: Silent Re

rning outside. Ivy waited for a second, so she could adjust to the peace of the space -the floors were shiny, the walls were stark white, and the air was filled wi

Har

r heart raced like this. Two years ago, on

ally not in this setting. Not in a corporate office, not with his

up right away. His brows were furrowed in co

was already aware of her presence before she entered the room. His eyes, whi

me seemed to stretch, a strong silence hanging in the air. She had hoped, just for a second, tha

it w

been good at l

broke the uneven silence. His voice s

her th

e strides slowly in her direction

his lips - the same smile that made her heart r

screaming at the back of

roat f

e word hanging in the air. His name was like

n but at the same

ut of her thought

hen you see an old friend?" he a

lso something about his gaze - something i

quite certain of what she had been expecting

ooked at her, as though he was co

expected me to be here, conducting your interview." Even as his voice was relaxed, she could still feel the tug of his ove

summon some sort of facade of self-

air at the other side of his desk, t

t given him the status he maintained, and the admiration he commanded. As Ivy proceeded to take the seat, she co

at upright in the chair. She had nothing to be anxious about. This was simply a job inter

t it

out this w

seated across his desk. He picked up the file in front of him, turning it over as his eyes

hat. She could feel it immediately her palms turned sweaty, her hands clenched, and

"I see you've had some experience in administrative roles.

ing at herself to concentrate. "Freelance, temp

th a soft glimmer of amusement al

keeps me going," she let out, her voic

-just slightly, but

prepared for the life you're stepping into? This company doe

e flicker of heat behind his words.

just quietly calculating. He studied her like he

ely. Just enough to mask t

see," h

ugh his eyes never left hers. She could feel the weight of his atte

ute p

e, he finally said, "I'll reach o

ut catching herself on the rim of his desk. Tha

or the door handle, but

vy

a quick look back at

ptional," he said.

nswer. She d

icked shut

out. Her chest was hurling with the breat

she was being chased. Liam's last w

nexceptional.

tugging at something

len. Evelyn had already retreated upstairs,

spent most of his evenings pretending the Smi

se was

hallway into her room, and

corner of her bed like she was trying to tuck into herself. The day had

-exhaustion began

eep started to pull he

reached for i

age from an u

zed as she ope

at?