For the life of her, she couldn't have imagined she'd actually end up showing off a hickey to anyone. It was too immature and high schoolish, honestly. And that too showing off in front of the ex of the person who had given her them... It was childish and petty! But that was fate, wasn't it? Twisted, smug little thing that it was. That could be the only reason that Saira would arrive at the showroom today of all days. She could have come tomorrow when the marks had faded and all. But, whatever.
So, while she waited for Saira to be shown up to her office, Melanie casually pulled out a compact and leaned toward the mirror. With slow, deliberate strokes, she wiped off the concealer she'd used earlier.
Not all of it—just enough. Just a few well-placed marks, the kind that said everything without needing words. She didn't need to put her whole neck on display. A glimpse would do. A whisper of skin and a smudge of something dark and recent. Enough to make it clear who had been there.
