~LAUREN’S POV~

‘I can't believe that I actually slapped Patrick.’ I muttered under my breath. ‘And now, the news of the slap was everywhere.’

My phone buzzed incessantly in my bag, but I didn't bother to check it out. It was obviously the office group chat, lighting up with notifications.

I didn’t need to look to know what they were saying. I could imagine it—memes, jokes, a play-by-play of my humiliation.

The same colleagues who’d whispered behind my back were now finding fresh fodder in my anger.

I stepped into the cafe down the street. The reporters who’d caught wind of Alexandro’s name being dragged into office gossip were outside...