Elena arrived the next morning carrying the blindfold in her bag as instructed. The lace was already in place beneath her clothes. She had followed the continuity without further debate, but the quiet of the previous days had left her more alert than before. Something about the carefully controlled atmosphere in Adrian’s office had begun to feel brittle.
The executive floor was not empty.
A man in a well-cut grey suit stood near the reception area speaking in a low voice to the floor assistant. He was older than Adrian, perhaps late forties, with the polished look of someone used to boardrooms and leverage. When he turned and saw Elena, his gaze lingered a second too long.
“You must be the new personal assistant,” he said, stepping toward her with a polite smile that did not reach his e
