When the ashes bloom

Chapter 14: The photograph

The next morning, Amara woke up with the photograph still on her mind.

She had placed it inside the back pocket of her notebook before leaving Blackwood Holdings the previous evening. She had told herself she would look at it later.

Later had become morning.

And somehow, she still wasn't ready.

By the time she arrived at the office, the building was already busy.

People moved through the lobby carrying files, coffee cups, and phones pressed against their ears. Someone was arguing with the receptionist about a meeting that apparently did not exist.

Amara smiled to herself.

For a few minutes, everything felt normal.

"You're early."

She turned.

Noah stood beside the elevator, holding two cups of coffee.

"You're becoming predictable," Amara said.

"Good morning to you too."

He handed her one of the cups.

She looked at it suspiciously. "What's this?"

"Peace offering."

"For what?"

"I haven't done anything yet."

"Exactly. That's suspicious."

Noah laughed.

They stepped into the elevator together.

"I need a favor," he said.

"That sentence has never ended well."

"I need you to cover for me during lunch."

"Why?"

"I have an appointment."

"What kind?"

Noah hesitated.

"A very important appointment."

Amara raised an eyebrow.

"With?"

"My barber."

She stared at him.

"Don't judge me. My hair is currently going through a crisis."

Amara burst out laughing.

For the first time since finding the photograph, her mind felt lighter.

When she reached her desk, there was a stack of documents waiting for her.

Normal work.

Invoices. Reports. Emails.

She almost welcomed the boredom.

Almost.

Around noon, Kian called her into his office.

Amara entered with her notebook.

"You wanted to see me?"

Kian looked up from his laptop.

"Yes. Sit."

She sat across from him.

"I reviewed the report you prepared yesterday."

Amara immediately became nervous.

"And?"

"It's good."

She blinked.

"That's it?"

Kian frowned slightly. "Were you expecting a speech?"

"No. I just thought there would be at least one criticism."

"There are."

"There it is."

He pushed the report toward her.

"You've missed two figures."

Amara leaned forward.

She checked the pages.

He was right.

"I'll fix them."

"I know."

She looked at him.

There was something different about the way he spoke today. Less distant.

"You seem tired," she said before she could stop herself.

Kian's expression changed.

"Do I?"

"Just a little."

"I'm fine."

Amara nodded.

"Okay."

She stood.

As she reached the door, Kian spoke again.

"Amara."

She turned.

"Yes?"

For a moment, he seemed unsure what he wanted to say.

Then he simply said, "Have a good afternoon."

She smiled faintly.

"You too."

After she left, Kian leaned back in his chair.

His eyes moved toward the drawer beside him.

Inside was a file from six years ago.

And beside it was an old photograph.

The same photograph Amara had found.

He closed his eyes briefly.

He had spent six years keeping the past buried.

Now Amara was slowly walking toward it without even knowing where the path would lead.

And Kian wasn't sure how much longer he could keep her from discovering the truth.

Then she noticed something she hadn't seen before.

Written faintly on the back were three words.

"Ask about Daniel."

Amara's smile disappeared.

Daniel.

Her mother's warning suddenly made a little more sense.

And for the first time, she wondered whether the man she'd been warned about wasn't a stranger at all.

Maybe he had been part of her father's life.

Maybe he was part of the reason her father never came home.