Elodie’s POV ~
Dante must have heard Sienna whisper that they were skipping the post-lunch debrief, because of course he did. He always knew exactly where she was.
He walked over to our table, that picture of politeness, and shook Johnny’s hand. "We’ll leave now. Please do join us next ti, Mr. Gray."
Johnny’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. "...Of course."
Dante smiled that cold, perfect smile that never reached his eyes and glanced at . Just a flicker. Like I was a piece of furniture he was debating whether to keep. Then he turned and walked out, Sienna falling into step beside him.
Back at Wilson Tech, the afternoon was a blur of every damn thing. Sienna’s team rolled in around two, looking like they’d just had a spa day, while Johnny and I had been grinding since nine.
By six, my eyes were burning. "Let’s go," I said, shutting my laptop.
Johnny stretched. "I’ll treat you to a al. You look like you need protein."
"No," I said, grabbing my bag. "I have other plans."
Nonna had been texting all afternoon.
Co ho. The cook made the fish you like. It wasn’t a request. It was a summons.
When I got to the old residence, I saw his coat on the rack. His shoes by the door.
I froze. I hadn’t expected him to be back. I figured he’d be at the office, holding Sienna’s hand while she complained about a bug in the system.
He was in the living room, laptop on his knees, typing furiously. He glanced up when I walked in, then imdiately looked back down. Not a word.
Dinner was agony. Nonna chattered away, trying to bridge the gap between us. Dante ate in silence. I pushed peas around my plate.
Then, out of nowhere, he stopped. He set his fork down and looked at .
"Do you have ti later? I need to talk to you about sothing."
My heart did a stupid, painful lurch. Hope. I hated it.
I kept my voice flat. "Alright."
Nonna smiled, her eyes crinkling. She thought it was happening. The talk. The fix.
If only she knew.
After dinner, Nonna bustled off to get my dicine, the bitter sludge Dr. Stanley prescribed. Dante stood up, his phone already to his ear. "I have to take this."
He walked out onto the terrace, sliding the glass door shut.
I drank the dicine. It tasted awful. I set the bowl down, ready to go upstairs and wait for him, when I heard the low rumble of an engine. Headlights cutting through the trees.
I paused in the doorway. "He’s leaving?"
Nonna ca up behind , her face falling. "Yes. He said it was urgent. Left in such a rush. I don’t even know what he’s off to do."
I did. I knew exactly what was so urgent. She was urgent.
He’d asked to talk to . He’d looked in the eye and asked for my ti.
And then he left.
I stood there, staring at the empty driveway, the taillights disappearing into the dark. I waited for an hour. Then two.
He didn’t co back.
---
The next morning, the routine was a nightmare. Breakfast at the old house. Then the car to Wilson Tech.
Johnny was waiting at the entrance, looking like he hadn’t slept.
"Morning," he grunted.
We walked in. Sienna’s team was already there, huddled around a whiteboard. They looked wrecked, pale, ssy hair, eyes bloodshot but they were moving.
Johnny nodded toward them. "So early? I thought they were pulling an all-nighter."
"They were," the General Manager said, passing by with a stack of files. He looked exhausted. "But to catch up with the schedule, we had to co in early. We’re really pushing it."
Pushing it for her. I knew it.
We got to work. I buried myself in the code. It was safer there.
About an hour later, my bladder was screaming. I was about to get up, to walk to the restroom and splash so cold water on my face, when the office doors opened.
Dante walked in.
For the first ti in months, he didn’t seem to be here for Sienna.
He walked in, scanned the room, and actually greeted Sienna from a distance before turning his attention toward us. Toward .
Johnny tensed up beside . "Wilson," he said, his voice guarded. "Is there sothing we can help you with?"
Dante stopped at our desks. He looked... professional. Calm. "I’ve had so ti these past couple of days to learn about the system you’ve developed," he said, his tone even. "It looks impressive. However, I still have a few ideas I’d like to discuss with both of you."
Ideas. Right.
Johnny glanced at , looking for an exit strategy. I just wanted to disappear.
"Sorry," I said, my voice sounding hollow even to my own ears. "I need to use the restroom. Please go ahead."
I didn’t wait for a reply. I just stood up and walked away, my back straight, refusing to run.
---
The restroom was cold. I splashed water on my face, staring at my reflection in the mirror. *Get it together, Elodie. He’s just talking shop. It ans nothing.*
I dried my hands slowly, buying ti. When I finally opened the door and stepped back into the hallway, I was only a few steps away from the open-plan office when a sharp cry pierced the air.
"Director Brown!"
Then ca the sound of a crash. A commotion.
I turned my head, but before I could even focus, I saw Dante’s face change.
The calm mask shattered. His eyes went wide, and he moved.
He didn’t walk. He bolted.
He sprinted toward the eting room, and in his haste, he didn’t even see standing there. His shoulder slamd into mine, hard.
The impact was jarring. A shockwave of pain radiated down my arm, and I stumbled sideways, my breath leaving in a gasp.
"Hey!" Johnny was there in an instant, his hand shooting out to steady before I hit the floor. "You alright?"
I clutched my shoulder, wincing. The spot where Dante hit was already throbbing. "I’m fine," I lied.
I looked up just in ti to see Dante disappear into the eting room.
Two seconds later, he erged.
And he was holding Sienna.
She was limp in his arms, her head resting against his chest. He wasn’t walking, he was carrying her, his face buried in her hair, murmuring sothing I couldn’t hear.
They vanished down the hallway toward the elevators.
The entire office was silent.
The General Manager cleared his throat, looking flustered. "What... what happened to Director Brown?"
One of Sienna’s assistants peeked out. "She fainted," he whispered. "I think she’s been overworking and got exhausted."
Exhausted.
I looked at Johnny. His face was dark. Thunderous. He was staring at the empty hallway where Dante had disappeared, his jaw clenched so tight I thought his teeth might crack.
"She won’t be worked to death," Johnny gritted out, his voice low and vicious.
The GM hesitated, sweating. "John... Wilson is just really worried about Director Brown. You don’t need to—"
"Shut up," Johnny snapped.
The GM clamped his mouth shut.
I rubbed my shoulder, trying to massage the ache away. It didn’t really hurt that much. Not physically. It was just... a bruise. Another one.
Seeing how furious Johnny was, I managed a small, tired smile. "It’s not serious," I said quietly. "Doesn’t hurt much anymore."
Johnny looked back at , his eyes still blazing. "Should we go ho and rest for a while?"
I shook my head. I patted his arm. "I’m not that fragile, Johnny. Let’s continue working."
He let out a breath, subdued but still angry. "Mm."
He sat back down, but he didn’t open his laptop. He just stared at the screen, his fingers hovering over the keys. After a long silence, he asked the question I’d been avoiding for three months.
"It’s been a while since you filed for divorce," he said, not looking at . "Why hasn’t it been finalized?"
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