Norah Fisher slid into the passenger seat beside Jamie Olson, her tone carrying a note of apology. "Thanks for stepping in back there."

She wanted Jamie to know she had no intention of getting tangled up with Lionel Ross anymore. Even after fifteen years of holding onto feelings for him, she wasn't the type to hang on once things shifted. Lionel's heart wasn't in it anymore, and she wasn't about to cling to the past.

Besides, she'd already given their relationship another shot.

"No worries at all," Jamie replied, flashing a slight, teasing smile. His warm grin brought out the striking angles of his face—an intriguing mix that made it impossible for Norah to hold his gaze. She quickly averted her eyes and switched topics. "What brings you to town?"

Maximo Olson popped into her head, and she studied Jamie a little more carefully. Same last name—could they be related?

"I'm here on business. In a city like this, exploring new opportunities is the smart move," Jamie said, clearing things up before she could wonder any further.

Whether Jamie was tied to Maximo or not didn't matter much to her. Sure, she and Jamie had known each other since they were kids, but they hadn't kept in touch over the years. She liked him well enough, but that didn't mean she was about to dig into his past.

"Where to?" Jamie's voice cut through her thoughts. She blinked, realizing the car was already moving.

"I'm meeting some friends at a bar. Want to tag along?" Norah asked, more out of courtesy than anything.

Jamie had gotten her out of a tight spot twice now, after all.

"Sure!" Jamie accepted so quickly that Norah blinked. She'd only meant to be polite, but clearly he took the invitation seriously.

When they walked into the bar, Elia Dean and Matthew Spencer were already there. Their eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of Jamie with Norah, the shock written all over both of their faces.

Norah made the introductions. "This is Jamie Olson. He stayed with us for a year when we were kids."

"Jamie, this is my best friend Elia and her boyfriend Matthew."

"Hello," Jamie greeted them warmly.

Elia waved, though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "Hi."

Matthew didn't answer, eyeing Jamie with a hint of suspicion. As Lionel's close friend, he wasn't exactly eager to welcome someone who might take Lionel's place.

Jamie didn't seem fazed by Matthew's cold shoulder.

"Norah, what would you like to drink? I'll get it for you," Jamie offered.

"I'll have an espresso martini," Norah said.

"Got it." Jamie nodded and headed for the bar.

Once he was out of earshot, Elia leaned in. "What's going on? Did you seriously get a new boyfriend already?"

"He's not my boyfriend," Norah said, a little annoyed. "I told you, we knew each other as kids. I'm not looking to date anybody right now."

Elia studied her carefully. "You still haven't let go of Lionel, have you? After everything, please tell me you're not serious."

"Do you really think I'm the kind of person who can't move on?" Norah shot back.

Elia let out a relieved sigh. "Good. I was worried you were still hung up on that jerk."

"Ahem…" Matthew coughed. "I'm still here, you know."

Even as Lionel's friend, he couldn't honestly deny what they were saying.

"Yeah, you're here. And I'd say it to Lionel's face," Elia declared.

Matthew had nothing to say to that.

Norah cut in before things could go any further. "Okay, let's not let my drama ruin our night. No more Lionel talk."

"Norah, are you really breaking things off with Lionel?" Matthew asked, picking up on the firmness in her tone.

Norah let out a soft chuckle. "When have I ever not meant what I said?"

Matthew was about to answer, but Jamie came back with the drinks, cutting him off.

"Here's your drink." Jamie handed Norah her glass.

Norah accepted it, frowning a little. "I ordered an espresso martini. This is a light fruit spritzer."

"The espresso martini you wanted is pretty strong, and you can't handle that," Jamie said casually, his tone part concerned, part teasing.

Everyone caught the undertone in that exchange—everyone except Norah.

Elia and Matthew, though, definitely sensed something simmering.

Norah took a sip of the spritzer. "It's not very strong. I like my cocktails with a little more kick."

"Try mine. It's stronger." Jamie offered her his glass and leaned in closer.

