Chapter 73

Lauren's POV

Waking up today felt entirely different — lighter, calmer, far better than the way I had woken up yesterday with that hammering headache pounding behind my eyes. At least today I could open them without wincing, without the sharp sting of regret for a night I couldn’t remember. No confusion about how I had gotten into a strange room, no unfamiliar ceiling above my head. Just my own space, my own bed, and the fresh clarity of morning.

Tessa had already left for work, her absence noticeable in the apartment. She was always up early, full of energy that I honestly envied. I was about to head out myself. It was my first day at the new job, and the nerves crawling beneath my skin were almost unbearable. The memory of what Tessa had told me last night replayed in my head like a chant, a small comfort to my anxiety: You won’t be seeing your boss all the time. He’s the CEO, but he doesn’t hover over the employees.

That was all I wanted — dista