The apartment was unusually quiet.
Elena and Maya stepped inside. Neither of them had spoken during the drive home.
The silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the silence of two people who had run out of words.
Elena slipped off her shoes and set her employee ID badge on the small table by the entrance.
She stared at it.
Cross International.
Just yesterday, that badge had represented everything she had worked so hard to achieve.
Now…
All she could see was a holding cell.
Julian looked away instead of believing her.
Maya disappeared into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with two mugs of tea.
She placed one in front of Elena before sitting beside her.
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Elena let out a shaky breath.
“What did I do wrong, Maya?”
Her v
