"Nothing is going on between me and Anya," he used to say. "You're always imagining things. Maybe you should look at yourself."
After a while, I just stopped asking. After losing the baby, it felt like whatever love I had for him died, too. The emptiness? Work filled it.
Around lunchtime, I saw Cedric and Anya leaving together, side by side, looking like they were inseparable.
The office had emptied, with just me left working overtime. As I was about to pack up, I heard Anya's voice. "Cedric, your tie's a little crooked. Hold on, lemme fix it."
She was right up close to him, adjusting his tie with a tenderness that made my stomach twist. They stood there, just a breath apart, almost like they were daring me to react.
Without a word, I shut down my computer, grabbed my bag, and walked out.
"Astrid, you're not mad, right? I mean, I was just doing my job," Anya said with a bright smile, her red lips parting as she spoke. "Cedric and I are meeting a client for dinner soon, so we had to look professional, you know."
I gave a nod, playing along. "Yeah, you're right. It makes sense."