"I was just daydreaming."
Adrian said it like it meant nothing.
Like it explained everything.
He stood up slowly.
Too slowly.
Lina didn't move.
She couldn't.
He walked past her, not looking at her again, heading straight for the window. His reflection stretched faintly across the glass, tall, composed… untouchable.
But something was off.
Why can't I breathe properly?
His brows pulled together slightly.
Or why am I… nervous?
The thought irritated him.
He didn't get nervous.
Not in meetings. Not in negotiations. Not with people.
And definitely not...
His jaw tightened faintly.
Behind him, Lina stood frozen.
Her mind was racing.
Too fast.
Too many directions.
Did he remember?
Did someone tell him?
Did I do something wrong?
Every possible outcome flashed through her head at once.
None of them good.
Before she even realized it...
Her knees gave out.
She dropped to the floor.
"I—I know I've done something wrong," she said quickly, her voice trembling over itself. "Please… please forgive me. I'll work harder, I'll— I'll be more careful. I can be a better employee, I promise. Or—"
Her words broke.
"—or you can just fire me."
Silence.
Adrian turned slowly.
His expression...
Cold.
Flat.
Unreadable.
"I wasn't planning to fire you."
The words were calm.
Dismissive.
Like the idea didn't even deserve attention.
Lina blinked.
Her breath uneven.
Slowly...
She lifted her head.
And met his eyes.
There was nothing there.
No anger.
No warmth.
No softness.
Just...
Distance.
Her chest tightened.
"Then… why—"
Her voice came out small.
Adrian walked back toward his desk, his steps measured, controlled again.
"I called you in today," he said, picking up his phone before setting it back down again, "to ask you something."
A pause.
"Where were you on the night of March 26th ?"
Lina froze.
That night.
Her fingers curled tightly against the floor.
Her mind went blank.
Then full.
Then blank again.
That was the night.
The night everything changed.
The night she couldn't forget no matter how hard she tried.
Her throat tightened.
"I…"
Nothing came out.
Her lips parted again.
"I—I…"
The words wouldn't form.
They stayed stuck.
Heavy.
Adrian watched her.
Not impatient.
Not pressing.
Just...
Waiting.
Which somehow made it worse.
"I…" she tried again, her voice barely holding together.
And then...
His phone rang.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Cutting through the tension like a blade.
Lina flinched slightly.
Her eyes dropped immediately to the screen.
Elena.
Relief hit her so quickly it almost hurt.
Thank you…
She didn't even realize she was thinking it.
Didn't realize she was silently thanking the person on the other end of that call.
Adrian glanced at the screen.
A brief pause.
Then he picked it up.
"Adrian."
His voice changed.
Calm.
Smooth.
Controlled.
Completely different from the one he had just used on her.
Lina noticed.
Of course she did.
Something in her chest sank slightly.
"Yes," he continued, already turning slightly away from her, his tone softening just enough. "I'm at the office."
A pause.
"No. It's fine."
He walked a few steps toward the window again, his back now partially to her.
"Did you eat?"
The question was casual.
Effortless.
Like he had never been cold at all.
Lina stayed where she was.
Still on the floor.
Still silent.
Her hands rested lightly against her lap now, fingers trembling just slightly.
The room felt different again.
Quieter.
Like she didn't belong in it anymore.
Adrian laughed softly at something on the phone.
Low.
Brief.
"I'll see you later."
And just like that...
The call ended.
Silence returned.
But it wasn't the same silence as before.
Adrian didn't turn immediately.
Lina lowered her gaze.
The question still hung in the air.
Unanswered.
Waiting.