COMPLICATED

As soon as Lucian hit send, she felt a wave of emotions wash over her. She had just confessed her feelings to Ace, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that she had betrayed her best friend, Jenny.

But as she thought about Jenny and Ace's relationship, Lucian remembered that Jenny had never really liked Ace for who he was. Jenny had always been about status and wealth, and Ace's lack of money had been a major turn-off for her.

Despite this, Jenny had stayed with Ace for a while, likely because of his charming personality and good looks. But Lucian had always sensed that Jenny didn't truly care for Ace, and that their relationship had been more of a convenience than a genuine connection.

This realization made Lucian feel a little better about her own feelings for Ace. She knew that she had to be honest with Jenny about what was going on, but she also knew that she couldn't help how she felt.

With a newfound sense of determination, Lucian wiped away her tears and stood up. She knew that she had to face whatever came next, no matter how difficult it might be. She was ready to confront Jenny, to confront Ace, and to confront her own emotions.

Lucian sat at her desk, trying to focus on her work. But her mind kept wandering back to Ace and their conversation from the night before. She couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking, and what would happen next.

Sarah, her friend, was sitting with her in the office, chatting and keeping her company. Sarah noticed that Lucian was distracted. "Hey, what's wrong?" Sarah asked.

Lucian hesitated, unsure of how much to share. But Sarah was one of her closest friends, and Lucian knew she could trust her. "I confessed my feelings to Ace last night," Lucian said quietly.

Sarah's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, that's huge! What did he say?"

Lucian smiled, feeling a flutter in her chest. "He said he wants me too."

Sarah squealed, grabbing Lucian's arm. "That's amazing! I'm so happy for you."

But Lucian's smile faltered, and she took a deep breath before continuing. "There's something else, Sarah. Something that makes this whole situation really complicated."

Sarah's expression turned curious. "What is it?"

Lucian hesitated before speaking. "Ace used to date my best friend, Jenny."

Sarah's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, wow. That's... complicated."

Lucian nodded. "I know. And it's not just that. Jenny and I, we've been friends for years. I feel guilty for even having feelings for Ace."

Sarah's expression turned sympathetic. "Lucian, you can't help who you have feelings for. And it's not like you pursued Ace while he was still with Jenny."

Lucian shook her head. "No, it's not like that. Ace and Jenny broke up a while ago. But still, I feel like I'm betraying my friend."

Sarah put a reassuring hand on Lucian's arm. "You're not betraying Jenny, Lucian. You're just following your heart. And who knows, maybe this is meant to be."

Lucian smiled weakly, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. It was good to talk to Sarah, to get everything off her chest.

Just then, Lucian's phone buzzed on her desk. She glanced down, her heart skipping a beat as she saw Ace's name on the screen.

"It's him," Lucian said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sarah's eyes widened in excitement. "What does he say?"

Lucian hesitated, her fingers trembling as she picked up her phone. She took a deep breath, then read out loud: "Can we talk?"

Sarah's face lit up with a smile. "I think that's a good sign!" she exclaimed.

Lucian nodded, her heart racing with anticipation. She knew that this conversation with Ace would be important, that it would determine the course of their relationship.

With a sense of determination, Lucian typed out a response. "Yes, we can talk. When and where?"

She hesitated for a moment, then hit send. Now all she could do was wait for Ace's response.