a felt like she

pectations, and a level of scrutiny that could turn steel to sand. She kept her head down, finish

drawn attention-but n

de-eyes and half-smiles. The whispers star

dy in Callaha

to be the new

en in her department. Or that he'd dropped by her desk twice this week, seemingly casua

r nervous-a

made he

he usual exodus to happy hour left the floor eerily quiet,

to finish a pitch deck,

oing home to her shoebox apartment and th

evator

as deep into a company profile w

ys?" came that familiar voic

, jacket off, sleeves rolled, his shirt unbuttoned j

n this place didn't believe

half-smil

ly and leaned back in her cha

work is easier to

no one's

tle more. "You think I

ou make sur

ged silence. Not hostile, but l

k. "I wanted to say-your research on the Micronis acquisi

"You're... com

e it's due," he said. "A

htly. "I'll try not to

said quietly. "Y

t-because Aidan Callahan didn't praise. He didn't c

etween the

r, but like he was seeing her-not just as a colleague, or a

ike that-he

ace take everything

ow. "What makes you th

you're still curious. An

g for reasons she didn't dare name. "You sh

en gave a knowing

that, he w

ind him. The quiet returned, but the silenc

s being played between them-o

er spark had been lit... it w