She forces a smile. “Just work, you know. The usual.”

“Right,” I say, drawing out the word.

Alex nudges Bianca again, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Come on, Bia, spill. You’re not fooling anyone with that ‘just work’ line.”

She laughs, but it’s forced. “Seriously, guys. It’s nothing. Just busy.”

I sip my coffee, letting the bitterness anchor me. Something’s off with her today. Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes, and she’s fidgeting more than usual.

“So, about that property meeting tomorrow,” I start, trying to steer the conversation somewhere more comfortable. “We need to finalize the layout plans.”

“Right,” Bianca says, her fingers tapping an erratic rhythm on the table. “I’ve got some new sketches I think you’ll like.”

Alex grins. “New sketches? You’ve been holding out on us.”

She shrugs, avoiding eye contact. “I wanted to make sure they were perfect before showing them.”

I lean back in my chair, studying her. Her usual confidence is buried under layers of something I can’t quite name. It gnaws at me.

“You alright?” I ask, keeping my tone light.

“Yeah,” she replies too quickly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Alex looks between us, sensing the tension. “You know you can tell us anything, right?”

Bianca’s eyes flicker to mine for a split second before darting away. “I know,” she says softly.

The waitress comes by to refill our coffees, breaking the momentary silence. I thank her and take another sip, the warmth doing little to thaw the chill in my gut.

Bianca sets down her fork and takes a deep breath. “Actually, there is something I need to talk to you guys about.”

Alex and I exchange a look. His eyebrows lift slightly, a silent "Go on" that mirrors my own thoughts. Bianca takes another deep breath, her fingers twisting the napkin in her lap.

“So, James gave me an ultimatum,” she begins. “He found out about... everything. About you two and me. He said I have to choose—him or you guys.”

Alex leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. “And?”

“I can’t choose,” she says, her voice steady but her eyes pleading. “Because this isn’t just sex for me. My feelings for you, for all of you never went away.”

I lean forward, my elbows resting on the table. “Are you saying you want to date all three of us again?”

“Yes.” She nods, eyes darting between us. “Either we all date again, or I don’t want to date any of you.”

“Bianca,” Alex starts, but she holds up a hand.

“Let me finish,” she says. “I know this is complicated. But if you can’t accept this... arrangement, I’ll drop your account and let someone else from my company take over the job.”

The café's background chatter fades into a dull roar in my ears. We sit there, the weight of her words hanging in the air like a dense fog. I glance at Alex; his face is unreadable. Bianca pushes her chair back, the screech against the tile jarring.

"Thanks for breakfast," she says, voice tight as she grabs her bag.

As she turns to leave, something inside me snaps. I reach out and wrap my fingers around her wrist, the warmth of her skin grounding me. "Sit down," I say, my tone leaving no room for argument.

She freezes, glancing at Alex before looking back at me. Her eyes search mine, trying to read the emotions that I’ve buried deep. Slowly, she sinks back into her seat.

Alex leans forward, elbows on the table. "Alright, Bia," he says, his voice calm but firm. "Let’s get this straight. You’re asking us to go back to how things were? All of us together?"

She nods, biting her lower lip. "Yes."