As soon as they entered the elevator, silence fell between Hera and Cindy. Picking up on the tension, Zhane wisely chose to remain quiet as well, pretending not to notice the subtle exchange between the two women.
Now that he sensed their closeness and suspected Hera was keeping a secret, he decided to act oblivious—he didn't want her to feel pressured to open up before she was ready.
When the elevator doors opened, the three of them walked toward Zhane's office. Just before they reached the door, Hera spoke up.
"Zhane, could I trouble you to bring the gun holsters and waist belt inside for me? I borrowed them from Miss Cindy here," she said, subtly giving Zhane an excuse to step away.
Zhane immediately caught on. With a gentle smile, he nodded and gestured for Hera and Cindy to hand him the paper bag and duffle bag. Taking them both, he entered the office, leaving the two women alone in the hallway.
