Walking into Sterling Tech on Monday morning felt different.
Emma wasn't sure what she'd expected—a banner? Applause? Everyone pretending nothing had changed?
What she got was awkward silence and very intentional not-staring.
She and James rode up the elevator together, his hand warm in hers until they reached the executive floor. Then they separated—him to his office, her to hers—like they'd choreographed it.
Professional. Appropriate. Weird as hell.
By ten AM, Emma had noticed at least five people quickly ending conversations when she walked by. In the break room, two junior analysts literally froze mid-sentence when she came in for coffee.
Enough.
She called an all-hands meeting for eleven.
"Emma, you don't have to—" James started when she told him.
"Yes, I do. If we don't addr
