Chapter 15
The corridors of Maison de la Croix were almost unrecognizable without the bustle of the day. No ringing phones, no clipped heels against marble, no voices weaving in and out of hushed urgency. Just silence, interrupted only by the faint hum of fluorescent lights and the occasional echo of a guard's footsteps. It was past six, the building belonged now to shadows and the men hired to guard them.
Amara's heels clicked nervously as she stepped through the vast lobby. She didn't belong here and she knew it. She had stopped by Kairen's apartment earlier, expecting him to be curled up on the couch with a blanket, maybe asleep after the day he'd had. But the place was empty. Something in her chest tugged, sharp and insistent, and before she knew it, she was behind the wheel of her hatchback, driving across the city.
She found herself standing uncertainly before the front desk until Ms. Jo appeared, mop bucket in tow, humming a tune like the building wasn't dripping with wealth and intimidation.
"You lost, darling?" Ms. Jo asked, squinting at Amara's worried face.
"I'm looking for Kairen. My friend. He-he works here," Amara stammered.
"Oh, the pretty boy?" Ms. Jo's face brightened with recognition. She leaned on her mop. "Hasn't left yet. Saw him trudging upstairs like he was carrying the whole world on his back. That one… he works too hard. Nearly gave me a heart attack earlier, lying on the stairs like he'd dropped dead." She shook her head. "Never seen a young man burn himself out like that."
Amara's throat tightened. "So he's still here?"
"Yes. Somewhere up there." Ms. Jo pointed vaguely with her mop handle. "Third floor, office section. You can't miss him." She gave Amara a knowing look, the kind that said she'd seen too much in her years of mopping other people's messes.
Before Amara could thank her, another voice slipped into the hallway. "You're looking for Kairen?"
Julian stepped forward, sleeves rolled, a folder still tucked under his arm. He looked just as tired, but the moment Amara nodded, concern flashed across his face. "I was just told the same thing. Let's go together."
The two moved swiftly through the corridors until they reached Kairen's office. The door was slightly ajar. Inside, beneath the dim light of a desk lamp, Kairen was slumped forward, his cheek resting against scattered papers. He was so still, for a moment Amara thought Ms. Jo's words might have been prophecy.
"Oh my God," Amara whispered, rushing to his side. She touched his shoulder gently. His skin was warm, too warm, and his breathing shallow with the exhaustion of someone who had gone far past his limits.
Julian stood on the other side of the desk, worry etched across his face. He looked like he wanted to scoop Kairen up himself. Instead, he reached forward, brushing a strand of hair away from Kairen's face before pulling his hand back quickly, almost guilty for the gesture.
Amara straightened. "Thank you for bringing me here. I'll take it from here."
Julian hesitated. His eyes lingered on Kairen, then on Amara. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." Her voice was steady, protective. "He's my best friend. He'll be okay with me."
Still, Julian didn't move at once. He shifted on his feet like a man torn, then finally gave in. "Alright. But… make sure he rests. He's been running himself ragged."
Amara softened, offering him a small smile. "I know. And… thank you."
Julian nodded once, then left quietly, the door clicking shut behind him.
Alone now, Amara slipped an arm beneath Kairen's, coaxing him to wake. His lashes fluttered, confusion clouding his eyes as he registered her face.
"You scared me, Ren," she murmured. "You had me driving all the way down here."
"I'm fine," Kairen whispered hoarsely, though his body sagged against hers, betraying the lie.
She didn't push not yet. She just tightened her hold, steadying him as they walked together out of the office. Outside, the hallway was hushed and cavernous, their footsteps echoing as if the whole building was listening.
By the time they reached her car, Amara's mind was already spinning, fury bubbling beneath her worry. She didn't know what had happened to her best friend today, but one thing was certain she would find out. And when she did, God help whoever had pushed him this far.
---
Sebastian had only returned to his office for one reason his iPad. He'd forgotten it in the chaos of the day, and the idea of facing Victor without his device felt like suicide. He plucked it from the polished desk, slipped it under his arm, and loosened his tie as he made for the car park.
He wasn't expecting to see anyone else. The building was nearly deserted, reduced to the distant shuffle of guards and the hum of fluorescent lights. But just as he rounded the corner toward the lot, movement caught his eye.
There under the dim lights of the exit was Kairen.
And beside him, a woman.
She had her arm looped firmly around Kairen's waist, half-carrying him, steadying him like he was something fragile. Sebastian froze. His eyes narrowed, trying to place her face, but it was unfamiliar. An outsider. Not an employee. Not someone from the company.
For a moment, he simply stared. Then his thoughts began to twist.
A girlfriend?
The idea came like venom, sharp and unwelcome. His lips curled into a smirk that wasn't truly a smirk. "That weakling? With a girlfriend?" he muttered under his breath. He tried to laugh, to brush it off with the disdain he had always carried for Kairen. But the laugh never came.
His chest tightened instead.
Who would want him? He's pathetic. Always shaking, always breaking. What the hell would she even see in him?
Yet his eyes betrayed him, locked too long on the sight of Kairen leaning into her, trusting her hold. It unsettled him more than he would ever admit. The thought that someone else might see value in Kairen might care for him gnawed at a part of Sebastian that had no name.
Before he could process it, the woman guided Kairen into a small hatchback. The engine hummed alive, headlights cutting across the lot. They pulled away quickly, leaving only the faint echo of tires on concrete.
"Sir?"
Sebastian flinched at the sound of his driver's voice. The man had stepped out, opening the rear door of the black car.
Sebastian turned toward him, but the arrogance that had colored his features earlier was gone. What remained was something stony, unreadable. His jaw set hard, his gaze still on the fading taillights.
The driver hesitated, eyes flicking briefly to his employer's face, sensing the shift in mood. But he asked nothing. He merely slipped back into his seat and started the engine.
Sebastian slid in after him, silent.
A moment ago, he had been light, almost playful in his own cruel way. But now, as the city lights reflected off the car windows, his expression had hardened into something cold. He didn't realize it, didn't want to realize it but jealousy had already sunk its claws in, quiet and merciless.
Amara didn't take him home. She drove straight to her own apartment, deciding she'd rather keep him close where she could watch him. The building wasn't anything grand, but inside, her space carried her mark soft rugs underfoot, second-hand furniture made charming with her touch, fairy lights glinting near the mirror, and a corner crowded with sketches, fabrics, and half-finished outfits. It was a place that hummed with her dreams, small but alive.
She helped Kairen inside, half-dragging him with mock complaints until she got him settled in her spare room. Dropping him onto the bed, she crouched and tugged at his shoes. The socks followed, and she wrinkled her nose.
"Ugh, Ren, your socks stink. You're lucky you're cute, because this is a crime."
Kairen only smiled faintly, too drained to answer back.
Amara smoothed the blanket over him. "Relax. I'll go throw something together in the kitchen. You need food."
She turned to leave, but Kairen's hand shot out, weak but insistent, catching hers mid-step. His eyes softened as he whispered, "Thank you."
Amara glanced at him, her sass easing into something gentler. "Save the thanks. I'll take it tomorrow when you finally tell me what the hell happened." She tilted her head, adding with a grin, "Besides, I've got tea. But that can wait till you're human again."
With that, she slipped out, leaving Kairen staring up at the ceiling. For the first time all day, he let himself breathe, let himself forget, even if only for a little while.