Elena Voss didn't slam doors.
She preferred quieter exits, ones that lingered.
But as she stepped out of Adrian Cole's office, she came very close to making an exception.
The door clicked shut behind her with a little more force than necessary.
"Still insufferable?"
Her brother's voice came through her earpiece, laced with amusement.
Elena exhaled sharply, pressing the elevator button. "That's a polite way of putting it."
A pause. Then a low chuckle. "You always did bring out the worst in each other."
"Correction," she muttered, stepping inside as the doors slid open. "He brings out the worst in me. I'm perfectly reasonable with everyone else."
"Debatable."
She rolled her eyes, leaning back against the mirrored wall. "Why do you even trust him this much?"
Now that made him pause.
"Because he's the only person I know who won't lie to me," he said finally. "Even when he should."
Elena let that sit for a second.
That sounded exactly like Adrian.
Blunt. Calculated. Unapologetic.
And completely exhausting.
"Yeah," she said dryly. "Charming."
The line went quiet for a beat.
Then….
"You don't have to work with him, you know."
Elena's gaze flicked to her reflection. Sharp eyes. Composed expression. No cracks.
"I know," she said. "But I'm going to."
"Why?"
The elevator doors opened.
She stepped out without hesitation.
"Because I don't like unfinished business."
By the time she got back to her office, the irritation hadn't faded.
If anything, it had sharpened.
Her assistant barely had time to greet her before Elena dropped her bag onto the desk.
"Reschedule everything after three," she said, already pulling out her phone.
"Yes, Ms. Voss."
"And cancel…" she stopped herself. "No. Actually, leave the investor call."
Work first. Always.
Control first. Always.
Still, her thumb hovered over an app she hadn't opened all day.
A small, almost imperceptible shift in her expression.
Then she tapped it.
Messages loaded instantly.
And there it was.
Him.
No name. No face.
Just the one person who didn't expect anything from her.
"That sounds like regret."
Elena huffed softly under her breath, dropping into her chair.
"Arrogant," she murmured.
But her fingers were already moving.
"It sounds like honesty. Most people just don't like hearing it out loud."
She hesitated before hitting send.
Not because she was unsure, but because she knew exactly how he'd respond.
He always did this.
Pushed just enough.
Never too far.
Like he understood the line better than she did.
The typing bubble appeared. Right on cue.
"Honesty without action is just self-pity."
Her lips pressed together.
There it was.
That edge.
That irritating, precise way he had of dismantling things.
And yet, She didn't close the app.
Didn't ignore him.
Didn't walk away.
Instead…
"And what makes you think I'm not doing anything about it?"
This time, the pause was longer.
Long enough that she leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Come on," she muttered.
Then….
"Because people who are actually changing don't sound like they're asking for permission."
Elena blinked.
Once.
Slowly.
Something about that landed harder than it should have.
Not because he was wrong.
But because he wasn't.
A quiet breath slipped out of her.
"Annoying," she said under her breath.
And then came, a small smile.
Barely there.
Across the city, Adrian stared at his phone like it had personally offended him.
He shouldn't be doing this.
He knew that.
Deadlines. Meetings. Decisions worth millions.
And yet here he was, Waiting.
For a reply.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Pathetic.
He dropped the phone onto his desk, dragging a hand through his hair.
This was exactly why he avoided things like this.
Unnecessary.
Uncontrolled.
Unpredictable.
His phone buzzed again.
He didn't reach for it immediately.
Didn't look.
Didn't….
Another buzz.
A sharp exhale.
Then he picked it up.
"Maybe I just don't need permission from you."
Adrian's expression shifted.
Not into a smile.
Something quieter than that.
More dangerous.
"Then why are you still here?"
He sent it before he could overthink it.
Before he could filter it.
Before he could stop himself.
A few seconds passed.
Then…..
"Maybe I like arguing with you."
That did it.
A low, unexpected laugh slipped out of him.
Short. Rare.
Real.
Back in her office, Elena stared at the screen.
Her pulse had picked up slightly.
Ridiculous.
It was just a conversation.
Just words.
Nothing more.
Nothing that mattered.
And yet…
Her phone buzzed again.
She looked down.
And for a split second, her expression stilled.
Unknown Contact:
"Elena. We need to talk. It's about Adrian."
The smile disappeared.
Just like that.
Replaced by something colder.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
Because whatever this was, She had a feeling it was about to get complicated.