STRICTLY PROFESSIONAL OR NOT

STRICTLY PROFESSIONAL OR NOT
Selena's POV

When I slip into Riley’s car, she doesn’t even let me shut the door before pulling me into a hug.

“ A week feels like forever,” she says.
“A week,” I laugh. “And a few days.”
“That’s such a long time,” I reply anyway, squeezing her tighter. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”
She pulls back, eyes already sparkling. “So I was planning a sleepover after shopping. At my place.”

“Tonight?” I ask
“No next week….of course tonight dude”riley retorts.

“Oh yes, yes pleasee” I reply excitedly

We both squeal, way too loudly for two grown women, but it’s the weekend and the vibe is perfect.

“I’ll cook,” Riley adds proudly. “Italian spaghetti.”
I raise a brow. “Since when can you cook?”
She gasps. “Wow. Betrayal.”

I laugh, then remember. “Oh—but my dog.”
She groans. “Ugh. Fine. Bring the furry child. He’s cute anyway.”

We stop by my place first. I change into jeans…easy for fittings, grab the dog, and we head out again. Night has already settled in by the time we pull into the mall parking lot, lights glowing everywhere.

Just as I’m about to step out of the car, my phone buzzes.
I glance down.
Jayden.
I open the message—and freeze.

Coastal Eco Resort.
That’s the retreat location this year. I wanted you to know first.

“Oh my God,” I breathe.
Riley immediately leans in. “What? Let me see.”
She reads it, then whistles. “Coastal Eco Resort? That sounds insanely cool. Very calm. Very expensive. You sure I can’t come?”

“I’m pretty sure it’s exclusively for—”
“—corporate elites,” she cuts in, waving a hand. “Yeah, yeah.”

Then she eyes me. “But wait. ‘I wanted you to know first’? Hm, suspicious.”
I groan. “Don’t start.”
“Yes ma'am” she lets it slide.

“I wish my company even did retreats,” she continues. “Not even three days, talk less of a whole week.”
“I know,” I say. “I’m lucky.”

She tilts her head. “But what’s going on with your chats with Mr. Ashford? First that, then lunch invites?”
“Yes,” I say. “Lunch.”
“With your boss.”
“Yes, he said he wanted to eat with me and again for the millionth time, Riley it's rude to read people's chat I gave you my phone for a second”
“Sorry, I'm sorry…my eyes just went there”

“But, what’s the occasion?”
“Nothing.”
She stares at me. “Are you sure you’re not… dating or something?”

“Oh my goodness,” I laugh. “This is escalating faster than I thought. No. He’s just… indifferent like that sometimes. It’s confusing.”

“Didn’t you say he was cold and annoying?”
“He is,” I insist. “Usually, but not recently, I guess he has changed.“

I hesitate, then add, “We did go to a fancy French restaurant on Monday though.”
Her eyes widen. “Selena.”
“Riley,it was business but girl let me tell you about that place—it was amazing.”

We head inside before she can interrogate me further.
Shopping turns into its usual chaos—beachwear, light dresses, shoes I don’t need but somehow convince myself I do.
“Get everything you need,” Riley says. “This is a retreat, like a vacation.
”
Just as we’re about to leave, she stops dead.
“Oh my God. Sel. You need this.”
She holds up a black beach dress.
I take it and instantly fall in love.

It’s pitch black, body-hugging, with tiny diamonds catching the light and a bold red petal detail against the fabric.

“It’s flashing,” I whisper.
“I know right, perfect for your beach pictures,” Riley says. “You’ve always wanted something like this.”

She’s right.
I don’t even try it on. I just take it.
At the counter, Riley pays for her things—and then quietly adds the dress to her bill.
“Riley—”
“Don’t argue,” she says. “Consider it retreat energy.”

After the mall, we stop for coffee.
“You want some?” she asks.
We end up at my parents’ café—The Velvet Mug. I haven’t been here in a while, but it still looks incredible from when Jayden helped redesign it.

“Hello, my baby,” my mum says the moment she sees me.
Riley gasps dramatically. “What about me, Mrs. Kane?”
My mum laughs, pulling her into a hug too.
“Your dad went out for deliveries,” she says. “Let me get you both coffee.”

