The office had already begun to settle into the slow rhythm of evening when Roman stepped out of his office again. Most of the staff had packed up or were in the process of doing so, conversations softer now, movements less urgent. The day had ended, or at least it should have. What remained was routine—closing files, shutting down systems, preparing to leave.
Roman paused just outside his office door, his gaze moving across the space as if searching for something that should have been obvious. His expression didn't show much, but there was a quiet shift in it, something that hadn't been there earlier.
"Ben."
Ben looked up immediately from where he stood near his desk, a folder still in his hand. "Yes, sir?"
Roman didn't step further into the room yet. "Has Jay come back?"
The question was simple.
Ben blinked, caught off guard by it. "Back?" he repeated, then frowned slightly. "I… don't think so."
That hesitation was enough to draw attention.
