooling there as his hand cupped under her chin, angling her toward him. Saying nothing else, he pressed a kiss to her lips. But didn't linger.

"See you around, Tiger."

https://youtu.be/C9QuAUKEXy0

**AN**

UGH dammit, these black moments are brutal. What do you guys think about Priya's decision? The poor #PriHa ship is sinking as fast as the Titanic. :(

,|mvw