Page 107 of Toxic

"Obviously." I mirrored his grimace.

"This week, I’ll have you sit with the helpdesk staff and give you a few simple tasks to get up to speed. By next week, the new team should be set up, and you’ll join it with Soren."

I nodded.

"And now it’s time for HR. I expected you because Dad said you were coming to town, so I gave them a heads-up. They’ve got your paperwork ready."

I swallowed, remembering who I had to thank for this.

As soon as I stepped out into the hallway, I pulled out my phone, but I didn’t even have Snow’s number. I’d never spoken to him on the phone before, so I texted Bay, my older brother, who lived next door to our parents. He sent me Snow’s number almost instantly.

I called, feeling a knot of stress, but Snow didn’t pick up. A minute later, I got a text:

"You’re welcome."

So like Snow—not picking up, but knowing exactly why I’d called and replying to that. He was the one brother I never really understood.

I sent: "Seriously, you surprised me. You have no idea how grateful I am. I owe you one."

"Don’t mention it."

"But I have to. I’ve been unbearable these past two months, totally focused on my suffering. I’m sorry if I didn’t pay attention to you."

"I felt it, and I understood. I could literally see that hole in you. I can see things like that. I hope you heal now, Skye."

I stared at the screen for a while, quite moved. I really owed him. The part about ‘I can see things like that’ puzzled me a bit, but I let it slide.

An hour later, I was officially a DevApp intern, starting the next day at 9 am.

By the time I headed down, it was lunchtime, and many employees were crowding into the elevator, heading to the cafeteria.

I figured I could grab something to eat too—I hadn’t had anything all morning because of my nerves, and I was starting to feel a bit faint. I went down with the group of employees and followed them to a large, glass-walled cafeteria on the 10th floor of the building, with a beautiful panoramic view of the city.

Looking around nervously, I stood in line, but I didn’t see Soren. He could have been here earlier, or maybe he’d come later, or perhaps he didn’t come to this cafeteria at all—there was another one on the first floor.

I waited my turn, listening to the employees around me chatting animatedly about work stuff or personal matters. Most of them were betas and omegas, the typical workforce you’d find in a software company. Alphas were a rare sight in these places—I was one of the few in the cafeteria. From what I could tell, the others weren’t even DevApp employees. Some curious gazes landed on me; a few omegas were openly checking me out.

I picked a small two-person table in the corner, set down my tray, and sat, ready to eat. But just as I lifted the first spoonful to my mouth, I saw a new group of people coming through the door.

It felt like I’d been struck by lightning, every cell in my body screaming with both joy and fear.

It was Soren.

Soren…

He walked in with a couple of betas and omegas, talking to a short beta next to him. They all stepped into the line.

Shivering slightly, I shrank back, trying to make myself as small as possible—I wasn’t even sure why, I just didn’t want him to notice me. But he wasn’t looking around the room; his eyeswere fixed on the display case showing off the day’s catering options.

My hands were trembling as I ate nervously, waiting for Soren to grab his tray and pay for his food. For some reason, I felt like maybe I could leave the room before he started looking for a table, but the other half of me desperately wanted to stay and watch him a little longer.

I noticed a change in his appearance. His hair was still shaved on one side, although not as short—the skin wasn’t visible in the shaved area, so he probably had 7 mm long hairs there. The longer part on top of his head was now tied smoothly back in a low ponytail, which made him look a bit more refined. It seemed like he had fewer piercings in his ears, too. The ones left were smaller. He was dressed in a black button-down shirt and black pants, almost looking elegant—definitely different from how he looked in college. But he was still beautiful, lithe and svelte, drawing my eyes like a magnet.

Finally, he and his short colleague took their trays and started searching for a table. I hunched over, practically burying my face in my soup, hurriedly swallowing spoonfuls, hoping he wouldn’t recognize me. Luckily, Soren and his friend found a table about 40 feet away from me and sat down, facing sideways. There was little chance he’d look my way, but I could still watch him.

For minutes on end, I stared at him, mesmerized. He was real, a palpable Soren… not just a dream. I watched his every movement, like when he lifted a spoon to his mouth. His colleague kept talking and gesturing, and Soren responded occasionally, seeming slightly distant, lost in thought. Typical Soren, my Soren…Stop, Skye.

I soaked in the sight of him, my heart trembling with happiness, so overjoyed to see him again… but for what? What was I hoping for? God, he’d been very clear when he said henever wanted to hear from me again. But then he’d broken that rule himself when he’d tried to approach me. Maybe I could cling to that?

---