Late to Love

Chapter 23: New Paths and Hidden Struggles

The crisp autumn air of New York had settled in fully, painting the streets in vibrant shades of amber and crimson. Days felt shorter, the golden light of the afternoons fading quickly into cool, breezy nights. As the city moved forward into its fall routine, so did its people—each wrapped up in their own worlds of work, relationships, and personal struggles.

At Starlight Magazine, the energy was palpable. Deadlines were approaching, the holiday season looming, and everyone in the office seemed to be racing to meet the expectations of their roles. Amid the chaos, Nina found herself thriving. Her dedication had not gone unnoticed by Mrs. Greene, the editor-in-chief, who had recently pulled her aside for a private conversation.

“You’re doing excellent work, Nina,” Mrs. Greene had said, her sharp eyes watching her carefully. They were in her office, a large room filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and artwork from previous covers of the magazine. Mrs. Greene stood by the window, gazing out at the city skyline as she spoke. “I’ve seen a lot of talent pass through these doors over the years, but you… you have something different. Something special.”

Nina had blushed at the praise but felt a swell of pride. “Thank you, Mrs. Greene. I’ve been putting in a lot of effort lately.”

“I can see that,” Mrs. Greene continued, turning to face her. “I’m thinking about the future, Nina. My future, and the future of Starlight. I won’t be here forever, and the magazine will need someone to take over, someone with vision, discipline, and a drive to innovate. I think you could be that person.”

The words had floored Nina. She had known she was doing well, but the idea of being Mrs. Greene’s successor? It was more than she had ever expected.

“You want me to… take over Starlight?” Nina asked, incredulous.

“Not tomorrow,” Mrs. Greene said with a small smile. “But one day, yes. You have the potential to lead this team. You’ve already been raising the bar around here.”

The conversation had left Nina buzzing with excitement, but also uncertainty. She had been working harder than ever, pushing herself to meet her own high standards, but it was starting to affect her relationships with her coworkers—especially with Lukas. The more she threw herself into her work, the more distance grew between them. And it wasn’t just Lukas. Stella, another colleague and once an ally in the office, had been giving her strained looks recently, clearly noticing the shift in their dynamic.

Lukas, on the other hand, had been spending more and more time with Macey. Their relationship seemed to be rekindling, and while Nina had tried to keep her distance emotionally, she couldn’t help but notice how much it hurt to see them together. The late nights they used to share, working on magazine projects or just talking about life, had been replaced with awkward, stilted conversations or complete avoidance.

Stella had caught onto this change as well. She was the type to notice the subtleties of office dynamics, and it didn’t take long for her to confront Nina about it.

“Hey,” Stella said one afternoon, as they were both in the break room. “Got a second?”

Nina glanced up from her notes, sensing the seriousness in Stella’s voice. “Sure, what’s up?”

Stella crossed her arms, leaning against the counter, her eyes studying Nina carefully. “What’s going on with you and Lukas? You two used to be thick as thieves, and now… I don’t know. Something feels off.”

Nina stiffened slightly, not expecting the directness of the question. “Nothing’s wrong,” she lied, avoiding Stella’s gaze as she turned back to her notes. “We’re just… busy with work.”