*Silas*
I slide a glass of water across the table towards the young blonde woman. She looks worried and confused as she asks, “Did I do something wrong?”
“Not at all.” I take a seat across from her, offering a slightly condescending smile. “In fact, Elijah had nothing but good things to say about you.”
“I don’t understand then.” She shakes her head, her expression a mix of bewilderment and frustration, as if she’s grappling with a puzzle that just won’t fit.
I choose my words carefully, weighing each one for its impact. “The arrangement just… ran its course. But I wanted to thank you; your contributions over the last few weeks have been invaluable. We should discuss getting you involved in other Institute projects.”
“It’s not going to be that easy.” She shakes her head again, her reso
