ist

left his office,

g at his sides. He should have kept his distance

omething slip-somethi

re had c

ir. He had spent years perfecting the art of control, yet in the span of m

at him like she saw thr

e wors

't entir

-

ai

chatting, footsteps echoing against the polishe

her lingered in her mind, like

u should

hat suppos

ed a corner. Chloe had already texted her twice, probably won

ts were to

th

ling re

ng sensation along t

lowed he

e last couple of days, there had been moments-brief

f. Convinced herself

d in the hallway, sh

ard the courtyard visi

th

settled in

orcing herself to keep moving. She wa

il

pulled out her phone, hesita

tell anyone to k

creen for a moment

assed. The

out to put her phone

topher:

p tightened

anything. It was

t told her

reason. For

ne back into her ba

, she knew th

-

ist

at his phone, his e

e was

second he rea

creen before he locked the pho

ng was

wasn't going

find ou

ai

kept her grounded, what had driven her to succeed, and mo

her instincts

her coffee as Chloe talked about something-probably about the latest dram

r. Two days since she had started feeling the presen

ings. That maybe the stress of everything-the club,

re moments that s

ir apartment with Chloe and had sworn she heard footst

e sitting in the library, her skin prickling e

oia. It wasn't

was watc

air

nally registeri

taking a sip of her juice. "You've been

a smile. "Yeah

unconvinced. "Tir

ot

s. "Does this have any

he didn't have t

a lie. A partia

it, but she let it go.

most. But the weight in h

against the table

office after your last c

ulse

ext from the other day. Knew that if she w

that what

cknowledge that she wa

t?" Chloe

phone before she c

r coffee, taki

hristopher's office,

reful, she was afraid sh

*

ist

hair, fingers steepled as he sta

Claire w

did best observing and calculating. And wha

sn't bein

ere watc

keep an eye on her for safety. But after a brief conve

one else was int

t was a

pulled him fro

me

ened, and t

gaze wary. She looked like she was ready for

o the seat across from

as he asked before walki

ment, neither

, resting his forearms on the d

ng around the strap of her bag. "I d

Then why did you ask me if

in line. "It was a stupid

s gaze unwavering. "I won't

llowed. "C

ed." He didn't phra

hed. "I don't know wha

less intense. "I know you've noticed it. And I also k

s breat

n h

could see throu

t of keeping people at arm's length,

r Miller had slippe

ay. "It's not

aw ticked. "It

le

he asked, "When

sitated.

er's eyes

hought it was just in my head at fir

eaned back, p

at the club, then

er was watching C

ing to find o

ed, stan

ed. "What ar

to make

rowned.

toward the window, his back to her.

tiffened

t do

him. "Chri

is expressio

ce was softer now, but still firm.

throat

people easily.

e her

t terri

*

ewh

ffice, fingers tapping again

o notice," one of

d a slow, calc

oo

ed to the photog

ai

unknowingly walke

smart, she woul

d crossed paths with Christoph

this

o finish what