When the ashes bloom

Chapter 15: Daniel

The name stayed in Amara's head for the rest of the afternoon.

Daniel.

She had seen the name before.

Daniel Cole.

Her father's former business partner.

The man Kian had specifically warned her about.

Coincidence?

Amara didn't believe in coincidences anymore.

She slipped the photograph back into her notebook and tried to focus on her computer.

"You're staring at that screen like it personally offended you."

She looked up.

Noah was standing beside her desk.

"I'm working."

"You're not."

"I am."

"You've been looking at the same spreadsheet for ten minutes."

Amara sighed.

"Maybe the spreadsheet is complicated."

Noah leaned closer to the screen.

"It's literally a list of office expenses."

"Exactly. Very complicated."

He laughed.

"Okay, I'm leaving before you insult my intelligence."

"You don't have any."

He placed a hand over his chest.

"That hurt."

Amara smiled despite herself.

For a few seconds, she forgot about the photograph.

Then her phone vibrated.

She glanced at the screen.

A message from her mother.

How was work today?

Amara hesitated before replying.

Fine.

Three dots appeared almost immediately.

Did you hear anything about your father?

Amara stared at the message.

Her heart began beating faster.

She typed.

Why are you asking?

No reply came.

She waited.

One minute.

Two.

Then her mother finally responded.

Just be careful, Amara.

That was it.

Amara frowned.

She wanted answers.

Instead, everyone kept giving her warnings.

She looked across the office.

Kian was standing near the conference room, talking to two executives.

He looked completely composed.

Like a man who had never had anything to hide.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, neither looked away.

Then Kian excused himself from the conversation and walked toward her.

"Everything okay?"

Amara quickly locked her phone.

"Yes."

He stopped beside her desk.

"You don't look okay."

"I'm fine."

Kian studied her face.

"You don't have to tell me everything."

"I know."

A small silence settled between them.

Then Amara looked up.

"Do you know Daniel Cole?"

Kian went still.

It was subtle.

So subtle that another person might not have noticed.

Amara did.

"Why are you asking?"

"My father knew him."

Kian's jaw tightened slightly.

"Yes."

"How well?"

Kian looked away for a moment.

"Well enough."

"That's not an answer."

"I know."

Amara stood.

"Then give me one."

Kian looked at her.

For a second, something vulnerable crossed his face.

Then it disappeared.

"Daniel Cole wasn't a good man."

"That's what you said before."

"Because it's true."

"Then tell me what happened between him and my father."

Kian didn't answer.

The office suddenly felt too quiet.

Finally, he said, "Some things are better understood when you're ready for them."

Amara stared at him.

"And who decides when I'm ready?"

Kian's eyes met hers.

"You."

Then he walked away.

Amara remained standing beside her desk.

She hated that answer.

But somehow, she trusted it more than another lie.

Across the room, Kian stopped near the window.

His phone buzzed.

He checked the message.

There was only one sentence.

She knows about Daniel.

Kian slowly lowered the phone.

The past wasn't staying buried anymore.

It was coming back.

And this time, it had Amara's name on it.