Drake's Pov
As the last of our close circle leaves my office, the door clicks shut, leaving just Nicole and me. The room falls silent, but the weight of the discussion still lingers in the air. I look at her, noticing how her gaze is distant, her thoughts clearly running a mile a minute.
Her hand is still in mine, her fingers slightly tense. I lift it to my lips and place a gentle kiss on the back of her hand, trying to pull her out of her whirlwind of thoughts. “Are you okay?” I ask softly, my voice steady but filled with concern.
Nicole nods her head slowly, her eyes finally meeting mine. “I’m okay,” she says, but the flicker of determination in her gaze tells me there’s more going on beneath the surface. Her mind is working overtime, piecing together a plan, a way forward.
She takes
