Subtle.
But undeniable.
Confusion.
Recognition.
And then—
Understanding.
Vanessa stepped toward him without hesitation.
“She crossed a line,” she said quickly, pointing at me. “She drank your water like she—”
Nathan didn’t look at her.
Not once.
His attention stayed on me.
And in a voice that made the entire room feel smaller—
He said,
“Emily?”
The name hung there.
Careful.
Testing.
I met his gaze.
Steady.
Unflinching.
For a moment, no one else existed.
Not the employees.
Not Vanessa.
Just the truth standing between us.
“You remember me,” I said softly.
His jaw tightened.
Because of course he did.
Even if he hadn’t expected to see me here.
Not like this.
Not now.
Vanessa frowned, confusion breaking through her anger. “Nathan, what are you talking about? She’s just—”
He cut her off without even turning.
“Stop.”
One word.
Flat.
Final.
The room felt it.
Vanessa froze.
And for the first time since I had seen her—
She looked unsure.
Nathan took a step forward.
Then another.
His eyes never leaving mine.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
The question wasn’t angry.
It wasn’t defensive.
It was something else.
Careful.
Because suddenly—
