The doors closed behind me with a soft click.
My heart thumped in my chest.
I knew he would be standing outside, pissed off that I had walked away from him like that again.
But I kept on walking.
He was not about to see me break.
The noise from outside disappeared instantly, as if cut off completely, swallowed by the building's quiet control. Everything here felt… different. Calmer. Sharper. Like chaos didn’t belong.
I didn’t slow down as I walked across reception, even though I could still feel it—Noel’s presence lingering, his voice, the way he had looked at me like I owed him something.
Like I hadn’t already given him everything.
“Miss Carter.”
I barely glanced at the receptionist.
“Mr Vale is expecting you.”
“I'm sure he is,” I muttered, but smiled.
Of course he was.
I nod
