CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT – AT THE BAR TO CHILL

She returned to her desk, acutely aware of the curious stares and hushed whispers of her colleagues. As she sat down, her gaze fell on the now-cold coffee Justin had left. With a sigh, she pushed it aside and turned to her computer, trying to lose herself in work and forget, if only for a moment, the tangled web her life had become. As the clock struck five, Nia breathed a sigh of relief. The workday was finally over, and with it, the week from hell. She gathered her things, pointedly avoiding Rachel's icy glare from across the office. The tension between them had been palpable since their confrontation, making the air in the office thick and uncomfortable. Stepping out into the crisp autumn air, Nia felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She pulled out her phone and dialed Melissa's number as she walked towards the parking lot. "Hey, Mel," she said when her friend picked up. "Any chance you're free tonight? I could really use a drink." Melissa's warm laugh crackled through the spe