The meeting with Mr. Johnson that morning left Adam uneasy. The man’s questions were polite, even flattering, but they dug too deep. Mr. Johnson had asked about Emily casually, almost playfully yet every word felt like a hidden test.
“How do you find my wife’s insight?” he had asked with a faint smile. “She can be quite persuasive when she wants to be.”
Adam’s reply had been steady, his expression calm. “She’s brilliant, sir. Everyone here respects her.”
Mr. Johnson’s eyes had lingered on him for a second too long. Then he nodded and changed the subject. But that stare stayed with Adam all day.
When he returned to his desk, Emily was talking with another man from marketing, a new consultant named Daniel. The two laughed softly over s
