The Way You'd Loved Her | winrina

Chapter 32

"Ningning wouldn't do that." Winter's calm and even this morning. Karina texted her last night, right after she left Giselle's apartment, but Winter couldn't meet with her then, instead proposing she swings by her place the next day.

Karina pours herself more coffee. Perhaps she shouldn't be drinking it. She feels rattled. Agitated. Ningning wouldn't be this nice to Giselle if she doesn't plan on using her to get to Karina. She just knows she wouldn't be. Ningning is the second most meticulous person Karina's ever met - the chances that she didn't run a background check on Giselle and find out who her closest friend was are abysmal. And why would she be so into someone who's best friends with her enemy?

Frenemy. Whatever. How does she get Winter to understand?

"Okay," she says, more to calm herself down than to reply to Winter. "Okay. Fine. Ningning wouldn't do that. Maybe. But -- Winter, Giselle's... she's family. She can't get hurt because of me."

Winter cocks her head to the side as she stares at Karina. "And how would becoming involved with Ningning possibly hurt her?"

"Uh, Ningning gets her to fall for her and then breaks her heart?" She tries to ignore how familiar it sounds.

Winter scoffs. Actually scoffs. "This isn't high school. Ningning doesn't have time for that, Karina," she tells her. "If she wanted to hurt you, she wouldn't use your friend to do so. Or your family. She would come directly after you." She takes a small pause as she continues to watch Karina fidget in her chair. "She didn't go after your father even though technically she could," she says, then, and her eyes soften, just barely. "She knew I wouldn't do anything to her if she did. I'd be angry, but I wouldn't do anything. Not back then." Before Karina has a chance to ask her to elaborate, Winter straightens and pushes the brown bag with what smells like fresh pastries towards Karina. "Here. You should eat. And stop drinking so much coffee. I got you some green tea."

Karina looks in her cup. "I don't like tea."

"Maybe you'll like this one." She clasps her hands behind her back, frowning slightly as she - clearly - carefully considers her next words. "I can tell how much Giselle means to you," she says. "But you don't have anything to worry about. I -- if you want to, I'll... keep an eye on her. Chances are she'll tell me about your friend herself, and soon. We're supposed to have a meeting about the new company today."

"Okay." Karina grasps her now-empty mug, just to have something to hold on to. "I -- thank you. I'm sorry I made you come here before work, I just -- I don't know what I was thinking. I just got scared."

"It happens when it comes to the ones we love," Winter tells her quietly. Karina looks up, and their gazes meet. "I -- I should go," she says, clearing her throat. "I don't want to be late."

"You're the boss," Karina says with a smirk that feels fake on her lips. "You're allowed to be late."

"Exactly because I'm the boss, I'm not," Winter replies with a small smirk of her own. "Don't worry about Ningning. I'm certain this is a coincidence."

Except Karina isn't sure if she believes in those anymore. "Yeah. Thank you again, Winter."

"Of course." Winter clears her throat again. "I... appreciate you letting me know about this, and... sharing your concerns," she finishes quietly. "I know it must have been hard for you."

It wasn't that hard, not really. She was afraid Winter might lash out at having her accuse one of her people of such a scheme, but her worry for Giselle won. "Well," she says, wetting her lips. "No more secrets, right?"

"Right." Winter's gaze falls to her lips, but she's quick to lift her eyes, meeting Karina's. "I'll see you today?"

"Yes. Of course. I wouldn't miss a session."