The silence didn't last.
It never did.
Morning came too fast.
Too normal.
Elena stood in the living room.
Arms crossed.
Thoughts loud.
Last night replayed in her mind.
Again.
And again.
"It's already too late."
Her chest tightened.
"That was a mistake," she whispered.
Lie.
She heard him move behind her.
Calm.
Controlled.
Like nothing happened.
Of course.
"Get ready," he said.
She turned.
"For what?"
"Work."
A pause.
"We're going in today."
Her brow furrowed.
"You said it wasn't safe."
"It isn't."
Silence.
"Then why—"
"Because running doesn't solve anything."
That sounded like him.
Cold.
Logical.
She grabbed her jacket.
No argument.
Not this time.
The drive was quiet.
Too quiet.
She looked out the window.
Avoiding him.
Avoiding everything.
But she felt it.
His gaze.
On her.
"Say it," he said.
Her breath caught.
"What?"
"What you're thinking."
Silence.
She hesitated.
Then—
"You pulled away."
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
Her chest tightened.
"Why?"
Silence.
Long.
Then—
"Because I had to."
That wasn't enough.
"You always 'have to,'" she said quietly.
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
She looked away.
That answer hurt more than it should.
The car stopped.
Wolfe Tower.
Everything looked the same.
But it wasn't.
They walked inside.
Eyes followed them.
More than before.
This time—
She felt it.
The attention.
The whispers.
She walked beside him.
Not behind.
That mattered.
They reached the floor.
Doors opened.
And then—
"Miss Carter."
That voice.
Elena turned.
Daniel.
Of course.
He walked toward her.
Smile easy.
Too easy.
"I was hoping I'd see you again," he said.
She hesitated.
Then—
"Hi."
A pause.
Then—
"I didn't get to finish what I was saying yesterday."
Her chest tightened slightly.
"What was that?"
"That you should be careful."
Silence.
Before she could respond—
"She doesn't need your advice."
Adrian.
His voice cut through everything.
Cold.
Sharp.
Daniel stopped.
Looked at him.
"Mr. Wolfe," he said.
Polite.
But tense.
Adrian stepped closer.
Too close.
"That conversation is over."
Silence.
Daniel didn't move immediately.
Then—
He looked at Elena.
"You should still be careful," he said quietly.
Her chest tightened.
"From him."
That was a mistake.
Adrian moved.
Fast.
Not violent.
But controlled.
Dangerous.
He stepped between them.
Blocking.
"You're done here."
His voice dropped.
"Don't make me repeat it."
Silence.
Daniel held his gaze.
Then—
He stepped back.
"Fine," he said.
But his eyes went to Elena again.
"You know where to find me."
Then he walked away.
Silence returned.
But heavier.
Elena turned slowly.
"What was that?"
A pause.
Then—
"Nothing."
Her jaw tightened.
"That wasn't nothing."
His gaze locked on hers.
"It was unnecessary."
Silence.
"You didn't need to do that," she said.
"Yes, I did."
"Why?"
A pause.
Then—
"Because I don't like the way he looks at you."
Her heart skipped.
"That's not your concern."
"It is."
Again.
Always that.
She stepped closer.
"You don't trust him."
"No."
"You don't trust anyone."
A pause.
Then—
"No."
Silence.
"That includes me?"
That made him stop.
Really stop.
A pause.
Longer.
Then—
"No."
Her breath caught.
That was different.
That mattered.
But before she could react—
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"And I don't like anyone getting close to you."
Her heart raced.
"That's not normal."
"I told you."
Silence.
"I'm not."
She exhaled slowly.
"You're jealous."
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
That surprised her.
"You admit that?"
"I don't lie."
Silence.
That changed something.
Deep.
She looked at him.
"You don't get to decide who I talk to."
A pause.
Then—
"I don't."
Her brow furrowed.
Then—
"I decide who gets close."
That was worse.
Her chest tightened.
"That's not your decision."
His gaze darkened.
"It is."
Silence.
Tension rising again.
And this time—
It wasn't just about control.
It was personal.