"What about you and Anna?" John was in Robert's office. Today was the day the Michelin stars would be announced, and Robert tried to keep his mind busy.

"What do you mean?" John looked up from his phone.

"Well, I know something is going on between you two. So how is it going?"

John blushed. "We are in a relationship, I think."

"You think." Robert raised his eyebrows.

"Oke, I am sure. We are a couple."

Robert smiled, "that makes me truly happy."

"Enough about me." John said. "What about you and Cora?"

Now it was Robert's turn to blush. "I don't know."

"We are definitely turning the roles around at the moment. What do you mean: you don't know."

"We kissed that evening when she came for dinner."

John sat a bit straighter in his chair. "Tell me more."

"There isn't more. We kissed, but Cora has some trauma. So, we only kissed and now it's already three days ago that we had contact."

John shook his head. "And you don't think it's time to text her?"

Robert sighed, of course he had thought about texting Cora, but the last kiss they shared on the sofa had been wonderful and at the same time strange. He felt Cora struggle to stay in the present. He himself had tried not to move his hands too much, but he wanted to feel every inch of her body. During their lovely kiss, Robert noticed Cora started trembling again and he had quickly sat straight back up. When he looked at her, he saw her looking at her hands and trying to keep them still. Robert had gotten up and said it was alright. He took her hand and kissed it. This resulted in a faint smile on Cora's face. Then he had left for home, and now it was three days later and he hasn't heard from her.

"I don't want to rush her. She needs time." He answered.

"Don't let her slip away Robert." Was the only thing John said.

Cora was waiting for Adeline to come out of the dressing room. They were shopping together. Adeline needed a new dress and had asked Cora to come with her. Cora had eagerly agreed. She needed distraction, during the day her work kept her occupied but on her days off, her mind spinned out of control. She was constantly switching between scenes with Anthony and scenes with Robert. She was happy to have her first therapy tomorrow. It gave her some anxiety, but it needed to be done. She couldn't cope with the dreams anymore. She needed to sleep more than a couple of hours.

Suddenly she got shaken up. "And do you like this dress?"

Adeline was standing in front of her in a sparkling black dress. She turned around.

"This one, really suits you."

Adeline smiled. "And now we are going for a glass of wine."

"But it's only 16.00 o'clock."

"Who cares! We could both use it."

Cora looked at Adeline in surprise. "Well take that dress off and you can tell me all about why you need a glass of wine." Cora was relieved to know something was bothering Adeline. She didn't like it when her friend had troubles, but at the moment it was a nice distraction from her own troubles.

Adeline hooked her arm in Cora's once she was done paying for her dress. "I know a good place."

"Another glass? Or do you want something else?" Adeline asked. They just finished their drinks.

"I am up for another glass if we also get something to eat. It's already 17.30 o'clock."

"Sure. We can eat here or somewhere else?"

"Here is fine." Adeline had just told her that she probably needed to move for work. It scared Cora to know her one and only friend would move out of London.

"Cora?" Adeline touched Cora's arm. "I will not be away forever. It's just for 9 months. I will not even sell my London home." She looked into Cora's eyes. She was always struck by how beautiful her eyes were. But she saw worry in them right now. "Please don't worry too much. The move will not happen next week, I am here for you when your therapy starts tomorrow."

"Are you home in the evening? I think I don't want to be alone."

"Of course, I am. So now tell me everything about your Robert."

Cora blushed. "He isn't mine. I just did some work for him." Cora tried.

"Who are you kidding here? There is obviously more between you two."

"I admit, I am attracted to him. But I don't think he wants me after last Monday."

"Cora, you panicked. Nothing to be ashamed of. Robert knows what happened. God if somebody knows it is him. He saw what Anthony did to you, twice. Darling, don't let Robert slip out of your life. You deserve some happiness."

"I thought I had found that with Anthony. I still don't understand where it went wrong. What did I do to provoke him?"

Adeline looked at her. "Cora, listen to yourself. What Anthony did is never a result of something you did."

"He only hit me when I did something wrong."

"In his eyes, breathing too loud was already wrong. Don't do this, don't blame yourself. Anthony is a psychopath, nothing else."

Cora lowered her eyes. Deep down she knew Adeline was right, but she couldn't stop blaming herself.

Adeline took her hand. "Cora talk about everything tomorrow, don't hold in anything. I will go with you and stay with you afterwards. And please text Robert! Now."

Slowly Cora got her phone out of her bag. 'Hello Robert. I have to say sorry for staying this silent since Monday. Can we meet up again?'

Soon after there was a response. 'I can't wait to meet again. I have some news I want to share.'

'Are you free this Sunday afternoon?'

'For you I make time.'

Cora closed her phone with a smile. She didn't scare him off and he wanted to meet again.