e time - though their mornings

ked a loose strand of hair neatly behind her ear and hurried toward the gla

purr of engines d

dark grey SUV. Both stopped precisely near the entrance. The drivers steppe

e of his suit. The second driver remained near the SUV, w

slightly ou

mornin

ing,

aff straightened subtly as he passed. Helen matched his p

dy?" he asked, glan

es again before leaving home,

aid. "We mig

. A few employees inside greeted him and quickly s

ors sl

ntly floral. Not overpowering, but distinct enough to li

something?" he

d up. "My

nod

e said with a small smile. "She s

ifferent,"

t good

d for a sec

k made her lean back a little. His hand moved instinctivel

," she sai

his hand. "J

oors

stepp

later,

s,

is office, no

e investors moved the me

together. "Th

want an ear

he revisions," she replied. "T

y haven't

id calmly, "I'll go

ned, he added, "And make

riefly. "They

she

, realizing he ha

he files, she placed the

ed earlier t

rprised. "You carried

eing sorted. It wa

ould de

. when

ne was

e. "You rearrange

projections first. It m

u made that decis

. "If you prefer,

. sho

he explained, her hair slipped forward again. This time she tucke

o be so careful,"

d at him.

ice soften

e tension had shifted i

Helen managed the docum

rs asked for a printed comparison c

. The space between the podium and the chair was narrow. As s

ance fa

of the chair to block her from stumbling forward. At the same time, he shifte

elf, their should

hispered, handi

continuing his explanation to th

closely enough to react b

elen stepped forward quietly and slid a note beside his lapto

anced

idn't pull away immediately eit

y and incorporate

t partn

as the room empti

ated that la

it yesterday,

t you to rememb

s my

ble. "You seem calmer un

m this morning,"

int smile. "

sna

d

er hands. "I

said. "It

ould say more,

t through th

ed at th

et. The warmth from moments earlier disap

nswe

es

iste

atched

e stiffene

and," he s

pa

ll hand

ed the

inutes, he

les abruptly. "Reschedul

linked.

e in my

t now - controlled,

ut without

conference room, confu

own the corridor, his

that call... it had cha

rest of the day - tho

e corridor, his stride notic

hed floor, drawing a few curious glances from e

w was

. One hand slid into his pocket while the other held his phone firmly,

ember approached

he proc

e said witho

oze mid-sentenc

orcefully than necessary, and stepped inside. The

ass wall, Hele

t sit im

e hand rested on his hip while the other rubbed the bridge of his nose. He exhale

ed... u

ng was weig

ain almost immediately. His attention wasn't there. He leaned back in

esitated before

me

e to reschedule the review. Shou

not looking

r a second. "Is ev

hen finally

n his eyes was gone,

roceed with

slowly. "Al

he added, "Cancel my a

of

es

e it dow

unusually quiet. Cole remained in his office most of the time. Occ

ued her work

ly but without the small conversations they had earli

ng, the office

immed gradually, and the hum

set of files and glanced toward h

ocked

es

e staff hav

slightly surpr

u need anyt

ch, then shook his he

ou too, sir. It's

his face - almost a smile

eave sh

and picked

was already staring at something on his phon

e building

stood, grabbed his jacket, and walked out of his office. The

Helen's

wed sl

, pen aligned beside it. Everyt

etly, then con

air was cooler. The same two cars

ng in, looking up briefl

tepped in

oor c

slowly, merging in

seat, loosening his tie again. His

d at the

sion harde

dn't

the car drove on - and the weight of the u

adily through the

hing past the window. The glow of streetlamps cut across his face in intervals -

buzzed o

ick it up i

r the screen. The driver glanced briefly at him through th

, Cole

es

iste

e stiffene

after a moment

se ag

owed. "I said

he seat beside him. His hand ran over his face slowly,

ver asked care

hesit

ave another

odded. "Y

ward the quieter

as she walked toward the roadside. The evening air had cooled, and the n

d the day i

elev

meet

dden c

wned sl

clearly happened. And whatever it w

her address, then leaned her head lightly agai

d home late

olled into the driveway and stopped. The

ot out

was quiet.

to the side table. He walked into the living room, then

up his p

reen l

ess

rea

nto the dark garden. One hand rested on th

oment, he type

he st

ete

d the

aled s

the fridge, stared inside... then

sn't

ter instead, took a sip, then l

and trousers. He sat on the edge of the bed,

reen l

w mes

him and lay back, st

es pa

ed to o

the o

eets r

eyes - opene

for the phone. He

42

still feel

od and walked to the window. The garden outside was di

hone

at it im

dn't

table and walked back to the bed. He la

her calm voice, the faint scent in the

ply, as if anno

rned

nig

ked the

17

l aw

amp. He picked up a file from his briefcase, opened it, read th

lose

it a

resting against the cushion, ey

ne buzz

he picke

d at the

w tigh

utton, silencing it, a

36

ut on the sofa, one ar

oment, his br

ashed light through the windo

hed qu

nt of dawn crept through the c

ws on his knees, staring at nothing in particular.

an to chi

cked t

52

ible in his expression. He stood, walked to th

e he fin

other going

ed earlier than usual, move

sit perfectly - another sma

ed up h

o new m

into his poc

ng began earli

Only a few lights were on. He walked straight to hi

minutes later, she

as alread

to her desk. She organized the morning schedule,

t called

us

tes, the door

el

s,

teppe

reviewing documents. No

p. Send the revised pro

e replied, placing th

riefly, then n

ed yesterday's appointments

d them acro

ote it

to leave, he

Hel

stop

s,

out to say s

he shook his

thi

dded a

slowly, sensing the di

chair, staring at the closed d

up his p

t name is still

he didn't

ssed t

hone

ion hardened, as if preparin

ne con

he said

es darken - and the day ahead suddenly felt fa