He studied her for a long moment—the way she had sorted the chaos without being asked, the way she spoke like she had been part of the decision-making for years.
Before he could answer, the door opened quietly. Elena stepped in carrying a tray with two glasses of fresh juice, the bright scent of citrus cutting through the quiet. She paused for a second, eyes flicking between Daniella on the couch and Kade behind the desk, the opened envelopes scattered like tiny flags of a conversation that had already moved past formality.
"You two look… busy," she said, voice soft but amused. "Should I come back?"
Daniella glanced at the letters, then at Kade, then back at Elena. "Nah, come on in. I was just trying to convince him that I'm useful."
Kade's mouth twitched, the barest hint of a smile. "You're convincing," he said. "You just opened all my letters before I could even touch them."
