𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬

𝐄 𝐋 𝐄 𝐕 𝐄 𝐍

• Lingering Shadows •

Beyoncé groaned as the early morning light filtered through the curtains, intensifying the dull ache behind her eyes. She slowly sat up on Onika’s couch, noticing the soft blanket draped over her and her heels neatly placed on the floor. The memories of last night began to surface—how they’d kissed, touched, and how the boundaries between them had blurred. But now, the reality of the situation weighed heavily on her. Onika had already left, avoiding the inevitable conversation, leaving Beyoncé to face the morning alone.

Beyoncé sighed, rubbing her temples as she slipped her feet into her heels. As she did, her eyes caught something—a faint lipstick print on her foot. It was Onika’s signature red, a mark of last night’s intimacy. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, despite the headache. Even in her absence, Onika managed to make her blush.

She grabbed her purse and headed to the elevator, her mind racing. She understood why Onika had left before she woke up. Their relationship was complicated by the fact that Beyoncé was her boss. But they clearly had feelings for each other, and avoiding the issue wouldn’t solve anything. They needed to talk about it like adults.

As the elevator descended, Beyoncé pulled out her phone. A series of messages from Robyn flashed on the screen, each one more suggestive than the last. It was their usual back-and-forth, filled with innuendos and explicit details—a game they’d played for years. But this morning, it felt different. She wasn’t in the mood for it, not after last night with Onika.

Beyoncé’s fingers hovered over the keyboard as she considered how to respond. Finally, she typed a simple reply:

_____

Not in the mood, Robyn. :

_____

She hit send and pocketed her phone as the elevator doors opened to the lobby. Beyoncé stepped out, her mind still on Onika, and what they’d shared. The day ahead would be filled with work, meetings, and responsibilities, but the thoughts of last night lingered, a mix of desire and uncertainty.

As she stepped out into the morning air, Beyoncé knew she couldn’t avoid Onika forever. They had to figure out what this was—whether it was just a moment of weakness, or something more. Either way, she couldn’t stop thinking about her, and she knew she’d have to confront those feelings sooner rather than later.

•••

Onika found herself sitting on a plush, navy-blue couch in Lauren’s apartment, her hands wrapped around a half-empty glass of wine. The apartment was cozy, filled with soft lighting and the scent of something delicious cooking in the kitchen. Normani was at the stove, casually stirring a pot while humming along to the music playing in the background. The atmosphere should have been relaxing, yet Onika couldn’t shake the tension clinging to her after this morning.

She took a sip of her drink, trying to focus on the warmth spreading through her chest instead of the guilt gnawing at her. She knew she’d left Beyoncé in a pretty messed-up way, but she couldn’t deal with the aftermath—especially not so soon after everything that happened between them.

Lauren, sitting across from her with a glass of her own, suddenly broke the silence. “Onika, I still can’t believe you just left Beyoncé like that this morning. That’s so cold.”

Onika groaned, leaning back into the cushions. “It’s not that simple, Lauren. She’s literally my boss. I can’t just pretend like that doesn’t complicate things.”

Lauren raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Complicated or not, it’s still cruel. You’ve got to stop running away every time things get real.”