The weekend passed in a blur of kisses, laughter, and tangled sheets. But Monday hit Zoe like cold water.
Back in the office, the fluorescent lights felt harsher, the air staler, and the gossip—especially the gossip—cut deeper than usual.
Zoe was heading to the break room when she overheard two employees whispering near the printer.
"Did you see Ms. Holloway and Ms. Brand walking to the elevator together this morning?" one of them said, leaning in like the words were too hot to say out loud.
"Yeah, and they were holding the same coffee order," the other replied. "Looked like they'd gone out together."
"So what? They're both single, rich, and drop-dead gorgeous. I'd ship them."
Zoe slowed her steps, pretending to scroll on her phone as the words sunk in like tiny thorns.
Stacy and Alexandra. Together. Childhood friends. Beautiful. Compatible.
Her chest tightened.
She said she had a meeting... that's why she couldn't pick me up, Zoe thought bitterly, biting the inside of her cheek. Guess the meeting came with lattes and Alexandra.
She shook the thought off.
No. Don't be that person. Alexandra's always been kind to you. Don't start imagining things that aren't there.
But the whispering didn't stop.
"Did you know they were basically inseparable in Paris?" the first employee added, lowering her voice even more. "One of the execs who was there said they went shopping together. Just the two of them."
The second one perked up. "Wait, seriously? Where'd you hear that?"
"I overheard Mr. Johnson talking about it in the lounge. He said it was 'cute' how they always broke away from the group. Like they had their own world."
Zoe's heart gave a small, involuntary jolt.
Paris.
She remembered that week. Stacy had been busy, barely available—answering texts late, skipping video calls with short apologies.
Too many meetings, babe. I'll call you after dinner if I can. XO.
Zoe had convinced herself it was fine. International travel, high-pressure clients, investor dinners—it made sense. But now...
Her fingers tightened around her phone.
Inseparable. Shopping trips. Their own world.
Her mind flashed to that photo Alexandra had posted—she hadn't thought much of it at the time.
It was harmless.
Just the two of them at a quaint café terrace, the golden Parisian sun casting soft shadows across the table. Stacy laughing at something off-camera, her hand resting close—too close—to Alexandra's latte.
The caption read:
"Moments like this. ☕️🇫🇷 #parisgetaway #businessandpleasure"
Zoe had scrolled past it with a tight smile and a heart react.
Now the memory clawed its way back with an entirely different weight.
How many of those 'business' trips had blurred into something more personal?
She swallowed the rising heat in her chest and forced herself to keep walking toward the break room, her heart pounding louder than the hum of the vending machines.
But her morning wasn't done punishing her.
Later, in the team room, she heard laughter and hushed chatter from her team.
"I'm telling you," Jenny giggled, "the way Ms. Holloway looked at Ms. Brand during the meeting? Total heart-eyes."
"Right?" chimed in Noah. "They've been inseparable lately. Wouldn't be surprised if something's going on. That'd explain the mood shift in Ms. Holloway lately."
Zoe entered the room, clearing her throat loudly. "You guys do realize gossiping about our bosses is strictly against company policy, right?"
Everyone turned, caught mid-whisper.
Jenny shrugged. "Sorry, but come on, Zoe—they're cute together. You can't deny it."
Zoe forced a smile. "Still inappropriate. It's their business, not ours."
Noah smirked. "Inappropriate? Or are you just jealous?"
Zoe blinked. "What? No. Why would I be?"
"Oh, I don't know... Maybe because you two went from pranking each other to avoiding each other, and now suddenly you're besties again?" he teased.
Jenny leaned in, eyes sparkling. "C'mon, give us something. Just a tiny bit of gossip. We're dying here."
Zoe exhaled sharply, giving them a stern look. "If you two don't get back to work right now, I swear I'll bury you in pitch decks so deep, you won't see daylight until Thursday."
Noah threw his hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright. Message received."
As they shuffled back to their desks, Zoe lingered in the silence.
Her eyes flicked to her phone.
No messages.
No calls.
Not even a "Good morning."
You're being dramatic, she scolded herself. You trust her. You should trust her.
But that didn't stop the sting, or the quiet ache blooming in her chest as she returned to her desk—wondering if Stacy's coffee tasted sweeter when Alexandra was the one who bought it.
-
Before the end of working hours Zoe tried hard to steady her breathing, clutching the stack of documents she needed Stacy's signature on. She was determined not to let her worries show. But then she noticed—the door to Stacy's office was slightly ajar.
Curiosity won over caution.
