But inside her, the shift was there, subtle, disorienting, the kind that comes after pushing too far, holding too much, for too long.
She exhaled, long and tired, her fingers loosening from the edge of the table as she reached out blindly.
For something. Anything. Water. Before her hand could fall back. Two bottles appeared. At the same time.
On her right, Julian stood close, closer than he had been a moment ago. The cap was already twisted open, the bottle angled toward her as if he had anticipated the need before she voiced it. His expression was firm, protective, his attention locked entirely on her.
On her left, Raymond. Still. Silent. But not detached. He held out his own bottle, unopened, his hand steady, but his eyes… His eyes weren't calm.
They searched her face with an intensity that didn't belong to a colleague. Didn't belong to someone standing at a distance. It was something deeper. Something claiming. And it didn't go unnoticed.
