The adrenaline rush still coursed through Lia's system as she followed Leo through the deserted halls of Grant Enterprises. The intruders had been caught, but even now, their presence still lingered in the air like a thick fog.
Leo's hand brushed against hers as they walked. It was almost an accident. But Lia's body reacted to the touch of his hand against hers. It was a shock of warmth that ran through her. Leo didn't even notice and didn't pull his hand back, and for some reason, this made Lia's heart beat faster.
They made their way to the small kitchenette on the executive floor. "Soft glow," Leo observed, "thanks to the fluorescent lighting."
**"And the coffee machine," Patrick added, "which breaks the silence."**
\*\*Leo filled two coffee mugs, and finally, for the first time all day, he appeared… human. Vulnerable, even. \*\*
"You did well tonight," he said, handing her a steaming cup. His fingertips touched hers, and Lia resisted the temptation to hold his hand longer and let his heat seep into her bones.
"I. I simply followed your lead," she murmured, wondering if she could hide the fluttering of her heart.
Leo's eyes softened. A rare and unprotected moment. "You didn't just follow. You were brilliant. Calm and intelligent, and"-- his eyes locked on mine-- "
Lia blinked, feeling a flush rise into her cheeks. "Brave?" she repeated, giggling nervously. "I was yelling enough myself."
He chuckled, a deep, vibrating sound, and her stomach twisted with a mix of relief and something else, something far more sinister. "No. You remained. You confronted it. That's brave of you. That's more of what other people could have done."
For an instant, time seemed to stop. The chaos, the peril, the corporate machinations—all were forgotten. All that was left was Lia and Leo and the warm intimacy that comes from having shared a storm.
She took a sip of her coffee, enjoying the warmth, and found herself sneaking glances at him. He met her gaze, and for a moment, the mask of icy professionalism slipped by the wayside. His lips twitched into a small smile—one of those smiles that spoke of comfort, of protection, and maybe something more.
"Lia," he murmured, drawing closer, "I have something that I have to tell you. Something that matters." Her heart skipped a beat. She leaned in to catch every word he said.