By the following week, the pressure had not reduced, but Maya had learned how to carry it better. Her movements were more precise, her decisions more careful, and her focus sharper than before. She didn't allow herself to think too much while working because thinking too much only made everything harder. It was easier to stay in motion and keep going.
Even so, the distance around her remained. No one tried to get close, and she didn't try either. The few times someone spoke to her, it was only about work, and even that was kept short. Maya had already accepted it. She didn't come there to make friends. She came to survive.
That morning, she was given another set of files, heavier than usual. She didn't question it and didn't complain. She simply started working, going through each one carefully. The designs were more complex this time, and the margin for error felt smaller. She paid attention to every detail, making sure she didn't repeat any of her past mistakes.
Time passed, and the workload continued without pause. Her shoulders began to ache slightly, but she ignored it. She adjusted her position and kept going, refusing to slow down. She didn't notice how long she had been working until her eyes started to strain.
Across the room, Caspian's presence was felt again, just like every other time he walked in. Maya didn't look up, but she knew he was there. The atmosphere shifted in that quiet, controlled way that followed him. People became more careful, more alert, and the room felt tighter without anyone saying a word.
She kept her attention on her work.
Not long after, another file was placed on her desk. Maya paused for a moment, looking at the growing stack in front of her. It was more than what she had been given before, but she didn't say anything. She simply picked it up and continued.
Minutes later, someone passed by her desk again and removed part of the stack without explanation. Maya barely reacted. She assumed it was part of the process and returned to what she was doing. To her, it didn't matter.
From a distance, Caspian's eyes had already moved away.
What he needed to see, he had seen.
Maya, however, didn't notice any of it.
She only felt the weight of the work and the quiet pressure around her. To her, everything felt the same. Nothing had changed.
By midday, the strain was harder to ignore. Her movements slowed slightly, and she had to stop for a moment just to steady her hands. It was brief, but it was enough for someone to notice.
"You should keep up," a voice said quietly as they passed her.
Maya didn't respond.
She lowered her head and continued working.
The words stayed with her longer than she expected. Not because they were harsh, but because they confirmed what she already felt. She wasn't enough for this place. No matter how much she tried, it always felt like she was one step behind.
Still, she didn't stop.
She couldn't.
As the day moved toward evening, the workload finally began to reduce. Maya finished the last file in front of her and placed it aside carefully. She took a small breath, but it didn't feel like relief. It felt like a pause before the next round.
She packed her things slowly, her body more tired than she wanted to admit. When she stood up, she didn't look around. She didn't want to meet anyone's eyes.
She left.
Outside, the air felt cooler again, but this time, it didn't clear her thoughts. She kept walking, her mind replaying the day in quiet fragments.
To her, everything felt the same.
The pressure.
The distance.
Him.
Caspian Vane-Auber was still the same in her eyes. Cold, distant, and impossible to understand.
She didn't know that not everything she saw was the full truth.
And she didn't realize that some things were already changing around her, even if she couldn't see them yet.