The low lights, the soft music, his close presence—it all made the moment feel a little too intimate.

When Norah met Jamie's gaze, a sudden wave of discomfort rushed through her and she looked away. "It's fine. I'll stick with this. It's good."

With Jamie and Lionel both in the picture, Norah and Elia felt a bit boxed in. After a couple of drinks and some small talk, they decided to call it a night.

"How are you getting home, Norah? Need a ride?" Matthew asked once they were outside.

It wasn't exactly Norah he was worried about. He didn't like how close she and Jamie were getting. There was no way he could just stand by and let his friend end up in an awkward spot.

Norah waved him off, looping her arm through Jamie's. "No need. We live in the same place, so I'll ride with Jamie."

Even with a low-alcohol blueberry spritzer, Norah was feeling a slight buzz.

She'd never been able to hold her liquor well. She'd snuck drinks with Elia plenty of times, even though Lionel disapproved. Eventually, Lionel's disapproval had been enough to make her stop altogether.

Once Vivienne came back, Lionel stopped worrying about her at all.

One night, Norah had deliberately ordered a strong cocktail and kept drinking until she was way past tipsy. Lionel's only reaction had been cold disdain. "You can't hold your liquor, so why drink that much?"

That was the moment she understood the caring, loving Lionel was gone for good. Their relationship was truly over.

"We live together?"

Elia and Matthew exchanged surprised glances.

Jamie said his goodbyes and led Norah away.

Matthew moved to stop them, but Elia caught his arm. "What are you doing?"

"Aren't you worried about them being alone together?"

"Not even a little. Jamie seems like a decent guy—way better than that jerk Lionel," Elia said frankly. She already had a good impression of Jamie.

Matthew sighed. "Better than Lionel? How exactly?"

"Well, he's definitely better looking," Elia shot back, leaving Matthew completely without a comeback.

Early in the morning, Matthew Spencer walked into Ross Corporation.

"Lionel, what the hell is going on with you and Norah Fisher? You're not seriously breaking up, are you?"

Lionel Ross smirked, completely unbothered. "Please. You really think she can live without me?"

Norah was crazy about him, and Lionel knew it. Any talk of breaking up was just her way of throwing a tantrum to get his attention.

"She's seeing someone else—did you know that?" Matthew said urgently.

Lionel didn't even blink. "I know. She just found some guy to make me jealous. It's the same old game."

"Lionel, are you sure Norah's the kind of person who'd do that? If you want to keep her, you need to talk to her like an adult," Matthew advised.

But Lionel wasn't hearing it. "If she wants to throw a tantrum, let her. I've spoiled her rotten, so she thinks she can throw wine in my mother's face and disrespect her in front of everyone. Until she comes back and apologizes, I'm not forgiving her."

He was curious to see how long she'd hold out.

"You messed up at the engagement party too, though."

"I was taking Vivienne to the hospital. It's not like I wasn't coming back. I just needed Norah to hold things down for a bit."

As far as Lionel was concerned, he'd done nothing wrong.

Matthew, however, saw it differently. "Anyone could've taken her to the hospital. Did it really have to be you? You left Norah high and dry at the engagement party—what did you think was gonna happen?"

"Why wouldn't she handle it? Vivienne was pregnant, and that's more important. It's not the same if someone else takes her. She's carrying my brother's kid."

"I get why Norah decided to call it quits with you," Matthew said knowingly.

Lionel shrugged, totally unconcerned, and clapped Matthew on the shoulder. "Don't stress about us. She'll be back in a few days."

"Lionel, nobody's indispensable. If you keep this up, Norah might never come back, and you'll be the one regretting it," Matthew warned.

Lionel laughed. "What, did Norah say something to you? Or did she send you here?"

"No," Matthew replied, deciding to drop it. If Lionel couldn't see her worth, nothing he said would change that.

"Lionel."

Vivienne Powell walked in.

Matthew gave her a quick glance, then turned back to Lionel with a sigh. "I've got some errands to run, so I'll take my leave."

Vivienne watched him go, but Matthew didn't so much as glance her way.

