The next morning, Alessandro didn’t show up to the office.
That alone was enough to change the atmosphere.
People whispered. Meetings stalled. Phones rang unanswered.
But Elena didn’t ask.
She refused to.
At least that’s what she told herself.
By noon, Adrian Keller showed up again.
This time, he didn’t bother pretending.
“You seem tense,” he said, leaning against her desk.
“I’m working,” Elena replied flatly.
“Alessandro’s not here,” Adrian continued. “Interesting timing.”
Her fingers paused on the keyboard.
That caught her attention.
“What do you mean?”
Adrian smiled slightly. “You don’t know?”
Elena’s voice cooled. “Know what?”
A beat.
Then he said it casually—too casually.
“He left the city this morning.”
Silence.
Elena frowned. “That’s normal.”
“For him?” Adrian s
