The rain had stopped by the time Elena left the boardroom.
The corridor stretched long and quiet, the glass walls still misted from the storm outside. She pressed her hand briefly against one of them, feeling the chill bleed into her skin , anything to calm the steady pulse beneath it.
The meeting had gone well. Too well.
Adrian hadn't challenged her designs today, hadn't cut through her proposals with his usual sharp, clinical tone. He'd simply watched her in silenxe, his mood unreadable, as if measuring something more than her work.
It was that silence that unsettled her the most.
"Elena," a voice called behind her.
She turned.
Ryan Liu leaned against the wall, his tie loosened, a familiar smirk dancing at the corner of his mouth. "Still managing to keep the great Adrian Cole guessing, I see."
She blinked in mild surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Officially? Covering Phoenix's new sustainability project." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Unofficially? Making sure the woman who shouldn't exist hasn't vanished again."
Her heart skipped. "You shouldn't be here."
"I could say the same," he said softly. "You know it's only a matter of time before someone connects the dots."
She exhaled slowly, eyes drifting toward the elevator. "Let them. I'm done hiding."
He studied her for a moment, the set of her jaw, the cold fire in her eyes. "You say that, but you're shaking."
She looked down. He was right. Her hands trembled faintly, betraying the calm she fought to keep.
Five years ago, she would have leaned on someone like Ryan, someone kind, someone safe.
Now, safety felt like a memory she no longer trusted.
"I'm fine," she murmured.
He didn't believe her, but he let it go. "You should know," he said, straightening, "someone's been digging into your past. I got a tip that someone requested sealed records under your old name."
Elena froze. "Who?"
Ryan hesitated. "It came from inside Phoenix."
Her stomach dropped.
The elevator doors slid open behind her, and she forced her expression neutral. "Send me the details," she said, stepping in. "And Ryan… be careful. If they know you're helping me.."
"I'm always careful."
The doors closed between them, and his reflection faded into glass.
Adrian's office was half-dark when she entered without knocking.
He stood by the window, back turned, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a glass of amber whiskey. The city sprawled below him ,all light and distance.
"I didn't expect you," he said, voice even.
"Then you don't know me as well as you think," she replied, setting a folder on his desk.
His gaze flicked to her reflection in the glass. "You never did like boundaries."
"I never liked being underestimated."
He turned then, slowly, the low light cutting across his face,his sharp jaw, weary eyes, the ghost of something softer in between. "Your presentation today was flawless."
Her brows lifted slightly. "Is that supposed to sound like a compliment?"
"It was." He took a sip, watching her carefully. "But I don't believe in perfection. It usually hides something."
"Maybe it hides survival."
The words slipped out before she could stop them, rawer than intended.
His expression flickered, the briefest flash of recognition, or regret, she couldn't tell.
"Elena," he said quietly, setting his glass down. "There's something you should know. Someone's been asking questions about you. I don't know who yet, but.."
"I already heard," she cut in.
He frowned. "From who?"
She hesitated. "An old friend."
A shadow passed through his eyes, suspicion, maybe jealousy, though he masked it well. "You seem to have many of those lately."
"Only the ones I can trust," she said, matching his tone.
The tension between them was like static, the kind that hummed before a storm.
She wanted to walk away, but something about the quiet in the room held her still.
He leaned back against the desk, studying her. "You remind me of someone I used to know."
"Do I?"
"Yes." His gaze softened, and for a heartbeat, his voice did too. "She was stubborn. Brilliant. Thought she could change the world with her designs."
Her throat tightened. "And what happened to her?"
"She died," he said simply. "And I killed her."
The words hit her like a physical blow. He wasn't looking at her anymore, but at the city beyond, the reflection of a man who'd carried guilt for too long.
"I tried to save her," he continued quietly. "But I was too blind. I listened to the wrong people. Trusted the wrong truths."
Elena's chest ached. She wanted to tell him she was right there alive, breathing, listening but the truth was still a blade she wasn't ready to draw.
"She would have forgiven you," she said softly.
He looked at her then, really looked at her. "You sound certain of that."
"Because she loved you," she whispered before she could stop herself.
Silence fell heavy.
The rain started again, soft against the glass, blurring the city lights into watercolor streaks.
Adrian stepped closer. "Who are you really, Elena?"
Her heart stuttered. "What do you mean?"
"There's something about you. Something familiar. The way you argue. The way you look at me like you already know what I'm going to say."
She forced a small smile. "Maybe I've just studied you too well."
He didn't return it. "Or maybe you've known me before."
Their eyes locked, her pulse raced. One step closer, and she could feel the warmth radiating from him, smell the faint mix of whiskey and cedar that used to make her dizzy.
"Careful, Mr. Cole," she said lightly, even as her voice trembled. "You might start believing in ghosts."
He leaned in, his breath brushing her cheek. "Maybe I already do."
The door clicked open suddenly, breaking the spell.
Maya stepped in, surprise flashing across her face. "Oh, I didn't realize you had company."
Adrian straightened instantly, his tone cool again. "What is it, Maya?"
She hesitated, eyes darting between them. "We just received a call from legal. Someone's leaking Phoenix's internal designs."
Elena froze.
Maya's gaze flickered toward her, just for a moment, and Elena felt it: suspicion, sharp and quiet.
"I'll handle it," Adrian said, voice low. "Close the door."
When Maya left, he turned back to Elena. "If there's a leak, I'll find out who's responsible."
"I'm sure you will," she said, steadying herself. "Just be careful who you trust."
She picked up her folder and walked to the door. But before she could leave, his voice stopped her.
"Elena."
She turned.
"If ghosts do exist," he said, his eyes shadowed but warm, "then maybe some of them deserve a second chance."
For a long moment, neither spoke. Then she nodded faintly and slipped out, her heart pounding so hard it hurt.
Down the hall, her phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number:
"They know your real name. Get out now."