Elizabeth sat directly across from Ryan and Claudia, her arms tightly crossed over her chest. She watched them like a predator watching its prey that didn’t yet know it was being hunted. Julian sat beside her, absently scrolling through his phone. Elizabeth couldn’t stop staring. She wasn’t sure

Here voice was filled with impatience, “what do you mean… by that?” Her chin moved upward, and there was a mockery in her tone as she kept speaking. “Because from where I’m standing, Mr. Wentworth, it sounds suspiciously like you’re defending him.” She jabbed her thumb over her shoulder in Ryan’s

Ryan leaned back in his chair, his hands loosely clasped on the desk. His voice was calm, smooth, almost polite but it still held authority when he spoke. “If you don’t mind, Elizabeth,” he said, looking directly at her, “I’d like to have a private meeting with Mr. Wentworth. I’d appreciate it if you and Julian could step outside for now, so the space is more appropriate for the discussion. It’s a confidential matter.” The way he phrased it was gentle enough on the surface, but the message underneath was clear. She didn't belong in a place like that. Elizabeth froze. The words felt like an invisible hand pressing her backwards. It wasn’t just the request that stunned her, it was the realization of what it meant. She wasn’t in control. She wasn’t in a position to linger. This was his space, and she was being dismissed from it. Her legs felt heavy, almost unwilling to respond. For a moment she simply stood there, her eyes moving between Ryan and the floor, as if hoping so

Ryan and Claudia stepped out together from Nova Headquarters. His hand was resting lightly on her back, as they walked towards the Maybach... The driver had already opened the back door, waiting for them to get in. Ryan was in good spirits, or at least as good as he could be after the exhausting

Ryan and Claudia sat together on the sofa, as Claudia went into further details about her Ex-husband Bobby. Ryan was leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, staring at the floor. His hands were loosely clasped. “So, what are you saying in essence?” he asked her with a calm voice. Claudia sa