ed just a few blocks away from Saint Claire Empire. The day's tension still clung to Julian like a heavy cloak as he st

s seat wordlessly, his posture straight, his eyes distant. Lex

iato," she told the waiter

swered curtly, barely

way before speaking. "I'm really sorry

eyes fixed on the window

was a

r seat. "Do you wan

d the edge of the table

he gave him the benefit of the doubt. He had just lost someone import

dn't r

ip from her cup, trying to find the right wor

ee shop in college?" she asked, her tone light. "You used

int nod but no sm

e mood. "You said the coffee here tasted

from his cup.

mile, but her h

handling the preparations for the company's upcoming event, if he had spoken to Elma about his

ipped answers. His min

er patience thinning. "Ju

lly meeting her e

l like I'm not the only one in this rel

I didn't invite you here for a relatio

clenched her jaw. "Then wh

dn't a

this would bring us closer. I thought maybe we'd talk, maybe laugh

d to speak, but

But I'm not going to beg for scraps of attenti

nd walked out of the café, leaving her untouched drin

turned to the table. The window beside him reflected the fadi