Our Old Manager.

What Does She Need Us For?

Jennie sat alone in her office.

The city stretched beyond the windows, lights scattered across the darkness like stars that had fallen too close to the ground. Her desk was unusually empty.

No paperwork.

No laptop open.

Nothing demanding her attention.

Only the phone resting beside her hand. She glanced at the screen.

Nothing.

No message from Y/N. Jennie wasn't surprised. She hadn't expected one, not yet. Her fingers tapped lightly against the desk.

Once. Twice then stopped.

She thought about the café. The photographs. Daniela laughing which made Y/N smiled. The way Y/N had looked at the inventory book when she'd returned it. Jennie had seen it. That tiny shift in her expression. The hesitation. The memories are returning. It had worked, at least a little. That should have been enough but it wasn't.

Jennie wanted more.

She wanted Y/N to remember what it had felt like when they were close. She wanted her to remember the nights they stayed awake talking. The stupid arguments. The birthdays. The promises. Everything, not because Jennie wanted Y/N to forget Daniela.

She wanted something more difficult. She wanted Y/N to compare and she was confident she knew which side would win. A knock interrupted her thoughts. The door opened before she answered.

Lisa walked in.

Jisoo followed.

Rosé came in behind them and quietly closed the door. Jennie looked up. "What's wrong?" Lisa crossed her arms. "We wanted to talk." Jennie leaned back in her chair. "About?"

"You." Lisa didn't hesitate. Jennie's eyebrow lifted. "Me?"

"Yes." Jisoo warned next. "Lisa."

"What?" Lisa looked at her. "We're all thinking about it." Rosé sat down. "We're worried." Jennie looked between them. "About what?"

Lisa stared at her. "How far are you planning to take this." Jennie's expression barely changed. "I returned her notebook." Lisa nodded, "We know."

Jennie stepped back, "I didn't pressure her."

Jisoo nodded again, "We know."

Jennie practically spat, "I didn't mention Daniela!"

"We know." Lisa stepped closer. "That's what makes it worse." Jennie was silent. Lisa continued. "You've started acting like you don't need to do anything."

"I don't." Jennie stepped away and looked out the windows. "Then what are you waiting for?" Lisa asked.

"Y/N." That was an or the answer. Lisa frowned. "She's not coming back just because you wait." Jennie turned toward her. "Maybe." Her voice was calm. "But she doesn't have to come back today."

That answer silenced Lisa. Jisoo slowly sat down across from Jennie. "What happens when she chooses Daniela?" Jennie's eyes hardened. "She won't."

"You don't know that." Jisoo laughed, a sad laugh.

"I know Y/N."

Jisoo's expression softened, "So do we." Jennie looked between the three of them. For several seconds, no one spoke. Then she walked back to her chair and sat. She folded her arms before asking, "Why the sudden change?"

Lisa frowned. "What change?" Jennie glanced at Jisoo, then Rosé, before returning her gaze to Lisa. "You're questioning me. All of you." Her voice remained steady. "A few weeks ago, none of you had an issue with what we were doing."