ADRIAN'S OFFICE The next morning, Adrian was already at work long before most of the building had fully come alive.Not because he needed to be.But because his mind had stayed active long after he had left his bedroom.Iris was still in his thoughts—not in the abstract way that came and went, but in a steady, grounded presence that didn’t fade with sleep or distraction. It lingered, as if his mind had quietly made a decision and was now simply moving in alignment with it.He had just finished reviewing a document when Mr. Henderson walked in.No formal knock this time. No delay.Just the familiar ease of someone who didn’t treat Adrian like a distant authority figure.“You’re early,” Mr. Henderson said as he entered, holding a tablet under one arm.Adrian didn’t look up immediately.“I didn’t leave late,” he replied simply.That earned a faint, knowing hum from Henderson as he stepped further in and took a seat opposite him.“I can see that,” he said.There was a brief pause as Hend

ADRIAN'S HOUSE The room was dim, lit only by the glow of the television as the movie played on in a steady rhythm neither of them was really paying full attention to in the same way.Adrian was seated comfortably, one arm resting along the back of the couch, his posture relaxed in a way that didn’t come naturally to him most days. The film on screen wasn’t something he had chosen, and truthfully, it wasn’t something he would have picked on his own. The pacing was slow, the dialogue layered with emotional pauses that didn’t particularly align with his usual preference for efficiency or purpose.But Iris was watching it.And that alone changed the experience.She was slightly leaned forward, fully engaged, her attention completely absorbed in the unfolding story. Every so often, she would react under her breath—small comments, quiet laughter at certain scenes, brief shifts in expression that made it impossible not to notice her presence even when the screen was the focal point.Adrian

The moment Charles reached them, the energy around the entrance subtly shifted.The store manager, who had been standing just a step behind Adrian during the final exchange of departure courtesies, immediately picked up on it. His posture changed almost imperceptibly—professional ease tightening into alert awareness.He gave Adrian a brief, respectful nod.“I’ll head back inside,” he said smoothly, already stepping away without waiting for a response.Adrian didn’t stop him.He simply acknowledged the departure with a faint inclination of his head before turning his attention fully to the person now standing in front of him.Charles.For a brief second, neither of them spoke.The silence wasn’t neutral.It was charged with recognition—on Charles’ side especially. There was something in the way he held himself, slightly squared shoulders, chin lifted just enough to suggest confidence that had to be consciously maintained rather than naturally carried.Adrian, on the other hand, remaine

VANESSA'S OFFICE Vanessa sat behind her desk, one leg crossed over the other, her posture relaxed in appearance but not in meaning. Her fingers rested lightly against the arm of her chair, tapping once, slowly, as she watched the man standing across from her.He wasn’t remarkable at first glance.That was exactly the point.Mid-thirties, perhaps. Clean. Well-dressed, but not flashy. The kind of face people wouldn’t remember easily, but also wouldn’t question. There was nothing about him that invited suspicion.Vanessa had chosen carefully.She tilted her head slightly, studying him again, not for the first time.“You understand what you’re being asked to do?” she said.Her voice was calm.Controlled.Not raised.The man nodded once.“I do,” he replied.Vanessa leaned back slightly in her chair, her gaze never leaving him.“Say it,” she said.The man hesitated for a fraction of a second—not out of confusion, but calculation—then spoke.“I’m to get close to her,” he said. “Casually. Na

ADRIAN'S OFFICE The office door opened with a quiet knock that didn’t wait long for permission.Mr. Henderson stepped in, closing it behind him. He didn’t speak immediately, but Adrian looked up from his desk anyway, already expecting him.“Mr. Henderson,” Adrian said.“Sir.”There was no need for formalities between them, but habits formed over years didn’t disappear easily.Henderson moved a few steps forward, stopping at a comfortable distance from the desk, his posture relaxed but attentive. He didn’t ask why he had been called in.He already knew.Adrian leaned back slightly in his chair, one hand resting against the armrest, the other loosely holding a pen he hadn’t realized he’d been turning between his fingers.“I need an event planner,” Adrian said.Henderson gave a small nod, as though that confirmed exactly what he had expected.“I assumed as much,” he replied.Adrian’s gaze remained steady.“Not just any planner,” he added. “I want the best.”There was no exaggeration in