ove. Couldn't think. Could

ed there, like this-me standing in front of him, caught off g

incidence. They dealt in contr

're

esterday never happened. Like he hadn't looked

yself to recover. "I

expected

Not aggressive. But enough to make y

"Then someone should have

Most people would have apologi

n his eyes. Not irrit

onfident,

prepa

e y

he was trying to see past what I was saying int

es

e. Longer th

it

d, but because of how he said it. Not a request. A comma

rom him, placing my bag neatly beside m

etween us. Not empt

that felt far too personal for a first day. "Y

So we weren'

posed to b

people

t most

ssion. Not quite a smile,

Not fear. Something else. Som

ing my words carefully. "If there's something speci

Just watched me. And somehow, that felt

use you earned it

ered. Small.

istake that

like th

t," I r

oo

g, it became more precise. "This position is com

plan on m

u w

n his voice cau

ontinued, "what matters

ze. "I handle

awa

ause. "What do

at of sile

I pay at

stomach twist, because it didn't sound li

ding myself. "Is there anything else

es

close the distance between us.

he said quietly, "

ndeniable. I felt it settle betwe

I asked before I

ng in the air.

ent, noth

ly. Not anger. Something

won't la

ect. Final.

Should have nodded. Agreed.

here to be cont

mouth before I cou

hick. Heav

ed a line I couldn't come back from

oked at me like I had just confirmed something. Like I h

why you're here,

h caught

ly," he continued. "

t respected. Useful. I di

e useful," I said.

e because I

have, because they carried weight. A

hift inside me. No

y voice steady despite the

dn't waver.

than anything else he had said. And for the

in. Longer. He let it

eaking the moment. "Adrian will brief you," he said, his

n over. Jus

rying to ignore the way my pulse wa

hand on the handle, ready

h

va

would do that. Make

I look

ot like before. This time,

was a bold m

tighten

t pause

long that con

because I was scared, but because I

ver. It hadn'

ight into a situation where the man

going to let