She Leaves on Her Own Terms
Elias Voss did not like unfinished conversations.
And this—
this was far from finished.
He stood near his desk, posture still precise, controlled, every detail of him sharp and intentional. His gaze hadn't left her for more than a second since she walked in.
And still—
Catherine Vale looked completely unbothered.
Like she had nowhere else to be.
Like this—
him—
none of it was urgent.
She shifted slightly on the couch, stretching her arm lazily along the backrest, her red hair falling over her shoulder in soft waves. For someone who had just walked into a high-security office uninvited, she looked remarkably… relaxed.
Elias didn't sit.
Didn't move.
"You're not answering my questions," he said.
Catherine glanced at him, her expression light.
"You're asking the same one."
"Because you're avoiding it."
"Because it's boring."
Silence.
Sharp.
Elias stepped closer again, stopping just in front of her.
"There's nothing boring about breaching my security."
"There is if you keep repeating it like that," she replied, almost gently.
His jaw tightened.
"You're not taking this seriously."
"I am," she said, her tone soft—but her eyes amused. "Just not the way you want."
Elias stared at her.
Long.
Measuring.
"And what way is that?" he asked.
She tilted her head slightly, considering him.
"The way where you get all the answers, stay in control, and nothing changes."
"That's exactly how this works."
"Not today," she said simply.
Silence stretched again.
Heavy.
Unsettled.
Then—
unexpectedly—
Catherine shifted forward and stood.
Slowly.
Gracefully.
The movement caught Elias's attention instantly.
His posture sharpened.
"Where do you think you're going?"
She smoothed her dress slightly, as if she had just finished a casual visit instead of trespassing into one of the most secured offices in the city.
"Out," she said.
Elias frowned.
"You're not leaving."
She glanced at him over her shoulder.
"Are you going to stop me?"
The question was light.
Playful.
But it lingered.
Elias didn't answer immediately.
Didn't move.
Because something about the way she said it—
like she already knew—
irritated him more than anything else.
"You don't decide when this ends," he said.
Catherine turned fully toward him now, that same faint smile on her lips.
"Maybe not," she said. "But I do decide when I'm done."
Elias took a step forward.
"You're not done."
"I am for today."
"That's not how this works."
"You keep saying that," she murmured.
Then—
she lifted her wrist slightly.
A simple watch.
Nothing extravagant.
Nothing that matched the level of everything else in the room.
She glanced at it briefly.
Like she actually had somewhere to be.
"Mm," she hummed softly. "I stayed longer than I planned."
Elias stared at her.
"You're not walking out of here like this was a casual visit."
"Why not?" she asked, genuinely curious. "It felt pretty casual to me."
"It wasn't."
"It was for me."
Silence.
Again.
Elias's control held—but just barely now.
"You think you can just come and go?" he asked.
She smiled.
"I just did."
"You haven't left yet."
"Give it a second."
The confidence in her voice—
absolute.
Unshaken.
Elias stepped closer again, blocking part of her path without fully standing in her way.
"You're not coming back," he said.
It wasn't a request.
It was a decision.
Catherine looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Then—
she laughed softly.
Not mocking.
Not cruel.
Just… amused.
"That's not your choice either."
Elias's eyes darkened.
"You don't get to decide anything about me."
"Maybe not," she said lightly.
Then she took a small step closer.
Close enough now that the space between them felt intentional.
"You'll see me again, Elias."
The way she said his name—
calm.
Certain.
Like a promise.
His jaw tightened.
"That won't happen."
Her smile softened.
"Mm… I wouldn't be so sure."
Silence fell between them.
Thick.
Unresolved.
Then—
she stepped past him.
Not rushed.
Not hesitant.
Just… easy.
As if moving through his space required no permission at all.
Elias didn't turn immediately.
Didn't move.
He listened instead—
to the quiet sound of her steps against the floor.
To the absence of hesitation.
To the fact that she wasn't afraid.
That was what bothered him most.
"You're making a mistake," he said.
Her steps slowed near the door.
But she didn't turn.
"Maybe," she replied softly. "Or maybe you are."
The door handle clicked.
Then—
she glanced back at him one last time.
Red hair catching the light.
Eyes calm.
Playful.
Unreadable.
"Don't miss me too much," she added lightly.
And then—
she was gone.
The door closed behind her.
Soft.
Controlled.
Just like everything else in his world.
Except—
nothing felt controlled anymore.
Elias stood still in the middle of his office.
Silent.
Unmoving.
His gaze fixed on the door she had just walked through.
Waiting.
Expecting—
something.
Anything.
Nothing came.
Only silence.
Only the same perfect order.
But now—
it felt different.
And Elias Voss didn't like things that felt different.
Not when he couldn't control them.
Not when they walked into his life—
and left on their own terms.