"Thank you so much for your help, Pete," Stacy says, looking up at Pete through her full lashes.
"It's no problem," Pete smiles.
"It's like you've never changed since elementary school," She laughs lightly, standing from her chair.
"Really?" Pete questions, stepping back to give her space. "I feel like I look way different."
"I'm not talking about your appearance, I'm talking about your personality. You're still the sweetest, funniest, most charming guy I know."
"You give me too much credit, Stacy."
They share a laugh, and Pete starts moving toward the door, taking it as his cue to leave now that they've finally finished the file.
Her words stop him. "Remember fifth grade?" She whispers.
"Oh my god," Pete laughs, pausing to be polite.
"You gave me that ring pop at lunch," Her voice is rich with nostalgia and love. "I made invitations in art class and you invited all your friends to the slide at recess the next day."
"I cannot believe we did all that," He continues to chuckle.
"I wore my white sundress and you begged your mom to wear a suit," She begins to move toward him.
"Oh my god."
"And she wouldn't let you so you wore normal clothes but snuck the tie in your backpack."
"We took that way too serious,"
"You know," Her voice drops even lower, invading his personal space. "We're technically still married."
Pete feels himself grow uncomfortable with how close she is, her breath dusting his face, her eyes half lidded with lust. It dawns on him exactly what she's been doing this whole time. The faux helplessness to get him in her office and kind words and treats to coax him to stay. This was planned. All of it.
He doesn't have more than a second to think it over because her hands snatch his face and she forces her lips to his. His eyes squeeze shut for a moment, shock and disgust overtaking him, before he shoves her back.
"What the hell, Stacy!?" He sputters, wiping gloss from his lips with his sleeve.
"What do you mean!?" She defends herself. "I thought you wanted to!"
"When have I ever expressed that!?"
Stacy's chest heaves as her eyes switch from fury to agony. "Maybe the way you smile and laugh with me like we never separated at all?"
Pete doesn't see into through her victim act. "So you mean the way I'm your friend?"
Fake tears well in her eyes. "I thought you loved me!"
"Are you serious?" He shakes his head. "Stacy, we're friends! Friends and that's fucking it!"
"I can't believe you!" She scoffs. "After all we've been through? After my dad and I come all the way out here to better your shitty company!?"
Pete's eyes ignite. "My shitty company? If I'm correct your family's company was two files away from bankruptcy!" He doesn't flinch when her lips quiver. "And we go out on a limb hiring you and what do I get? Someone who has no clue what the hell she's doing!"
"I told you! I didn't do the files at our company, I worked on partnerships!"
Pete narrows his eyes. "You told me that did files and just couldn't understand our format."
Her eyes widen for a brief moment, but she blinks it away and wipes forced tears off her cheeks. "What do you want from me!? I'm doing everything I can for you!"