Slowly, Zoe pushed it open, a soft smile already warming her lips. She was about to call Stacy when the sight before her slammed into her heart like a sledgehammer.
Stacy stood by her desk, her blazer slipping off one shoulder, flushed and vulnerable. And close behind her was Alexandra—Stacy's childhood friend—hands gently on Stacy's shoulders, helping ease the blazer down. The closeness was unmistakable, intimate.
Both women froze as Zoe stepped inside, eyes wide with shock and betrayal.
"Zoe—" Stacy's voice cracked, a desperate apology hidden within.
"I... I didn't mean to interrupt," Zoe said quickly, the words tasting bitter on her tongue, tighter and more fragile than she'd imagined. Her voice trembled, but she forced herself to keep it even.
Without meeting their eyes, she set the documents she'd brought on the nearest table. Her hands shook. She turned, every step heavy, every breath a silent scream.
"Wait—" Stacy's voice pleaded after her.
But the door closed softly behind Zoe, sealing off the room—and her heart.
Once alone in the hallway, tears fell down Zoe's cheeks, silent but relentless like a rainstorm. She wiped her face roughly, gathered her belongings, and left before Stacy could catch up.
-
By the time Zoe got home, her heart still heavy and raw, she was startled to see someone standing at the steps of her building.
Stacy.
Waiting, pacing, a nervous bundle of tension with red-rimmed eyes.
"Zoe—please," Stacy said as soon as she saw her. "Can we talk? Just hear me out."
Zoe didn't stop walking, but her voice cut through the air, sharp and trembling. "What's left to talk about?"
"It's not what you think," Stacy pleaded.
Zoe froze in place, jaw clenched. "Then what is it, Stacy? Because I saw it. With my own two eyes."
Stacy took a slow breath. "Alexandra accidentally spilled coffee on me—she was just helping me take off the blazer, that's it."
Zoe let out a humorless laugh. "And you expect me to believe that?"
"Yes," Stacy said firmly, stepping closer. "Because it's the truth."
Zoe stared at her, eyes filled with hurt. "Do I look stupid to you? First, you ignore me all day, then lie about being too busy to pick me up because you had some meeting—and then I find out you were with her all morning? Having coffee? Walking in together? You both even had the same damn cups. What, did you stop for lattes before your meeting?"
Stacy's voice cracked slightly. "Zoe, where is this coming from?"
"It's coming from me watching the woman I love looking way too comfortable with someone else—and lying to my face about it."
Stacy swallowed hard. "I didn't lie. There was a meeting. Alexandra was there because she's on the board now, remember? It wasn't just the two of us—there were five others in that room. We stopped for coffee on the way because we happened to arrive at the same time. That's it."
Zoe's eyes narrowed. "And the blazer?"
"I told you—coffee spill. I didn't even realize the door was open. I wasn't hiding anything. Alexandra knows about us, Zoe. She's not a threat."
Zoe blinked. "Wait... what?"
"I told her," Stacy said softly. "When she officially took over for her father. I thought she deserved to hear it from me—not office gossip. She's still my best friend after all."
Before Zoe could respond, another voice spoke from behind her.
"It's true," Alexandra said, stepping into view. Zoe turned, surprised.
Alexandra gave her a calm, respectful look. "There was a meeting. We did get coffee—so what? It was all work. And as for the blazer thing? I just didn't want her walking into the office looking like she was in a food fight."
Zoe said nothing, still trying to process everything.
Alexandra smiled gently. "For what it's worth... I've known Stacy since we were kids. I've seen her through college heartbreaks, terrible dates, and years of bad choices. But I've never seen her like this before. Never seen her care so much. She loves you, Zoe. She talks about you all the time—brags, really." She grinned. "Honestly, it's annoying."
Stacy let out a small laugh, then turned back to Zoe, her voice softening.
"I should've told you everything from the start. I shouldn't have let you spiral like that, and I hate that I made you cry. I'll do better. I want to do better. You mean everything to me, Zoe."
Zoe looked down, her tears threatening again—but this time, not from pain.
Stacy stepped closer, gently brushing a tear from Zoe's cheek. "I love you," she whispered. "I'm sorry for making you question that."
Zoe sniffled, giving a shaky smile. "You better be sorry. Because every time you make me cry, you ruin my makeup—and I don't buy cheap."
Stacy laughed, relieved, and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I'll buy you all new makeup. Just... don't shut me out again."
Zoe held her tightly, heart finally settling. "Don't give me a reason to."
Alexandra cleared her throat. "Okay, my work here is done. If you two start kissing, I'm walking straight into traffic."
They all laughed—relieved, exhausted, but a little more whole.