We settle in, warmth wrapping around me in that familiar way.
Then Riley nudges me.
“Well,” she says slowly, “look who we have here.”
I turn—
Ethan has just walked in.
And just like that, the night shifts again.

Ethan pauses when he sees us, surprise flickering across his face before it softens into a smile.
“Good evening, girls.”

I tilt my head, pretending to be offended. “What are you doing here?” I ask, playful.

He shrugs. “Coffee. I come here when I need coffee. Or peace. Or both, just want some fresh air really.”

Riley laughs. “Oh really? What a coincidence. We also came here for coffee.”

I roll my eyes. “You always come here.
You’ve been doing that since high school.”

It’s true. Whenever something was off—when Ethan didn’t want to go home, when things felt too loud,he’d show up here, sit quietly, drink coffee, and somehow end up staying the night. My parents never asked questions. They never needed to.

After a few minutes of small talk, I glance toward the back. “Ethan, please join me in carrying the crate for my mum.”

He nods immediately. “Yeah.”

We head to the back, lifting the crate together. The moment the door swings shut behind us, I look at him.

“Okay,” I say softly. “What’s going on?”
He exhales, a short laugh escaping him. “You know I can’t hide anything from you.”

“I know,” I say. “Is work not going well?”
He shakes his head. “My dad is coming back.”

I stop. “Back… for good?”
“Maybe. Or maybe just for a while. I don’t know.”
“When?” I ask.
“Next week.”
My chest tightens. Next week but I won’t even be around.

Before I can say anything, Riley pops her head in. “Let me help—” She freezes. “Wait. Next week? I thought you said he postponed.”

Ethan runs a hand through his hair. “That’s what he told me. Then last week, he changed his mind.”
I glance at him. “And I won’t even be around.”

Riley looks at me quickly. “You can stay over at my place if you want. Avoid him.”

I shake my head. “No. Not this time.”
Both of them look at me.

“I don’t want to keep running,” I say quietly. “I want to tell him about my job. About everything. I’m tired of being afraid.”

“You think it's time?” I ask softly.
He nods his head. “I will handle it.“

Riley steps closer, wrapping her arms around both of us. “ You can do it.”
“If you need anything,” I add, “call me. Anytime.”

I hug them tighter. “I won’t be around that night though.”
“Why?” Ethan asks.
“Company retreat,” I explain.
He nods slowly. “Well aren't you just enjoying your stay at Ashford enterprise”
“I am”say as we change the subject.

We hang around for a bit longer..about thirty minutes then decide to head out. Ethan leaves for his place, and Riley and I drive back to hers.

The moment we step inside, I stare.
“Rileyyy,” I say slowly, “you didn’t even clean up.”
She groans. “This morning was an emergency. Work has been insane.”
Laptops are everywhere. I shake my head, laughing, and start clearing a bit while she cooks.

When she finally serves the spaghetti, I take a bite and pause.
“…This is actually good,” I admit. “Like—edible.”
She gasps. “I watched some YouTube videos Respect the process.”

We hype each other up until we’re both laughing too hard to eat properly.

Later, I set my dog’s cage in the living room as Riley absolutely refuses to have him in her room and we crawl into bed together.

The lights are off when she speaks.
“Sel, you’re not that dense, right?”
I hum. “About?”
“Selena,” she says. “Mr. Ashford.“
“What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean.”
“It’s just business,” I say. “I promise.”
“Or is that want you want to believe.“
“You know there's a saying that the girl always knows.“
“Riley come on, get some sleep don't do this tonight please.“
She turns toward me. “Okay. But be careful.

Do you like him?”she continues.
I sigh. “Riley—”
“Because I think he likes you.”
I sit up slightly. “I’ve noticed nothing.”
She laughs. “Girl, don’t play. If you’re not sure he likes you—do you like him?”

I hesitate. Just a second too long.
“Well,” I mumble, “He's not bad. I mean… he’s okay but it's strictly professional.”

She smiles in the dark. “So you do.”
“Good night,” I say quickly.
“I’ve heard you,” she replies, already turning away. “Good night.”
“I don’t like him,” I add weakly.
“Mhm,” she says. It's you who should get some sleep and come back to reality.“

And just like that, the night settles…
leaving my thoughts far more awake than I am.

“Do i like Jayden Ashford?“
I don't think I want to know....yet.