s colder than

sciplined, like it had been trained to stay stil

tapping a careful rhythm across the marble. The executive suite was all br

the sleeves o

today was calculated, from her soft makeu

hearsed th

lly. Smile. Speak

Vale didn'

impossible standards, sat behind his sleek black desk, eyes

ormally and professionally by name an

an prompted, voice

aid finally. Fl

't stop

etic smile, "He's like that with everyone." Then she was gone, click

just the

ainst a frosted divider that gave the illusion of privacy but not distance. She

ouder than she

cross the roo

her. Still utterly silent, aside from the

could

aware energy of being noticed without being seen. Like walking

notepad and t

g her desktop, opening the internal comms

s passed. Te

h

t-handed,"

he expected. Smooth, but ed

sed, bl

sor

aid, still looking at his screen. "Yo

ion. Just o

llowed. "Y

f silence. Thi

asually it could h

comfortable, let me know

if she should meet his gaze

did

ed. A flicker of heat. Confusion. M

sed in quie

orts. Calen

e hours. When he did, it was direct and

tarted no

at her monitor whe

sed when she stood

-sentence during a call when sh

his face. Jus

ng. It had t

et herself want

office was empty

desk. She approached slowly and carefully, not wanting t

folder down.

again, low and

ot like t

e. Slowly t

ly looke

m face. No smi

still

u didn't try to impre

ure if it was a com

pected of me," she said quietly

ded once.

ked back at

ly. Like something inside him refused t

d walked back

ing, not from his words, but

e one where everythi