"Vivienne, what brings you here?"

Lionel's voice drew Vivienne's gaze back to him. "I'm feeling a little unwell. Could you take me to the hospital?"

"Not feeling well?" Lionel was at her side in an instant, worry written all over his face.

Vivienne took Lionel's hand and placed it on her stomach. "Here."

"Jake, bring the car around. We're heading to the hospital," Lionel called out, his voice tight.

Vivienne gently guided his hand, easing the discomfort. "Rubbing it like this helps a lot."

"Alright," Lionel murmured, massaging her stomach softly.

The two of them stood close, Lionel's arm curled around Vivienne's waist while his other hand worked gently over her stomach.

Meanwhile, Norah woke up feeling miserable. The stomach issues she'd battled since childhood had flared up again.

Back when she was with Lionel, he would constantly order heavy, spicy food and insist she eat it, dismissing her sensitive stomach as an overreaction. Whenever she reminded him she had a sensitive stomach, he'd brush it off and claim spicy food had nothing to do with it. If she refused, he'd insist until she gave in just to keep the peace—and her stomach paid the price.

Skipping a single meal could set it off, and yesterday's slight overindulgence in wine had done exactly that.

Doubled over in pain, she hunted for her medication, only to remember she'd left it at the apartment she used to share with Lionel. Ordering online would take too long, so she steeled herself and headed downstairs to the pharmacy.

The moment she opened the door, she found herself face-to-face with Jamie Olson stepping out of his apartment.

"What's wrong?" Jamie caught it instantly and rushed over to steady her.

"My stomach's acting up," Norah admitted, her forehead slick with sweat.

"Why didn't you call me?" Jamie chided, concern sharpening his voice. Thank God he'd been there—what would she have done if he'd already left for the office?

"I'm fine. I just ran out of my meds, that's all."

The pain was awful, but it was nothing she hadn't dealt with a hundred times before.

Without another word, Jamie scooped her up.

"Jamie, what are you doing?"

"We're going to the hospital."

"No need. Some medicine and rest will do," Norah insisted, but he was already carrying her into the elevator.

When they reached the ground floor, Jamie got her settled in the car, then jogged into the pharmacy for her medication and a bottle of water.

He came back and pressed the pills into her hand, already out of the packaging, along with an open bottle of water.

Norah swallowed the medicine, and Jamie helped her ease the seat back before pulling out.

"Jamie, this is really not necessary. The medicine will kick in soon."

Jamie wasn't having it. "Better to have a doctor check you out."

He drove fast but carefully, and soon they pulled up at the hospital. Jamie helped Norah out of the car right as Lionel and Vivienne arrived.

Vivienne, dripping with fake concern, asked, "Norah, what's wrong? Is it your stomach acting up again?"

Norah ignored her. The medicine still hadn't kicked in, and she wasn't in the mood to play nice.

Lionel's gaze swept over Norah's pale face and bloodless lips, his brow furrowing. He took a step forward, but Vivienne immediately clung to his arm. "Lionel, my stomach… it's really uncomfortable," she whimpered.

Norah let out a bitter little laugh.

How convenient.

Lionel's attention snapped back to Vivienne. He didn't spare Norah another glance as he settled Vivienne into a wheelchair and pushed her inside.

This same scene had played out too many times since Vivienne came back six months ago. Norah was used to it by now. It didn't even sting anymore.

"Jamie, let's just go."

"Alright," Jamie murmured, sweeping her into his arms.

Norah squirmed, embarrassed by the attention. "Jamie, you don't have to do this. I can walk, you know."

The medicine had started working, the pain fading enough for her to manage on her own.

But Jamie had no intention of putting her down. He simply strode into the hospital with her cradled against his chest.

Inside the crowded hospital, Norah felt every pair of eyes on them and instinctively buried her face against Jamie's chest to hide.

She was completely oblivious to how intimate it looked—and missed Jamie's slow grin and the low chuckle he couldn't quite hold back as he carried her right past Lionel and Vivienne.