bsession with a growing sense of unease. She was beautiful,

life of normalcy, a life far remov

bitious, on the verge of a dream job

oft chime of her phone's alarm broke the silence. Sunlight stream

the alarm, her gaze falling on

accepted for the position of Personal Assistant to the CEO of STARKDYNA. You are expected to report

t? That wasn't the position she had applied for. A flicker o

int clatter of utensils from the kitchen below. Her father was up early, as usual, immersed in his rout

ffee. His reading glasses perched low on his nose, and though his eyes flickered

ers grazing the smooth surface befor

ut unreadable. "Not the position you

d her weight. "Bu

em-not uncomfortable, but

ee, took a slow sip, then

oug

proval, maybe-crossed his face before it

ything. But she knew better. This was how he was. How they were. She folded her a

r of Lucas's mouth, but it didn't reac

ckle, shaking her head.

he table, then leaned back in his

ea

care

ld voice, and Alex knew it. She nodded, he

ore she stepped out of the k

le

lance

ething unreadable there. Then, with a slow

t what she might have wa

r