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00:00This is the last time.
00:08Bring me condoms.
00:09I don't ask why. I never do.
00:12Twenty minutes later, I'm at his door, soaked through.
00:15Rain plastering my hair to my face, my thin shirt clinging to every curve.
00:19He opens the door, stares.
00:21Eyes drag down my body, lingering where the wet fabric clings.
00:24His voice drops.
00:25That's my good girl.
00:26I hand him the bag. I've loved him for seven years.
00:28Tonight, he's going to use these with someone else.
00:31Claire, his first love. The one coming back.
00:34Here. The size you wanted.
00:36He takes the bag. His thumb brushes my knuckles.
00:39She's not here yet. Why don't we use them first?
00:42I freeze. He laughs.
00:45Relax. I'm not that much of an asshole.
00:47I set you up on a date next Wednesday.
00:49The guy's rich, oblivious, stable.
00:52You've been with me long enough. It's the least I can do.
00:54His eyes are cold and serious.
00:56She's coming back, and he's clearing the decks.
00:58I clench my fists.
01:00Just send me the address.
01:01Sir.
01:01I turn to leave.
01:03Wait.
01:03He wraps a Burberry shawl around me.
01:06Don't leave tonight.
01:07But she's coming.
01:08You believe that?
01:09You think I'm that much of a scumbag?
01:12It's just been you.
01:13And he is kissing me.
01:14I are desperate.
01:15Nothing gentle about it.
01:17His hands grip my hips, pushing back against the door.
01:20The shawl falls.
01:21I should stop this.
01:22I know I should, but his mouth is on my throat, and my head falls back, and my fingers are
01:27already in his hair.
01:28He carries me to the bedroom.
01:30This is the last time.
01:31Claire's flight lamp's tomorrow.
01:33So be a good girl.
01:35Go on that date.
01:37The mask slips.
01:38He's choosing her, after all.
01:39I bite his shoulder.
01:41No, already.
01:41He doesn't stop.
01:43Damien is an animal.
01:45They say men slow down after 25.
01:47With him, not even close.
01:49Sun's up when he finally finishes.
01:51Heads for the shower.
01:53I grab my clothes and go.
01:55That's our rule.
01:57He hates sleeping next to anyone.
02:00Seven years, no matter how exhausted, I always crawl to the guest room.
02:08Morning.
02:09He's back from the gym.
02:12Saved you breakfast.
02:14No time.
02:15Gonna miss my bus.
02:16I can drive you.
02:18No.
02:19I blurt out.
02:21My promotion results are out today.
02:25Can't be seen in your car.
02:28People will think I slept my way to the top.
02:31Por favor, quiero hablar contigo.
02:34The room goes dead silent.
02:37That cold laugh.
02:38Fine.
02:39Suit yourself.
02:43Your blind date.
02:45Next week.
02:48The room spins.
02:52One night made me almost forget why I came here.
02:56I was supposed to hand him the condoms and say goodbye.
03:00But instead,
03:03I let him touch me again.
03:06I let him touch me again.
03:30I put on the door.
03:32I go to the door.
03:35I'm going to walk away.
03:45I'm going to walk away.
03:46I'm going to walk away.
04:00five years. It's yours. The team crowds around, hyping me up. I let myself smile. If I get it,
04:07omakase. My treat. The whole office cheers. Three minutes. I refresh my inbox. We regret to inform
04:15you. Promotion denied. No. My mind goes blank. Static filling my ears. HR walks in. Behind her,
04:22another woman. This is Claire, your new director. Personally appointed by Mr. Kane. I look up and
04:28stop breathing. She's exactly like the photo. The one Damien kept hidden in his wallet. She is back
04:35and she's aiming for his bed. I feel like I have a heavy flu. I walk to his office like
04:40a robot.
04:42Can't stop wiping tears. Why? He doesn't look up. What? Director of operations.
05:00Fifty positions in this company. Why did you give her mine?
05:09She wanted it. She wanted it? I gave seven years to you and this company.
05:15I almost died on that Africa assignment.
05:23Nina. This is reality. I decide what happens here.
05:28I just want fairness.
05:38Fairness? If we weren't sleeping together, you wouldn't be here. You took the shortcut. Now you
05:44want fairness?
05:45It hits me like a physical blow. I worked until I collapsed. I had to prove I deserved to be
05:52here.
05:52But he's right. I got in because of him. He gave me everything when he wanted me.
05:58Threw me away when he didn't. Fairness. I don't get to ask for that dot. So I'm done.
06:05Quitting. Today.
06:07Meeting Damien was like a bad movie. Fresh out of college. New York. Boyfriend cheated. Moved on like I never
06:14happened.
06:15I was drowning. So I went to a bar. Tried to drink the pain away. I'd never been that drunk
06:20in my life.
06:21Drank until I didn't know my own name. I'm shy. Like painfully shy. But that night I walked up to
06:27the
06:27most beautiful man I'd ever seen and sat down like I belonged there. It was Damien. Looked like he
06:32stepped off a magazine cover. Cold. Turning everyone away. Want to come home with me? The words came out
06:38before I could stop them. He took a sip. That low laugh. The first time I heard it.
