Chapter 53

Emily’s POV

My phone buzzed again in my hand, Alex’s name glaring on the screen like a warning sign I wasn’t ready to face.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself not to open the message, though its four short words were already carved into my head like a brand: Be ready tomorrow. Things are about to change.

Change? What kind of change? Promotion? Demotion? Firing? Or was it something worse? The tone didn’t sound like a simple work update.

“Emily?” Jace’s voice pulled me back. His brows were drawn, his brown eyes searching my face. “What’s wrong?”

I fumbled with the phone, shoving it screen-down on the table like hiding it would erase the reality of the message.

“Nothing,” I lied too quickly. “Just work stuff.”

He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push. Instead, he leaned back again, stretching out like he owned the couch.

The ease in his posture contrasted the storm in my chest. “You need to learn how to let thi