gagement announcement, Serena Langf

lled Sebastian regularly, suggested impromptu lunches, and invited him to quiet dinners-always away from

ian no

laughed easily, asked real questions, and seemed determine

Her sincerity chipped away at the quie

ed his part

, and family. He nodded at the right moments, laughed when expected, and k

te, where everything smelled like glass and diplomacy, and once in th

. Not intimate, not

on image, sometimes

allen into

redictable. And for Seba

that

headed toward the boardroom, when something

mposed, striking in a way that didn't try to be. He wore a dark charcoal turtleneck under a slim-cu

clothes that hel

carried himself-like si

eyes

um of conversation, the tapping of keys, even the distant ring o

steady. Calm. A

stian like a bl

adable stare. And yet, something in it lodged itself

ay, casually, as if

n, heart knocking

o the man was. H

Hale. Newly hired project consultant. Strong portf

that look-the one in the hallway-was now

eginning. He di

sing. A new face among the shuffle of consultant

it. Dressed in a charcoal button-down and slate slacks, sleeves neatly rolled, his presence was clean, focused, efficient. He spok

when he was deep in thought, how he tapped a pen against his thigh when frustrated. There

meetings, polite nods in passing, moments that meant little on t

ration. Just curiosity. A natural reactio

bconsciously tracking the rhythm of Rowan's day. Lis

ore-Rowan's calm intensity, or the

or-to-ceiling windows. He watched the junior analyst, Marisol, wrap up her slide deck presentation-numb

arisol offered her polite smile

e done solid work here. The

lief flickerin

to propose a slight

s smile

chan

ned forward,

n the executive wing-his insights during yesterday's strategy s

are that Rowan was just outside

to remove someone

careful-professio

take the lead on the next phase. His approa

f silenc

y. "I'll hand over my materials a

red a small, a

an be disruptive, but I'm confide

n tapping against his blazer's sleeve. Sebastian straightened in his chair, watching Rowan ste

table, Marisol slipped o

ergy settle in the room.

n us. Let's see what