CHAPTER SEVENTY–THREE–Who Holds the Key?
Justin shrugged, a little self–consciously. “I took a few art history classes in college. It’s just a hobby, but I find it fascinating. What do you think of this one?”
Laura tilted her head, studying the swirls of color. “It’s… chaotic, but there’s a pattern to it. Kind of like life, I guess. Messy, but with an underlying structure if you look closely enough.”
Justin nodded, looking at her with newfound admiration. “That’s a beautiful way of seeing it. You know, Laura, you continue to surprise me.”
They continued through the exhibit, their conversation flowing easily from art to their personal lives. Laura found herself opening up about her childhood in Connecticut, her college days, and her dreams for the future. She carefully avoided mentioning her failed marriage or her complicated history with Ryan, but she felt a growing desire to be honest with Justin about her past.
As the afternoon turned to evening, Justin suggested dinner at a nearby rooftop restaurant. The view of the city skyline took Laura’s breath away as they were seated at a table near the edge of the terrace.
“This is incredible,” Laura marveled, taking in the twinkling lights of the city spread out before them
Justin smiled, looking pleased with himself. “I’m glad you like it. I wanted to take you somewhere special”
As they enjoyed their meal, Laura felt a warmth growing in her chest that had nothing to do with the wine they were drinking. Justin was kind, intelligent, and genuinely interested in her thoughts and opinions. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly seen and appreciated.
The evening flew by, and before Laura knew it, they were standing outside her apartment building once again.
“I had a wonderful time,” Laura said softly looking up at Justin.
He reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “So did I. Laura, I… I really like you. I know we haven’t known each other long, but I feel like there’s something special here. Do you feel it too?”
Laura’s heart raced. She did feel it, and it both excited and terrified her. “I do,” she admitted. “But Justin, there are things about my past that I haven’t told you yet. Things that might change how you see me.”
Justin took her hands in his. “Laura, we all have a past. Whatever it is, it’s made you who you are today. And I like who you are. When you’re ready to share, I’ll be here to listen. No pressure, okay?”
Overwhelmed by his understanding, Laura leaned in and kissed him. It was deeper than their first kiss, filled with growing affection and the promise of something more.
When they parted, both were a little breathless. “Goodnight, Justin,” Laura said, her voice husky.
“Goodnight, Laura,” he replied, his eyes shining. “I’ll call you tomorrow?”
Laura nodded, smiling as she watched him walk away. She entered her apartment, her mind buzzing with the events of the day.
As she got ready for bed, her phone chimed with a text message. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw it was from Ryan.
“Laura, sorry to bother you on the weekend, but could you send me the latest figures for the Robertson project? I need to review them before our meeting on Monday.”
Laura stared at the message, surprised by her own reaction. For the first time since she’d started working at Sivarra Tech, thoughts of Ryan didn’t send her into an emotional tailspin. She quickly typed out a professional response, attaching the requested documents.
As she settled into bed, Laura found her thoughts drifting not to Ryan, but to Justin. She smiled to herself, feeling a sense of hope and excitement about the future that she hadn’t experienced in a long Ume.
Laura’s phone buzzed on her nightstand, jolting her awake. She fumbled for it, squinting at the bright screen in the darkness of her bedroom Justin’s name flashed across the display.
“Hello?” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.
“Hey, s sleepyhead,” Justin’s cheerful voice came through “Did I wake you?”
Laura glanced at the clock 7:30 AM. “No, no, I was just… getting up,” she lied, stifling a yawn.
Justin chuckled. “Sure you were. Listen, I’ve got a surprise for you to
tonight. How do you feel about dumplings?”
“Dumplings?” Laura sat up, suddenly more awake. “I love dumplings. What’s the occasion?”
CHAPTER SEVENTY–THREE – Who Holds the Key?
22
“Do I need an occasion to treat my girlfriend to some of the best dumplings in the city?” Justin teased. “I found this hole–in–the–wall place in Chinatown. Thought we could check it out after work.”
Laura smiled, warmth spreading through her chest at the word ‘girlfriend‘. It had been two weeks since their first date, and things were progressing smoothly. “Sounds perfect. Text me the address and I’ll meet you there?”
“It’s a date,” Justin replied. “See you tonight, Laura.
Π
As Laura got ready for work, she found herself humming. The past two weeks had been a whirlwind of new experiences and emotions. Justin had been introducing her to parts of New York she’d never explored before, despite living in the city for years.
That evening, Laura navigated the narrow streets of Chinatown, following the address Justin had sent her. She found him waiting outside a tiny storefront, barely noticeable among the bustling shops and restaurants.
