Harriet scoffed as she noticed Zoey standing by the door of her office. Rising from her chair, she walked past her desk and leaned against it, crossing her arms as she removed her glasses.
"What brings you here?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
Zoey took a few steps closer, her expression serious. "What the hell are you doing?"
Harriet raised a brow. "What did I do?"
"You literally told your mom we're girlfriends."
Harriet let out a soft laugh, clearly unbothered. "Aren't we? I mean, last night you asked me to pretend to be your partner."
Zoey groaned, rubbing her temples. "Come on, Doc, that was just last night."
"Just last night?" Harriet clicked her tongue. "What a shame. I was willing to keep up the act a little longer."
Zoey sighed, taking a step back. "Look, I know we crossed boundaries last night, butâ"
Harriet cut her off, lifting her index finger to Zoey's lips, stopping her from continuing. "Let me guess, you're going to ask me to forget what happened?" Harriet smiled playfully.
Zoey lowered her gaze, biting her lower lip. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm asking."
Harriet sighed, shaking her head. "No, I don't think I can just shrug it off that easily."
Zoey met her gaze, her voice uncertain. "Butâ"
"You can act like nothing happened, Zoey. I won't stop you," Harriet said with a nonchalant shrug, leaning further back against the table. "But I'm not about to pretend I've forgotten it."
"But you need to forget about it, like nothing happened, so I can move on," Zoey insisted, her voice strained.
Harriet's eyes narrowed slightly, pressing the issue. "What's wrong if I don't want to forget about it?"
"Goddamn it, Harriet!" Zoey's voice broke with frustration. "Just forget it, because... you're my first, stupid!" Her face flushed as the words spilled out, the admission hanging in the air.
Harriet blinked, the news hitting her like a wave. "What?" she whispered, the playfulness draining from her expression. I'm her first? A lump formed in her throat as the weight of Zoey's confession sank in. "But I asked you last night if you were uncomfortableâ"
"Exactly, you asked," Zoey interrupted, her voice trembling. "But how could I control my emotions while... while making out with you?" She fidgeted with her hands, clearly torn. "That's why I need you to forget it, Harriet. Because if you act like nothing happened, then maybe I won't feel so uncomfortable."
Harriet let out a soft scoff, rubbing the back of her neck. "What exactly is making you uncomfortable, Zoey?" she asked, her tone sharp yet measured. "Is it because you made out with meâyour boss's daughter? Or is it because I'm a woman, just like you?"
Zoey's breath hitched, unprepared for the bluntness of Harriet's question. She looked away, her voice soft and uncertain. "That's not it..."
"Then what is it?" Harriet pressed, her voice softer but insistent, trying to understand.
Zoey laughed bitterly, rubbing her temples. "I just don't want you getting involved with someone like me, okay?" she said, her words spilling out faster than she intended. "If you get too close, all you'll get is backlash. We're from different worlds, Harriet. You're... you're way out of my league. And aside from that, I don't want to drag you into my personal problems." She sighed, trying to clear the air. "About the pretend partner thing? I'll just tell everyone we broke up. You don't need to involve yourself anymore."
Harriet scoffed, her disbelief clear in her expression. "Is that really all your reasons?" she asked, eyes narrowing as she searched Zoey's face.
Zoey avoided Harriet's gaze, fidgeting with her hands. "Yeah, it's for the best."
But Harriet wasn't convinced. "Or are you just scared of how you feel?"
Harriet took another step closer, her presence almost overwhelming as she leaned in, her voice dropping to a teasing tone. "We're adults here, Zoey. Just so you know," she said. "What's the benefit for me if you go around telling everyone we 'broke up'? Doesn't that put me at a disadvantage? Not that I'm some kind of player," she chuckled softly.
Zoey glared, exasperation filling her expression. "You're unbelievable."
"Why?" Harriet asked, her gaze locking onto Zoey's with an intensity that made Zoey squirm.
"Stop looking at me like that," Zoey muttered, voice low but sharp.
"Looking at you like what?"
"Harriet, just quit it. Please," Zoey pleaded, her hands reaching for Harriet's coat, her eyes stubbornly avoiding Harriet's. Those eyesâthose piercing hazel eyesâalways seemed to disarm her, pulling her in like a force she couldn't resist.
Harriet let out a small laugh, stepping back. "Right. Fine, if that's all you have to say, you can leave."
Zoey clenched her fists, hesitating before adding, "And I want to pay for the clothes you bought."
Harriet's face hardened, her playful demeanor vanishing as she snapped, "You what?!"
"I want to pay for them," Zoey repeated, forcing herself to look up this time.
Harriet scoffed, running a frustrated hand through her hair. "You're supposed to just say thank you, Zoey. I'm not forcing you to pay for it."
"But I want to," Zoey insisted.
Harriet's frustration spilled over, her voice turning cold, a tone Zoey hadn't heard from her in a while. "What's your deal right now, Ms. Zoey Foster?"
Zoey gulped, the weight of Harriet's icy tone hitting her. She hadn't heard that side of Harriet since... since they shared that kiss.
Harriet sighed deeply, running her fingers through her hair in frustration. The taste of the cold black coffee from the can wasn't doing much to calm her irritation. Missing lunch due to her tense conversation with Zoey hadn't helped either. "Oh, fuck," she muttered, laughing bitterly. Clicking her tongue, she clenched her fists. "Just what the hell is your deal now, Zoey?" she asked herself aloud.
Zoey had insisted on paying for the clothes Harriet bought her, and Harriet had refused, leaving the conversation unresolved. Harriet had stormed out of her office, leaving Zoey behind. She wasn't even sure if Zoey was still thereâyet the fact that she cared annoyed her more.
Chuckling in disbelief, Harriet tried to shake off the irritation. Just as she started to relax, something cold touched her cheek, startling her. "What theâZoey?" Harriet's eyes widened when she realized it was Zoey standing beside her, holding out a cold canned coffee.
"Sorry," Zoey mumbled, avoiding eye contact as she offered the coffee. Harriet stared at her hand for a moment before reluctantly accepting the gesture.
"What gives?" Harriet asked, trying to maintain her cool, indifferent demeanor.
Zoey shifted her weight awkwardly, still not meeting Harriet's gaze. "I don't know. I'm just... sorry. Maybe I'm not used to someone like you giving me something expensive," she chuckled nervously. "Sure, Ms. Maggie and Riley buy me stuff sometimes, but not like... replacing my whole wardrobe," Zoey shook her head, her tone softening. "You're right. I should've just thanked you instead of making a big deal about it."
Harriet gulped, surprised when Zoey suddenly bowed her head at a full 45-degree angle. "What are you doing?" Harriet asked, glancing around, noticing that a few passersby were looking at them.
Zoey didn't raise her head, still staring at the floor. "Just apologizing properly, I guess. I didn't mean to offend you."
Harriet sighed, feeling a mix of exasperation and something she couldn't quite place. She gently tapped Zoey's arm. "You can stop bowing now, Zoey. I'm not mad at you, okay? Just... don't make it weird next time."