14. Regina

"Ma'am?" A touch on my arm startles me, cutting my thoughts short. I snap my eyes toward the person, ready to bite their head off only to realize it's my secretary Rita.

"What is it?"

"Are you okay?"

No. I'm far from okay. When I left home years ago, I used to see him everywhere. In every man who walked past me, in the crowd, in my dreams, and even when I was awake, he was always there. Smiling. Telling me everything was going to be okay. At some point, I decided to stay indoors and only spoke to Federico. Funny how he was the only person I didn't mistake for Christian. He used to say it was because his looks were on another level but he wasn't even close to Christian. Why are my hallucinations coming back now? I thought I'd gotten better.

"Ma'am? It's time for your meeting with Bianchi. If you're not feeling well I can reschedule it"

"No, it's fine. Get the car ready"

"It's ready"

Of course, it is. I take a deep breath then take my purse and leave. I ha