Wilson should have gone home. He told himself that when the last meeting ended, when the sun dipped behind the skyline, when the office lights turned cold and sharp overhead.
Instead he stayed. Alone in his glass corner with the city spread out like a promise he could not keep. He thought the quiet would help but the noise only grew sharper when the world went still.
He could hear the cleaner humming down the hall. The receptionist thinking about the fight she would have with her boyfriend tonight. People three floors below arguing over weekend plans.
But mostly he heard her.
Mia's voice drifted through his mind even when she was not there. He replayed the way her eyes caught his. The slip in her thoughts that made him want to dig deeper.
He shut his laptop and pushed back from his desk. He needed fresh air. Or a drink. Or something to drown out what he could not stop hearing.
He found Luna waiting by the elevators.
She leaned against the glass wall like she owned the floor, arms crossed, one heel kicked up behind her. She did not look surprised to see him.
You are working late
Wilson kept walking. Trying to ignore the pulse in her thoughts.
You too
She stepped in front of him, blocking the elevator button. He could smell her perfume, sweet and sharp.
I could help you relax. You look like you need it
Her mind pressed in closer than her body ever did.
Say yes. Just once. See how far you fall
Wilson tried to move past her. Luna shifted with him, her fingers brushing his arm. Her nails traced his sleeve like she was drawing a line he could not cross.
You do not trust me
I do not
He wanted to push her hand away. He wanted to stop hearing the hum of her mind trying to break into his.
I think you do Wilson. More than you trust her
Mia
Her name burned through him like a warning. Luna caught the flicker behind his eyes.
She is not here now is she
Luna's smile was soft. Too soft. Her fingers slid to his wrist. Her mind was a whisper under his skin.
Let me in
He almost did. For one stupid second he almost let the noise drown out everything else. Anything to stop thinking about what Mia wanted and what he could never say out loud.
Then the elevator dinged open. And Mia was there.
She froze when she saw them. Wilson standing too close to Luna. Luna's hand on his sleeve like she owned him.
No one spoke first. But Wilson heard it all anyway.
Mia's mind was a slash of heat.
Of course. I should have known
Luna's mind was a smile.
Perfect timing
Wilson stepped back like the touch burned him.
Mia it is not what you think
Her eyes cut through him. Cold. Controlled. But her mind was raw.
Liar. I should have never cared
She brushed past him and stepped into the elevator alone. He almost followed. Almost. But Luna was still there, watching him with that soft smile that promised nothing but trouble.
You should have let me help you relax
Wilson turned away from her and watched the elevator doors close on Mia's face. He could still hear her thoughts echoing down the shaft long after she was gone.
He knew he was losing control. He just did not know if he wanted to stop.