Chapter 15: Cracks in the Facade
320 Words
She woke alone on the rug.
The fire was cold. A blanket had been draped over her sometime in the night. The study was empty.
Mila sat up, pulling the blanket around herself. The house was silent. Too silent.
She found him in the kitchen.
Kael stood at the counter, fully dressed, coffee in hand, staring out the window at the grey morning. He didn't turn when she entered.
"Morning," she said softly.
Nothing.
She moved closer, wrapping her arms around him from behind, pressing her cheek to his back. He was rigid. Unyielding.
"Kael? What's wrong?"
He set the coffee down carefully. Then he turned, gently removing her arms, stepping back. Creating distance.
"Last night shouldn't have happened."
The words hit her like ice water.
"What?"
He still wouldn't look at her. "I told you. It complicates things."
"Complicates things." She repeated the words like they were foreign. "That's what you're going with?"
"I need to focus. We have a mission. Volkov. Sokolov. That's what matters."
Mila stared at him. The man who had held her like she was precious hours ago. The man who had looked at her like she was air. Now he was a stranger again. The walls were back. Higher than ever.
"Don't do this," she said quietly.
"Do what?"
"Pretend last night meant nothing."
He finally looked at her. His eyes were frozen again. Cold. Empty. "It meant nothing."
The lie hung between them. She could see it in the tightness of his jaw, the way his hands were clenched at his sides. He was trying to push her away. Trying to protect himself. Trying to protect her.
It didn't make it hurt less.
"Fine," she said, her voice steady despite the shaking inside. "Then we're just partners. Got it."
She turned and walked out.
Behind her, she heard him exhale. Long and slow. Like he'd been holding his breath.
She didn't look back.
- Writer
