Isaac arrived at the office earlier than usual.
Too early, judging from the way the security guard did a double take before awkwardly bowing. He ignored it. He ignored everything, he sting of last night's conversation with Elias, the restless non-sleep he'd pretended was rest, and most of all, the faint, humiliating urge to check if Mina had emailed him anything overnight.
He wouldn't. He couldn't. He'd already made a mistake once, asking her that stupid question, revealing far too much of himself, letting her see the edges he'd spent years sanding down. Lines had blurred. Now they needed to be drawn again.
He took the elevator up and stepped into the executive floor's quiet hallway.
Emily was already there, sipping her coffee, leaning on her desk with the posture of a woman who had seen the Henley family at their worst, and found entertainment in it. "You look like you lost a duel against your conscience," she said instead of hello.
