Claire strode into the building briskly, her heels echoing across the marble floor of the corporate lobby. The morning sun streamed through the large glass windows, but it did little to brighten the tension tightening her chest. She had barely slept the night before—her thoughts had been spiraling, and when they finally settled enough to make sense, she'd found herself dialing Andrew's number at 2 a.m. The call had been brief, just long enough to share a few thoughts and hear his voice again after so long. It hadn't meant anything. At least, not to her.
Now, stepping into the hallway leading to her office, Claire barely had time to catch her breath before Jake appeared, leaning against the wall like he'd been waiting for her.
"Claire," Jake said, his voice firm and controlled—but his eyes betrayed him. They shimmered with a mixture of hurt, confusion, and barely-contained anger.
