Carolyn called out to Joshua.

    "Joshua! Fancy seeing you here. Are you here for Allison too? Is it about thepanywsuit?"

    Lately, Carolyn and Allison had gotten close enough to call themselves friends. Ever since Allison had helped her out that one time, Carolyn felt genuinely grateful. The more she got to know Allison, the more she admired her personality and morals-she couldn''t help but wish they''d met sooner.

    But even though she and Allison got along, Carolyn''s feelings for Joshua hadn''t changed at all.

    So, when she saw Joshua at thew firm, asking for Allison, she couldn''t help but feel a little uneasy.

    Joshua stopped and looked at her. "No, not about thepany. I just wanted to see her."

    It was a blunt answer, no beating around the bush.

    Carolyn''s smile faltered for a second, but she quickly pulled herself together. "I''m here to see her too. Let''s head up together."

    Allison stepped out of her office and walked over to Joy''s desk to go over some work.

    As she was talking, she caught a glimpse of a man and a woman walking toward her-Joshua and Carolyn, side by side. Her gaze lingered for a split second.

    Why were they together?

    Their arrival immediately sparked whispers from the people nearby.

    Honestly, the two of them did make a striking pair. You couldn''t really me the office gossip mill.

    "Allison! I just ran into Joshua downstairs, so we came up together," Carolyn said, smiling as she greeted her.

    There was a hint of exnation in her tone, like she was worried Allison might misunderstand.

    Allison looked away, her voice cool and indifferent. "Okay."

    "We didn''te together," Joshua rified again. "We just bumped into each other downstairs."

    "She already said that," Allison replied, her expression unchanged, as if she couldn''t care less.

    She turned back to Joy to keep going over their work.

    "I''ll wait for you in your office then," Carolyn said.

    "Sure," Allison replied.

    Carolyn headed toward Allison''s office.

    "I''ll hang out in the lounge and wait till you''re done," Joshua added.

    He was clearly trying to avoid any awkwardness or being alone with Carolyn.

    Pretty thoughtful, actually.

    A tiny smile flickered in Allison''s eyes.

    Joshua had always been good about these little things.

    She just nodded.

    Once Joshua left, Joy leaned closer and whispered, "Allie, are you and Mr. Fisher back together?"

    Allison hesitated, then shot back, "Why do you say that?"

    Joy dropped her voice, grinning like she knew something. "Woman''s intuition."

    Intuition, huh?

    Not bad.

    Joy kept going. “Seriously, are you two back together? Come on, Allie, we''re friends. Spill! I''m your number one shipper!"

    Allison justughed and tapped Joy lightly on the back of her head.

    "Focus on your work! If you koi ne

    gossiping with your boss during office hours, you''ll get yourself fired."

    Joy immediately mimed zipping her lips shut.

    "We''ll talk after work," she said.

    Allison finished discussing work with Joy for a few more minutes before heading back to her office to meet Carolyn.

    Carolyn had beening by so oftentely, it was almost like she lived there.

    Allison loved tea and kept a whole

    office

    over

    selection of fancy leaves in her. Every time Carolyn came Allison would brew a fresh pot.  But after so many years living abroad,

    a tea

    was never r

    . If she had to cho

    she''d take coffee over to Choo oft

    wany day.