Chapter Two - Just Roommates

(Present Day)

Leah

Today was supposed to be the day the external cybersecurity experts arrived, but there was still no sign of them. Since our company couldn’t handle the situation alone, outside specialists had been called in. I just wanted this mess to be over.

I missed my phone. My work. My life.

Even though I had my old phone—faulty as it was—and my personal laptop at home, neither could compare to my confiscated device. Everything felt off without it.

[sigh]

While I was focused on work, an announcement came: the cybersecurity experts had finally arrived. I shut down my computer, left what I was doing, and made my way to the IT department. No need to summon me—I was already on my way.

I took the elevator up to the fifth floor, leaving behind my third-floor workspace.

The moment the elevator doors slid open, I froze.

Standing just outside, surrounded by IT staff, was a man.

A very handsome man.

He carried himself with a quiet confidence, his posture regal and commanding. I didn’t realize I was staring until someone cleared their throat beside me.

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(Two Months Ago)

Peter

"Jaz, did Anto—" I stopped mid-sentence. My breath caught in my throat.

"Jesus Christ! What in the devil’s name are you two doing?!"

There they were. Red-handed. Naked.

Jasmine. Antonio.

In our bed.

My vision blurred with rage. Before I even realized it, I dropped both phones—the one I'd picked up from the couch, the one that had led me straight here. The betrayal slammed into me with full force.

I didn't wait for answers. None of their excuses would change what I saw. None would calm the inferno now burning inside me.

Slamming the door behind me, I stormed downstairs, trying to regain control of my emotions.

How had I been so blind?

The signs must have been there. The way they were always so close—but I’d assumed it was platonic, the kind of bond between friends who had known each other for years. I never suspected there was more.

But there had been. For months.

And I had been a fool.

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(Three Years Ago – Peter’s Thoughts)

"Hello there! What can I get you, gentlemen?"

A woman approached Peter and his friends as they stood near the refreshment area. They were attending an international cybersecurity conference in New York and had stepped outside for a break.

"Um... What's on the menu?" Patrick, one of Peter's closest friends, asked.

Peter, Patrick, and Antonio had been friends since school. Patrick shared Peter’s passion for tech, but Antonio was different—the odd one out, the non-nerd of the group. Still, Antonio and Peter had a longer history, dating back to elementary school.

"Here, see for yourselves," the woman said, handing them menus.

She lingered, her eyes lingering on Peter with something close to recognition.

"I'll have tapas with cauliflower fritters," Antonio said.

"Um... I'll just have coffee and some baked buttermilk scones," Patrick added.

"I'll just have freshly squeezed orange juice," Peter said.

The woman jotted down their orders, then gestured to a staff member to take the note. But she didn’t leave.

"If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to ask you a question," she said, her gaze still fixed on Peter.

"Okay...?" Peter responded, confused by the way she was looking at him.

"I have this nagging feeling that I know you from somewhere," she said. "Like we met in college."

Peter’s confusion deepened.

"Did you go by the name Peter O'Brien in college?"

"Uh… yes," he answered, still not placing her.

"I'm Jasmine Collins," she said with a smile. "We had history class together. We even worked on a group assignment once."

"Oh!" He finally remembered. Though, even now, she still looked unfamiliar.

"But—"

"I know," she interrupted with a small laugh. "The hair—I used to dye it blonde. And the nose—I had surgery after an accident."

"Ohh… I'm sorry!" he apologized, worried he might have offended her.

"No! Don’t stress. Not a big deal," she reassured him.

They exchanged numbers before parting ways, promising to keep in touch.

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(One Year Later – Peter’s Thoughts)

Peter and Jasmine kept their promise.

They texted, called, and messaged each other online, gradually growing closer. One date turned into two. Two turned into several.

Before long, they became an official couple.

Jasmine seamlessly integrated into Peter’s circle, becoming close friends with Patrick and—perhaps even closer—with Antonio.

They shared interests, studied the same course, worked in the same field. They had friendly banter, inside jokes.

At the time, Peter thought nothing of it.

Looking back, he wondered if that had been his first mistake.

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Peter (Present Day – Two Months Ago)

I was lost in thought when I saw them coming down the stairs.

Jasmine. Antonio.

Their heads were bowed, their pace slow—the walk of shame.

I met their eyes as they neared. I had just one question.

"When did this start?"

A beat of silence. Then, after what felt like forever, Jasmine answered.

"Three months ago."

I clenched my jaw.

Three months.

We got engaged two months ago.

So, what the hell was she thinking when she said yes to me?

Why not just break up? Why say yes if she was already with someone else?

My chest tightened with anger, but I forced myself to stay calm. No matter how many questions I asked, their answers wouldn’t change a thing.

I looked Jasmine in the eyes.

"You know what? It's over between us."

I turned to Antonio.

"And you? We’re not friends anymore."

I curled my hands into fists to suppress the urge to hit him.

Upstairs, I had wanted nothing more than to beat the hell out of both of them. But what would that accomplish? I wasn’t the kind of man to hit a woman. And punching Antonio wouldn’t be enough—not when both of them were guilty.

They weren’t even remorseful.

They weren’t regretful about what they’d done—only that they’d been caught.

I turned on my heel and strode upstairs. I still had to retrieve the documents that had brought me here in the first place.

But everything else? Everything else had gone up in flames.

In hindsight, it all made sense.

Jasmine hadn’t been excited about my proposal. She hadn’t even seemed surprised.

Back then, I thought I’d caught her off guard. Now, I realized—she just didn’t care.

I found my documents and headed back downstairs.

Jasmine and Antonio sat on the couch, whispering.

I didn’t care what they were talking about.

I didn’t even glance in their direction as I walked out the door.

I was done.