Page 54 of F*ckboys

"By sticking your nose where it doesn't belong? Thanks, but no thanks."

"Okay, I get it," she says, frowning and raising her hands in surrender. "But can I ask why you threw them away?"

"Because I don't need Aksel in my life. He should know I don't like flowers. They're such a waste. They die after a few days, anyway."

"True, but black roses aren't exactly common. Maybe he thought—."

"It doesn't matter what he thought," I interrupt, my irritation mounting. "He's always been like this—assuming he knows what I want and need, when in reality, he doesn't understand me at all. He never has."

"Alright, Fallon," Mia murmurs, backing away from my desk. "I won't bother you about it anymore." I swear I hear her mutter 'it's not my battle to fight' as she turns away.

"Good." I nod curtly, turning back to the pile of paperwork on my desk. She doesn't understand the depths of the darkness between Aksel and me, the twisted dance we're locked in. And I don't intend to fully let her in on the secret anytime soon.

As she leaves my office, I can feel the weight of those black roses in the trash like a heavy cloud hanging over me. But it's better this way. There's no room for Aksel in my life, and there never will be again.

The sunlight filtering through the blinds in the late afternoon casts a striped pattern on my desk, highlighting the stark contrast between the pristine white sheets of paper and the black ink of my pen. After a few hours of productive work, my thoughts once again swirl around Aksel and the darkness that envelops us both, tugging at my concentration and causing my focus to wane. Mia's soft footsteps approach my office, pulling me out of my reverie.

"Fallon," she says hesitantly, lingering in the doorway. "Can we talk?"

"About what?" I ask without looking up from my papers, masking my growing unease with irritation.

"About Aksel. And the flowers."

I sigh, finally meeting her gaze. Her dark curls frame her face, amplifying the earnestness in her eyes. "We already discussed those, even though I'm not quite sure what they have to do with you and why you want to keep talking about them." I frown. "What about the stupid flowers?"

"Look, I know you're angry at him, but sending you black roses—that was a thoughtful gesture. You have to admit it."

"Thoughtful?" I scoff, feeling the anger surge inside me like a tidal wave. "He doesn't understand me, Mia. If he did, hewouldn't have sent flowers in the first place. He would have sent a plant. Or maybe launched himself to the moon in a spaceship."

"Maybe he's trying to make amends," she suggests gently, her freckles standing out against her flushed cheeks. "He remembered that you like black roses. That has to count for something, right?"

"Fine," I concede, clenching my pen tightly. "Maybe he remembered. But it doesn't change anything. I have memories of him as well. Memories of how he hurt me, how he used me, how he broke my heart. He's still the same selfish, manipulative man he's always been. Flowers could never scratch the surface of fixing that."

"Have you considered that maybe having him in your life could be a good thing?" Mia questions, a determined glint in her eyes. "You've been so focused on the darker aspects of your job lately, it might help to have someone who cares about you around."

"Someone who cares about me?" I snort, bitterness lacing my words. "Aksel only cares about himself. I don't need him, and I certainly don't want him in my life."

"Fallon," Mia sighs, her voice softening. "I know you're hurt, but don't let your anger blind you to the possibility of forgiveness. Maybe Aksel has changed. Maybe he's learned from his mistakes and wants to make things right."

"Or maybe he's just playing another one of his games," I shoot back, anger flaring once more. "I'm not interested in finding out, Mia. I have enough darkness in my life without adding Aksel to the mix."

"Alright," she says, raising her hands in surrender. "I won't push it anymore. But just remember that people can change, Fallon. And sometimes, letting them back into your life can be a healing experience for both of you."

"Thanks for the unsolicited advice," I mutter, turning back to my work as an uneasy silence fills the room. Mia's words echo in my mind, but the thought of trusting Aksel again is like willingly stepping into a snake pit.

"Take care, Fallon," Mia whispers before slipping out of my office, her voice low, leaving me to wrestle with the darkness alone.

The scent of the black roses still lingers in my office, a cruel reminder of Aksel's manipulations. I try to focus on the case files spread across my desk, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Mia's words. They gnaw at me like a relentless itch under my skin.

"Fallon?" Mia's tentative voice breaks through my concentration, and she pokes her head into my office. "Can we talk?"

"About what?" I snap, bristling at the thought of discussing Aksel or the flowers any further. "If it's not about work I'm not interested. You need to stop coming in here and trying to counsel me on my personal life."

"Look," she says, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. "I know you didn't want to hear what I had to say earlier, but I can't just stand by and watch you push everyone away. And you need to hear this."

"Everyone? Or just Aksel?" I challenge, narrowing my eyes at her. She hesitates for a moment, clearly choosing her words carefully.

"Both," she admits. "But especially Aksel. He's trying, Fallon. Can't you see that?"

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