“There you are,” Justin grinned, pulling her in for a quick kiss. “Ready for the best dumplings of your life?”
Laura laughed. “That’s a bold claim. Let’s see if they live up to the hype.”
Inside, the restaurant was cramped but cozy, with steam rising from the open kitchen and the air thick with the scent of spices and soy sauce. They squeezed into a small table in the corner.
“So, how was work?” Justin asked as they perused the menu.
Laura sighed. “Busy. We’re working on this new Integration project for customer service. It’s exciting, but challenging. How about you? Capture any great shots today?”
Justin’s eyes lit up. “Actually, yeah. I got this amazing shot of an old man feeding pigeons in Washington Square Park. The light was just perfect…”
As Justin launched into a detailed description of his photography, Laura found herself captivated by his passion. When their dumplings arrived, steaming and fragrant, they both dug in eagerly.
“Oh my god,” Laura moaned after her first bite. “These are incredible.” Justin grinned triumphantly. “Told you. Best dumplings in the city.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY–FOUR–When Love is Not Enough
They spent the rest of the meal sampling different varieties, from pork and chive to shrimp and scallion. As they walked out, stuffed and satisfied, Justin took Laura’s hand.
“I’ve got another surprise for you this weekend,” he said. “How do you feel about a little getaway?”
Laura raised an eyebrow. “A getaway? Where to?”
“It’s a surprise,” Justin winked. “Just pack for outdoor activities and relaxation. I’ll pick you up Friday after work.”
The rest of the week flew by in a blur of work and anticipation. On Friday afternoon, Laura found herself in Justin’s car, heading north out of the city.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going now?” Laura asked, watching the urban landscape give way to rolling hills and forests. Justin smirked. “Patience, grasshopper. We’re almost there.”
An hour later, they pulled up to a charming bed and breakfast nestled in the Catskill Mountains. Laura gasped as she took in the picturesque scene a Victorian–style house surrounded by lush gardens and backing up to dense woods.
“Justin, this is beautiful,” she breathed..
He beamed at her reaction. “I thought you might like it. Come on,
let’s check in.”
The weekend was a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. They spent Saturday hiking through the nearby trails, Justin stopping frequently to capture the natural beauty with his camera. Laura found herself opening up more than she had in years, sharing stories about her childhood in Stamford and her sister Jen.
“Jen sounds like quite a character,” Justin laughed as they rested on a fallen log, sipping water after a particularly steep climb.
Laura smiled fondly. “She is. We’re so different, but she’s always been my rock. What about you? Any siblings?”
Justin shook his head. “Only child. Sometimes I wonder what it would’ve been like to have a brother or sister.
As they continued their hike, Laura felt a pang of guilt. She’d shared so much, but still carefully avoided mentioning Leon or Ryan. It wasn’t that she wanted to hide her past, but… how do you bring up an ex–husband and a complicated almost–relationship with a coworker?
That evening, they visited a local winery, sampling different varieties as the sun set over the vineyards. Later, they sat on the B&B’s porch, a blanket draped over their laps as they gazed at the stars.
“I’ve never seen so many stars,” Laura murmured, leaning her head on Justin’s shoulder.
He wrapped an arm around her. “It’s amazing what you can see when you get away from the city lights. See that bright one there? That’s actually Jupiter.”
As Justin pointed out different constellations, Laura felt a sense of peace wash over her. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
Back in the city, lite resumed its usual pace. Laura threw herself Into the Integration project at Sivarra Tech, working closely with Larry Goldstein and Alden O’Connor.
“Laura, can you take a look at this code? Alden called from his desk. “I think I’ve found a way to improve the response time, but I want a second opinion.”
Laura rolled her chair over to Alden’s workspace. “Sure, let’s see what you’ve got.”
As they pored over the code together, Larry joined them. “How’s it coming along, team?”
“Aiden’s made a breakthrough,” Laura replied, glancing up at their team lead, “If this works, it could cut our processing time in half.”
Larry clapped Alden on the back. “Excellent work! Keep it up, you two. This project could be a game–changer for Sivarra.”
As they continued working, Laura couldn’t help but notice Kira Volkov’s hostile glares from across the office. The tension between them had only grown over the past weeks.
During a lunch break, Laura was heading to the break room when she felt something hot splash across her chest. She looked down to see coffee spreading across her new white blouse.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Kira’s voice dripped with false sincerity. “How clumsy of me.”
Laura took a deep breath, willing herself to stay calm. “It’s fine, Kira. Accidents happen.”
