“Scarlett—” Ryan moves toward me at almost lighting speed, taking my hand in his.

“I just want to be alone,” I say quietly, looking ahead and not directly at him. “I’m okay. I just…need some space.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Trina stand and lay a hand on his shoulder. “Let her go,” she whispers. “Today has been a lot.”

Ryan pauses but ultimately drops my hand and steps back. Now, I absolutely cannot look at him because if I do, I’ll see how much it hurt him to do that. But it doesn’t change the fact that right now, I need to get the fuck out of here. Fast.

Putting my head down, I push the door to the conference room open. I make it all the way to the elevator but then decide to take the stairs. A small space would feel confining right now, and I don’t need that on top of everything else. As if a little Dianne is sitting on my shoulder, her voice stops me before I can rush down the stairs and outside. Take your time, she reminds me. Use each step as a way to ground yourself. Don’t shut down. Use your emotions.

What do I have to lose? Nothing, I guess, so I start my descent carefully, noting the feel of the hard tile under my flat shoes, the cold metal of the railing, the way my steps echo against the walls. And with each step, I do come back into my body. It almost feels like my heart is there, waiting for me, opening its arms and welcoming me back.

And with each step after that, I have questions. Who would do this? Why? Is there someone out there who hates me that much—who is that angry at me—who also knew I was writing again? Why do these things keep happening to me? Am I just meant to be Scarlett Frye, best-selling author and a commodity for my publisher to throw around as they see fit?

Dianne also often asks me to name my emotions. She says that when I shut them out and don’t talk about them, that’s when they grow into unmanageable beasts. So by the time I hit that last step on the ground level, I try to give what I’m feeling a name.

Confusion. But also anger. I don’t want to do this again. I wasn’t supposed to have to do this again. When does it all fucking end?

That’s where I find myself when I open the door to the stairwell and two things happen at once. First, the elevator door across the lobby opens and Ryan steps out. Second, Charles Hall and his annoying swagger passes between us.