The week after the gala, the rhythm of Empire Brands shifted in a way Courtney couldn't quite name. Dwayne had returned to his usual cold sharpness, though now it carried an undercurrent she didn't understand. He was civil in meetings, brisk with his orders, but there was a stiffness in his voice that hadn't been there before.
At first, she assumed he was just under pressure. The company was preparing for a major client presentation, and stress at Empire was always high before big pitches. But every time she caught him looking at her, the weight of his gaze unsettled her. It wasn't just scrutiny—it was something heavier, more charged, though he looked away as soon as she noticed.
If Dwayne had grown more distant, Sean had gone the opposite direction.
The morning after the gala, she found a sleek box on her desk—an expensive set of pens, silver-tipped and engraved with her initials. A note tucked inside read: "For the sharpest mind in the building. – S."
