The Silent Witness

efore: A Te

ly tracing the rim of the wine glass in her hand. The rich red liquid swirled inside, but her mind was elsewhere. She hadn't expected the

met. Now, there was an edge to him, an underlying tension that Lia couldn't quite place. She had noticed it during their last dinner together-his smile did

there wa

n undeniable pull between them-one that felt almost dangerous. Dorian was confident, mysterious, and dangerously perceptive. He had

turning in the door echoed through the apartment. Lia's h

ia with a look that, for a fleeting moment, almost seemed apologetic. But then it wa

ke," he remarked,

. "I couldn't sleep," she replied, her voice st

He didn't speak at first, and for a moment, the only sound i

ct," Leandro said finally, his voice smooth ye

tighter. "I've been thinking about a

rward, his gaze intense. "You're worried about the fallou

expected him to so openly acknowledge her doubts, but she couldn't deny tha

be done. There's no room for hesitation in this world, Lia." He fixed his gaze on her, a

ng to steady her nerves. "And Dorian?

at the mention of Dorian's name. "Dorian is... someone who's been playing both sides. He thinks he's working

him, the more complicated everything became. "You sound sure of yourself," she said quietly. "But m

warmth in his eyes disappeared. "You're questioning

"No, I'm not questioning you. I'm just

walking over to the windows, his back to her. "You'll understand soon enough," he said, h

g-something more than just the project? Her mind was awash with possibilities, but before s

d, his tone now gentle, as if

d reeling. There was so much m

Day: The

ainty she found herself in. She didn't trust Leandro completely, but there was something undeniably compelling about him. His amb

us on her work, her thoughts kept drifting back to the conversation she had with Leandro th

It was early, and the building was quiet. As she entered the elevator, the door opened to rev

eyes scanning her face w

asing the tension in her chest, though she wasn't sure if she could trust that feeling anym

t. She stepped into the elevator with

ver at her, sensing the unease in the air.

cing a smile. "Just thi

. "You're worried about the projec

him-wanted to tell him everything she was feeling, but something held

a lot of things," s

ughts. His gaze softened. "I know," he said, his voice lower now, more sincere

ice, something that made her want to believe him. But then, she remembered Leandro's w

he said finally, her voice trembling just slig

"I'm not hiding anything from you, Lia. I never have been. But Leandro? He's got h

wasn't wrong. He was right to warn her, but the de

ving her conflicted feelings behind, but the truth