Wilson spent the rest of the day pretending he was fine. Meetings blurred. Calls came and went. He nodded, smiled, sold the image of the man who never slipped. But under his polished grin, the noise kept humming.
When he closed his eyes, he saw Mia at his window, her mind wide open for him alone. When he opened them, Luna was waiting.
She cornered him by the elevators at noon, file clutched in her hand like an excuse she did not need.
We need to talk
Wilson forced a polite smile. Do we
Luna stepped closer. There was no one else in the hallway. Her perfume wrapped around him like a net.
About the Wexler edits. Unless you would rather I handle them myself
Her voice was honey but her mind was sharper than ever.
Let her think she is in control. For now
He had to shut it out. He had to shut her out. But the noise did not care what he wanted.
I trust you Luna. Do what you need
She tilted her head, amused. You trust me. Do you trust Mia too
His chest tightened. She caught it instantly.
She is not what you think. She wants to be the good one but she will watch you drown if it saves her
Wilson looked past her at the elevator doors. One flickered open. He stepped inside without a word. She did not follow but her mind did.
Run if you want. You will come back
When the doors closed, he exhaled. Silence for five floors. Then his phone buzzed. Mia.
Third floor. Now
He found her in a small glass room near the back stairs, away from the chatter and fake smiles. She stood by a tiny table covered in folders. Her sleeves were rolled up, hair pulled loose like she had been fighting numbers and stress all morning.
You called me
Sit
She did not waste time. She pushed a stack of papers toward him. Her eyes were on the numbers but her mind was all on him.
I do not trust Luna. She is playing you. I know you see it
He sat. Watched her highlight one figure after another, pages flipping under her sharp fingers.
You think I cannot handle her
Mia's head snapped up. Her eyes locked on his.
She wants you distracted. She wants you sloppy
And you
She hesitated. Just for a breath.
I want you focused. That is all
But he heard the truth anyway.
I want you safe. And I hate that I do
Wilson leaned forward just enough for her scent to drown out everything else.
You always fix me Hamilton
She looked at him like she wanted to push him back in his chair and walk out. Instead she stayed. Her mind stayed too.
And one day I will regret it
Wilson caught her hand on the table. Just his fingertips on hers. Warm skin. A tiny shock of connection.
Do you
She pulled her hand away. Papers rustled. Her eyes dropped to the numbers again but her voice did not match her mind anymore.
Go finish the edits Carter
Before I do something I cannot take back
He left her there, the room full of silence that was anything but silent.