Sophia
...

The doorbell rings at exactly 3 PM, and my heart leaps into my throat. I know that precise, authoritative knock anywhere.

Frank.

I rush to the door, barely registering Dana's perplexed look from the kitchen. She wouldn't want me answering the door for whatever reason but I've been expecting this one particular guests.

Frank is always on time.

He fills the doorframe – all six-foot-two of him, broad-shouldered and perfect in his tailored charcoal suit.

At thirty-eight, Frank carries his age like expensive cologne, streaks of silver threading through his dark hair in a way that only makes him more devastatingly handsome.

His smile is slow and knowing.

"There's my girl," he says, and I melt.

He's carrying shopping bags – Gucci, Prada, the kinds of names I couldn't even dream of before him. But it's the way he looks at me that makes my knees go all jelly, like I'm the most precious thing he's ever seen.

Like I'm special.

"I didn't know you were coming," I lie, aware of Dana hovering in the background, watching with that unreadable expression.

"Had to see how my favorite protégé is doing." Frank steps inside, setting the bags down to cup my face in his hands. His touch is familiar.m and possessive at the same time it makes my belly swoop. "You've been doing excellent work, Sophia. We are all very pleased."

I lean into his touch, soaking up the praise like a flower turning toward the sun. This is what I've always wanted – his approval, his attention, the way he makes me feel seen. Chosen.

He brings out the gifts one by one: a leather jacket, designer shoes, a delicate gold necklace that he fastens around my throat himself. His fingers linger on my skin, and I shiver, missing his touch. It's not like other men haven't touched me, it's that his is special. Different.

"You spoil her," Dana says from somewhere behind us. There's an edge to her voice that I can't place.

Frank laughs, deep and rich.

"She deserves to be spoiled. Our little Sophia is a natural." His hand slides down to rest at the small of my back and I blush.

I throw Dana a glance before pulling Frank to my room. I've waited weeks for this and just that little touch made my in-between throb, I can't wait any longer.

***

"I missed this," I hum, my head on Frank's chest.

"I did too." He caresses my sweaty back and I don't want this to end. "Which is why this next part is so difficult."

I lift my head to look at him. "What do you mean?"

He sits up and I mimic his movements.

"I can't be your mentor anymore," he says, his eyes holding mine. "There's a new operation starting up. I need to move on to...groom another."

The words feel like a physical blow. Move on? I know what that means – another girl, probably young and scared like I was, waiting to be shaped by his expert hands. Waiting to feel special.

"But..." My voice cracks. "I thought..."

"You're ready to fly on your own, beautiful." His smile is gentle. "Dana will take good care of you. And you'll always be my greatest success story."

Why does that sound so wrong?

Tears burn behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I knew this was coming – didn't I? He told me from the beginning that attachment was dangerous. But knowing doesn't stop the hurt, doesn't ease the hollow feeling spreading through my chest.

He pulls me close, and when his lips find mine, It's  a reminder of everything I'm losing. I kiss him back desperately, trying to memorize the feel of him, the taste.

When Frank finally pulls back, his thumb traces my lower lip. "You're my best, Sophia. I have big plans for you."

But I don't want big plans. I want him to stay. I want to be enough to make him stay.

I nod and smile and pretend my world isn't crumbling around me when he makes me walk him to the door.

Dana's still in the kitchen.

When he kisses me, through my closed eyes, I hear Dana make a small sound and move away.

The kiss does not taste dangerous and hot, it tastes like goodbye and sadness.

The door closes when Frank walks out and suddenly the apartment feels too big. All these expensive gifts scattered around me make me feel worse.

Did he bring them to make me feel less bad about him abandoning me?

I was so stupid to think I was different from all the other girls he's trained. Stupid to let myself fall in love with him when I knew this was just another assignment for him.

Dana tries to talk to me, but I can't right now.

I lock myself in my room and cry until my throat is raw and my eyes burn. The necklace he gave me feels like it's choking me, but I can't bring myself to take it off.

I don't know what time it is but it's dark outside and the apartment is quiet. I lie in my bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling more alone than I have in years.

I want to be strong but it's too much.

Before I know it, I'm padding down the hallway to Dana's room. Her door is cracked open – she always leaves it that way, though she never said why. In the dim light filtering through her window, I can see her sprawled out.

I hesitate, but the thought of going back to my empty room, back to thinking about Frank, is unbearable.

Moving as quietly as I can, I slip under her covers.

Dana's breathing changes slightly but she doesn't wake up. After a moment, her arm drapes over my waist, warm. Not possessive like Frank's touch, but... protective, maybe.

I should feel strange about this. About crawling into bed with my bodyguard or handler like a scared child. But something about it quiets the chaos in my head. Her steady breaths on my neck, her arm around me – it feels safe and I can't explain why.

Her hand twitches slightly in sleep, fingers curling against my hip. The touch sends a shiver through me that I'm too tired to think about.

Frank's words come back: Dana will take good care of you.

I wonder if this is what he meant. I wonder if Dana's discomfort earlier was really about watching people kiss, or if it was something else entirely.

But those are dangerous thoughts, ones I'm not ready for.

I let myself sink into Dana's warmth.

Tomorrow, I'll pick up the pieces, but tonight, I let myself be broken. Let myself be held.

And if my heart beats a little faster when Dana pulls me closer in her sleep, well... that's something to worry about another time.

++

Umh!!!!