06:43Never met anyone as bold as you. That night in my tiny apartment. Broken radiator. Mattress on the
06:49floor. It was beautiful. So beautiful I lost myself. Thought I'd never see him again. I was wrong.
06:57Next day. Job interview. I walked in. Looked up and there he was. Sharp suit. Same cold eyes. My heart
07:05almost stopped. I recognized him. Stayed calm anyway. A few hours later I had the offer. First day.
07:13He cornered me in the elevator. Nina Parker right? Can you handle a physical only thing?
07:18I'm usually careful. But his eyes were too deep. I... I can do that. The moment I said it I
07:26knew I was
07:26screwed. By day he was my boss. By night my lover. He gave me money. Jewelry. Designer bags. But he
07:34also
07:34taught me everything about work. I started hoping. Stupid. Desperate hoping. Maybe he'd love me back.
07:43Today that fairy tale died. Today I learned. If it's not yours. It never will be. Since I didn't get
07:53promoted. I don't need his signature to quit. I go straight to HR. Diana's the only one who knows
07:59about us. She gives me a hug. Thanks for everything Diana. I hug her back. Can you keep my resignation
08:09quiet? Just for now. I don't want anyone to know I'm gone. She squeezes my hand. I promise.
08:14My grandma calls that night. Sweetie. Did you get the promotion? You said I'd be the first to know.
08:20My throat closes up. I can't stop crying. Grandma. I think I'm done with New York. A beat of silence.
08:30Then she says excited. That's great. I've been worried sick. When can you get here? I'll have pot roast,
08:37mashed potatoes, peach cobbled, everything you like. That's when I lose it. I know what she's doing.
08:44Saving my pride. Back home. I'm her favorite story. Her girl in the big city. I want to make
08:51it all worth it. Bring her here. Get us a real home. I have the whole future mapped out. I
08:57can
08:57almost touch it. And now, gone. I can't sleep that night. Start scrolling. 2 10 a.m. I see it.
09:06Claire's Instagram story. Funny how some habits never change. The photo hits me like a physical blow.
09:11A woman in bed. Tangled sheets. A man's arm wrapped tight around her waist. And on his finger,
09:18the Cartier ring. I forget how to breathe. I know that ring. I save months to buy it for him.
09:24He looks at it and sighs. Nina, you don't need to splurge on me. There's really no point. I smile.
09:29But you deserve the best. He kisses me and looks so in love. I never think he'll wear it. Not
09:35in
09:36public. Next day, at the all hands, there it is. On his finger. The office buzzes. I sit frozen.
09:44Then he catches me. Tilts his wrist. Just enough for the ring to catch the light. Now that ring is
09:50in her bed. Onto his hand wrapped around her waist. Tears hit my screen before I feel them. And then,
09:56the last lie dies. Damien sleeps fine. He doesn't mind holding someone through the night.
10:02He just doesn't want to hold me. One week left. Then I'm done. Claire finds me at a coffee shop.
10:09You're the one who's been in Damien's bed for seven years, she says. She pulls out a hair strip
10:14from a plastic sleeve. Found it in his guest room. Before I can answer, she throws iced coffee in my
10:20face. And slaps me. You pathetic bitch. I swing back, but a hand catches my wrist. Damien.
10:31Claire turns on him, shaking.
10:36Damien, you promised me forever. We weren't... apart... six months before you replaced me?
10:43Damien's voice goes cold. Go wait in the car.
10:47She storms out. His eyes land on me. Didn't I tell you to keep this between us?
10:52I didn't say a word. I snap. She hunted me down. I nod toward the street. A black Porsche pulls
10:59up.
11:00My date is here. The one you picked out for me. Something flashes in his eyes. Then his mouth
11:06flattens. Have fun. It sounds like a threat. He drops his coat over my soaked shoulders and walks
11:14out. So, the guy Damien picked for me. A total trust fund disaster. The rich brat drives me home.
11:22I wait until his car disappears around the corner, then turn, and walk straight into Damien. He's
11:27leaning there, checking his watch. Home after only an hour? No dinner? No movie? He that bad?
11:33I try to push past. He grabs my wrist, yanks me back. What is it, Nina? Still obsessed? Can't handle
11:39one
11:40night with a guy who isn't me? I'm getting engaged to Claire. Whatever we were, it's over. Cause trouble?
11:46I can have you out by Monday. I look him dead in the eye, voice steady. Don't worry, Mr. Kane.
11:53I know
11:53a dead end when I see one. I walk away. I don't look back. But from the hallway window, I
11:59see him
12:00leaning against his car, trying to light a cigarette. His hands are shaking. He doesn't drive off until my
12:06apartment light comes up. I get home and list everything Damien ever gave me. Bags, jewelry,
12:15the luxury crap. All of it goes on Poshmark. At work, I smile and say, hello Damien, like none of
12:23it
12:23happened. The overseas account wraps soon. Then I'm gone. I book my flight home.
12:36Nina, want to grab dinner? Ethan slides a latte onto my desk. I smile. Least I can do is thank
12:43him.
