The Vows of Vengeance

The elevator doors slid shut behind her with a mechanical sigh, sealing Ethan in and the moment away whatever that almost was between them, swallowed up by silence.

Lara didn't pause, her heels struck the marble floor like punctuation marks in a sentence she was writing without permission. Heads were turning, she could her their whispers, but she moved like none of it touched her.... because it didn't.

Not anymore.

She pushed into her office, barely shutting the door before Nina burst up from the couch, holding a half-empty cup of iced coffee with both hands like it might steady her nerves.

"Forty-seven minutes," Nina said, skipping any kind of greeting.

Lara raised a brow.

"In the elevator," Nina clarified. "With him."

Lara dropped her purse on the desk and took off her coat slowly. "Is that a clock-in record or are you just being dramatic?"

"I'm being traumatised for you," Nina replied, following her like a shadow. "You and Ethan alone in a metal box? I was about two minutes away from calling security to check for bloodstains."

Lara turned to her, crossing her arms. "There were no bloodstains."

Nina narrowed her eyes. "But?"

"But nothing."

Nina blinked. "Okay. No blood, but did anyone try to strangle the other emotionally?"

Lara looked past her, toward the window, where the skyline offered distraction but no answers. "He tried. I didn't play along....i think."

"You didn't feel anything?" Nina asked softly.

There was a pause.

Then Lara looked at her, lips curved, eyes hollow. "I felt... accomplished."

Nina tilted her head. "Accomplished?"

"I let him stand two inches from my mouth and didn't fall apart. That's more than I could've said six months ago."

Nina studied her, suddenly feeling concerned for her. "You sure you're okay?"

Lara turned to her desk, straightening an already-straight stack of folders. "I'm not broken, Nina. I'm fine."

There was something final in the way she said it. Nina didn't push further.

"By the way," she added instead, "your twelve-thirty lunch meeting haa been confirmed..... Adrian Stone. I forwarded the calendar alert."

Lara nodded, smoothing a hand down her sleek burgundy dress. "Good."

Nina gave her a look. "Is this... business?"

Lara glanced over her shoulder. "It's whatever makes Ethan uncomfortable."

Adrian was already there when the elevator door pened. He was leaning against the marble wall near the exit, his phone in hand, dressed in navy suit perfectly fitted, his smile was idle but sharp.

He immediately straightened when he saw her.

"You're early," she said, stepping beside him.

"You're stunning," he replied, pocketing his phone. "I figured it was the only way to keep up."

She allowed herself a faint smile. "Flattery before food. You're bold."

"I've been called worse."

They stepped out into the sunlight together, a driver was already waiting across the street. As they walked, Lara caught the reflection of a figure in the glass behind them.

Ethan. He was leaning against the far wall, still watching.

She slowly let out a grin.

[12:40 PM – The Rooftop Restaurant]

The view stretched wide, a clean skyline pierced by glass towers and ambition. Adrian chose a corner table, private enough to avoid wandering eyes, but exposed enough to make an impression.

"You really didn't have to go this upscale," Lara commented, unfolding her napkin.

"True," he said. "But you don't seem like a café on the corner type."

"I'm whatever suits the day."

He raised a brow. "And what kind of day is it?"

She met his eyes. "One where I need to remind someone I'm not replaceable."

Adrian didn't blink. "Should I be flattered or nervous?"

"You're smart. Be both."

The waiter arrived, took their orders, and left them in quiet. But Adrian didn't start right away with small talk. He studied her slowly, with interest. Curiosity.

"You know," he said after a pause, "most people in this city perform strength like it's theatre, But you....You don't. You wear it like skin."

Lara tilted her head. "Is this another line?"

"No. Lines are rehearsed. That was just me saying... I see you."

She looked at him then. Really looked. And maybe for a second, it mattered the way his eyes didn't flinch, didn't try to calculate her next move.

"You don't know me."

"Maybe not," he said. "But I'm patient."

"Dangerous trait." She said.

"I've been called that too." He replied with a smirk

She almost smiled again.

 Back at the office, the elevator took its time.

Adrian leaned casually beside her, recounting a ridiculous investor meeting that involved a goat, a bottle of champagne, and one NDA.

Lara wasn't really listening. Not until she noticed the familiar figure to their left.

Ethan. Standing near the reception desk, pretending to scroll through his phone but it was obvious he wasn't reading.

She saw him and then she laughed.

Not at the story, Not even at Adrian. But loud enough, bright enough, to travel.

Adrian looked amused. "Glad I'm not boring."

"You're not," she said, her eyes flicking briefly toward Ethan. "You're useful."

Adrian followed her gaze, his jaw tightening just a little.

"You know he's watching?"

"Who"?

The elevator chimed.

She stepped in first. Adrian joined her, the doors closing.