## Hazel's POV
The silence stretched between us like a live wire. Alistair's colleague—Diane from legal—watched us with barely disguised curiosity, her perfectly arched eyebrow raised in question.
"Well?" she prompted again.
Alistair cleared his throat. "I was simply being a gentleman. Nothing more."
His words shouldn't have hurt. But they did.
"Exactly," I added, forcing a smile. "Old habits die hard, I suppose."
Diane's eyes narrowed, unconvinced. "I see. Well, your meeting starts in five minutes, Alistair."
"I'll be right there." He nodded, dismissing her.
With one last curious glance between us, she walked away, her heels clicking against the marble floor.
When she was out of earshot, Alistair turned to me. "Hazel—"
"Don't," I cut him off. "Just go to your meeting."
He hesitated, then nodded stiffly. "Take care of yourself."
