the office was softer

n the marble this time. She knew the rhythm of this space, the hush of the execu

door w

was

urse he was. Still precise. Still silent. But this t

so brief it might

ightly. Profe

to her desk

rt. There was a time buffer before the meetings began. Fifteen

Eliana sp

asked. Her voice was soft, measured. A

look up. "I

e. Then he a

rs in the regional file. Thoug

pped t

didn'

r this time. "Send them to my i

ed. "Alr

looked at her properly. No

lo

ind. He didn't smile. He rarely did. But som

efficient

was a statement of record, like he was

he urge to straig

gaze and replied qu

n't re

n't look a

e he was on a call, she ca

way. Not with inter

ted toward him. Toward the way his jaw tensed when he disagreed.

ut people listened. Because

he said

he told the person on t

Looked back a

time he had use

sure why

it

eports, fixed two internal links, scheduled

g between the

was still compos

one. Like both of them were holding a

he lights were dimmer, warmer. The kind of

the last page of a confidential document

for it, Roman s

st button of his shirt undone. It was the first time she had se

ndor report," he sa

. "It wasn

her

Still. Most

t most

't respond

er, filled a glass, and took a quiet sip. He

ked back to his office, he

didn't look aw

ither

nd stared at the ceiling, the r

o, and she was already making an i

e else was around. The way his words were always measured, but not cold. The way silence no l

osed h

the quiet, she could

e effi

h. No in

it stayed