Vanessa turned to leave, but Cory's voice stopped her.
"Does she ever talk about me?"
Vanessa froze. "Why are you asking?"
"Because I see the way she looks at me sometimes," he said. "Like she's trying to figure out if I'm dangerous or familiar."
"You are both," Vanessa muttered.
Cory's eyes narrowed. "And you're still drawn to that."
She faced him again, her tone sharp. "Don't twist this. What happened between us was a mistake."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "A mistake you keep remembering."
Her pulse jumped. She hated how calm he sounded, like every word was deliberate. "You think you know me."
"I do," he said softly. "Too well."
For a moment, neither spoke. The street felt too still. A faint wind stirred the edge of Vanessa's jacket.
"You shouldn't be here," she said.
"I'll leave," he replied, "after I ask you one thing."
She crossed her arms again, defensive. "What?"
"Why did you really come to see her?"
Vanessa blinked. "She's my sister."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
Cory studied her, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded slowly. "Fine. But remember something."
"What?"
He leaned in slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. "If she ever finds out we know each other, you'll lose her trust. And you'll lose me."
Her throat tightened. "You think I'm afraid of losing you?"
"You should be."
The words lingered.
He turned toward his car, his reflection faint in the window. "Go back inside. Pretend this never happened."
Vanessa stayed frozen as he opened the door. Her voice came out low. "What are you planning, Cory?"
He paused halfway in. "Nothing."
"Liar."
Cory looked at her for a moment, then gave a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You always hated that about me."
She took a shaky breath. "And you always used it."
He said nothing. The door shut, the engine hummed to life, and the car rolled away, taillights fading into the dark.
Vanessa stood under the streetlight long after he was gone.
---
Next Morning – 7:45 AM, Stone Enterprise Cafeteria
Elena stirred her coffee, half-listening to the chatter around her. Her phone buzzed beside her tray—Vanessa: "Had to run some errands early. Be back later."
She smiled faintly. Vanessa always moved fast.
Then, as she glanced toward the window, she caught sight of a familiar car pulling into the company lot. Cory stepped out, his tie slightly loosened, phone in hand.
For a second, he looked up toward the cafeteria's glass wall, and their eyes met.
It was only a moment, but something passed between them—something that didn't belong to work hours or polite greetings.
Elena's chest tightened. She looked away quickly, pretending to check her messages.
Cory's reflection lingered faintly in the window.
And then, almost as if to himself, his lips moved—barely visible through the glass.
"Do you believe in secrets, Elena?"
She froze. She couldn't hear the words, but somehow, she understood them.
Her spoon slipped from her fingers, clattering softly against the saucer.