12:44Yeah, I'm in.
12:50We walk out. A delivery guy hands Ethan roses. He turns to me, ears red.
12:59These are your favorite. Saw it on your Instagram.
13:05People start hooting. I freeze. Oh, he's asking me out. I open my mouth to let him down easy.
13:15Then I see it. A black escalade across the street. Damien behind the wheel, staring at the flowers
13:22between us. His face goes dark. He lays on the horn. Once. Twice. Again. Then he peels out.
13:36The project wraps. My last day. I get stuck at a client dinner. Mark Dalton, the account director,
13:43keeps pushing drinks. His hand on my shoulder. I smile through it.
13:54After cold rain. No caps. I start walking. Then I hear footsteps behind me. Mark. I run.
14:05My phone hits the ground. I don't stop.
14:17I hit the emergency button on my watch. Damien set himself as the contact.
14:26A girl answers. Damien's in the shower. Claire, I'm being followed. Tell him to call the cops.
14:35She laughs. Still playing victim?
14:38Nina's begging to talk to you. If you pick up, I'm leaving.
14:46All right, baby. I won't.
14:49The line goes dead. I stand in the rain. Then I look up. Under the next streetlight. A shadow. My
14:57blood
14:57goes cold. Next morning, Damien glances at my desk. Empty. He figures I overslept. At 10.30,
15:06Diana from HR screams during the meeting. It's Nina. Something happened. Damien goes white.
15:13Diana turns her laptop around. He shoots to his feet. What the hell do you mean? A video.
15:20A man grabs me by the hair. Drags me towards an alley. I fight. He kicks me down. I keep
15:25hitting
15:26the emergency button on my watch. The watch Damien bought me. The one with GPS. The one linked to him.
15:33He grabs his phone. No missed calls. Nothing. Then he checks the blocked list. My number. Blocked.
15:39Not by accident. By Claire. Nina filed a complaint.
15:43Mark Dalton tried to assault her last night. A stranger helped her get away. She's asking
15:48us to use the footage and press charges. Where is she? She resigned a week ago. She's already
15:54gone. Left New York. Why wasn't I told? Company policy. Anyone below director level only needs
16:03department sign-up. You remember she didn't get promoted last round, right? That shuts him up.
16:09No one in the room knows why better than he does. I land. Give my statement. Snap my sim in
16:22half.
16:24Back in Buffalo, I buy a condo. Bring my grandma to live with me. Sell all Damien's gifts. A few
16:34hundred grand.
16:37I open my own boutique. A dream since I was a kid. Opening day, my grandma smiles. Friends,
16:47pack the store. Maybe this is enough. Some nights, I still think about New York. About Damien.
16:58For a while, I think I'll never get over him. Then six months later, I see a man at a
17:04bar. Same build. Same
17:06profile. Even the way he lifts his glass looks like Damien. I wait for the ache. Nothing. I turn back
17:15to
17:16my friends and laugh. I know then, even if Damien stands in front of me, I can say long time
17:22no see
17:22and mean it. Somewhere along the way, I let him go. A year passes. I never expect to see Damien
17:30again.
17:30My clothing store gets popular. A local chain pays trolls to post fake reviews. I sue. They tank.
17:38Then last Tuesday, five men with bats corner me in an alley. Damien appears out of nowhere.
17:48Shoves me behind him. He fights. Tosses me his phone. Call the police.
17:56Before I can dial, a knife flashes. The man rushes straight at me. Damien turns. Throws himself in
18:01front of me. The blade sinks into his side. Blood soaks his shirt. He leans against me,
18:07breathing rapid, and wipes my tears with his thumb. Don't be afraid. I'm too stubborn to die.
18:15Even as they load him into the ambulance, it feels like a dream. Luckily, the stab wound isn't deep.
18:24Damien gets stitched up and moved to a regular room. His parents rush over. Claire comes with them.
18:30In the hallway, she yells at me. If it weren't for you, he wouldn't be hurt.
18:33I stay calm. I never asked him to save me. She freezes, then laughs bitterly. It was me.
18:39I blocked your number on his phone. That's why he never got your calls. I turn to leave.
18:43Her voice stops me. We broke up a year ago. She hands me a thick envelope. Two dozen boarding
18:50passes. Flights from New York to Buffalo. All bought by Damien. For the past year, he flew here
18:58twice a month just to watch you from a distance. His friends told him to talk to you. He cried
19:03and
19:03said he had no right to be in your life anymore. She shrugs. I'm telling you this so you know
19:08I've
19:08let go too. Damien wakes up. I'm there. His eyes go red.
19:13Nina. I thought I'd never see you again.
19:18I set down the boarding packs. Haven't you already seen me many times? I'm sorry about
19:23the promotion. He says. I planned your transfer before we're giving Claire the position.
19:30I squeeze my eyes shut. Then why didn't you tell me when I came crying to your office?
19:36He freezes. Says nothing. I stand. Because you thought I just needed to follow orders.
19:43You didn't care how I felt. Right? His face goes pale. I pay his hospital bills and leave.
19:52In the rearview mirror, he stands at the window. Then he's gone.
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