Eleven

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Selina accepted Alyssa's offer, feeling responsible for the situation. She decided to stay with Billie to make amends. She couldn't shake the feeling that she might have prevented the break-in. The brunette kept second-guessing herself—maybe if she had noticed sooner, ignored Nick, or been more alert.

It had been a long time since Selina felt such fear. Usually, she was the calm one; nothing ever frightened her. But seeing the intruder on top of Billie filled her with dread. What unsettled her most was the look in Billie's eyes—despite her efforts to hide it, they revealed a painful mix of fear, shock, and anguish.

She gripped the steering wheel tightly in anger. Her mistreatment of Billie only deepened her guilt. Confused by her own emotions, she took her frustrations out on Billie.

By late afternoon, the day after the break-in, Billie had been relocated to her new house, accompanied by several boxes packed by her team. Thankfully, the new place was just 15 minutes from Selina's apartment, so moving items back and forth was relatively easy. Meanwhile, Billie continued to have her belongings delivered, which included a very confused shark now sitting in Selina's passenger seat. It didn't take long for the shark to warm up to Selina, though it doesn't take much for anyone to do so.

Selina was exhausted, having gone without sleep for a day due to all the packing, and Billie was probably feeling the same. She hoped that the shark would lift her spirits.

She had to admire Alyssa's dedication; working with her was more enjoyable than with most others. Tomorrow, she was scheduled to meet Alyssa to discuss the new security system and other essentials she needed to learn. On the bright side, she was getting a promotion, though she felt she didn't quite deserve it. The whole situation felt strange to her—she hadn't heard shark barking, and she had intended to ask Alyssa about her suspicions regarding Nick but had forgotten.

"You have arrived at your destination."

The new house featured a tall gate similar to her old one, but its rusty bricks hinted at its age. From the outside, it looked like any other ordinary house in LA.

She entered the gate code Alyssa had texted her and climbed the stairs to the front door. Another keypad to remember, she noted with a sigh. The door beeped and opened to reveal a quaint, modern home. Though sparsely furnished and decorated, it had everything essential.

For now, it seemed it was just her and Billie alone. When shark caught a whiff of Billie's scent, he darted by Selina, nearly making her drop all her luggage. The house was a single-story, with two bedrooms and one bathroom.

Down the hall, Selina heard a soft, cooing voice—Billie sweet-talking shark. A faint smile touched Selina's lips. She set her suitcase in the first room off the hallway and began unpacking her things.

"Thanks for bringing him," came a soft voice from behind.

Selina turned to see Billie leaning in the doorway. Even without sleep, she looked good, Selina thought. Billie glanced around the room and added, "This place reminds me of my parents' home."

Selina noticed the forced cheerfulness in Billie's voice and the dark circles under her eyes. It surprised her how kind Billie was being, especially after their last tense conversation. Billie's gaze returned to Selina, waiting for a response. They hadn't had a genuine conversation outside of work in awhile.

"Do you miss living with your parents?" Selina asked.

"A lot, but sometimes I like having my own space," Billie replied. Selina, who generally avoided discussing her own family, was focused on the sadness in Billie's expression. She moved closer. "How's the concussion?"

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