The conference room felt like it was losing oxygen.
Riley finally let go of my hand, but the heat of his palm lingered, an unwelcome ghost on my skin. Brrrr...
So He sat back down, his movements is smooth and calculated, the perfect picture of an Assistant Manager who had everything under control.
I took my seat at the opposite end of the table. The long, polished wood felt like electricity is flowing in it though it's a wood.
"So," Chian said, his eyes darting between Riley's stoic face and my forced composure. They must have felt the awkwardness between us.
"El is the 'terror' auditor from Main? I should have known. You were always the most meticulous one back in the day."
"I'm just here to do my job, Chian," I replied.
" Eherm. " Riley suddenly made the attention to him which the secretary was taken aback.
" Oh. Hehe. So before anything else. Let's officially start this entry Conference for the Audit. Sir Riley, please - " The secretary said.
" Eherm. So, our manager was actually called on to the main office so I'm the one here to welcome you.. Ma'am. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to help us improve our processes and close the book for this year. Thank you. "
" So now, let us give the floor to Ms. Elora Ranaiz . " The secretary said
" Thank you. I actually prepared a presentation here. Let me discuss first the objectives for this Audit, to be followed by the list of documents I needed. "
Then I started presenting and explaining my purpose here for the month. I thought I'll be nervous but I'm actually doing well.
" The main office flagged some inconsistencies in the monitoring reports so I need the procurement logs and the disbursement vouvhers for the last three quarters. "
I didn't look at Riley, but I felt him lean forward.
"Everything is prepared, Ma'am," Riley said.
That title again. It felt like he was throwing cold water on a fire that had died a year ago.
"Arkie has the hard copies. I've granted you access to the digital drive for the North Branch."
"Thank you, Sir," I replied, my fingers flying across the keyboard.
The next two hours were a blur of professional performance. We discussed budget allocations and specifications as if we hadn't spent nights talking about our deepest fears until 3:00 AM. We looked at spreadsheets as if we hadn't once shared photos of our dinners through a screen.
He was good at this. Better than I expected. The "Riley" I knew was soft, poetic, and quiet. This "Mr. Danra" was sharp, authoritative, and distant.
"I think that's enough for the briefing," I said, finally closing my laptop. My neck was stiff from the tension. "I'll start the physical verification of the documents in the records room."
"I'll show you where it is," Riley stood up immediately.
"No need, Sir. I'm sure you're busy. Chian can—"
"Chian has a field inspection at the site," Riley interrupted, his voice leaving no room for argument. "And Arkie is finishing the payroll. I'm the only one available to assist the Main Office representative."
Chian gave me a sympathetic, slightly confused look before grabbing his hard hat.
"See you at lunch, El!"
And just like that, the room emptied. The door clicked shut, and the professional "noise" of the office vanished, leaving only the two of us in a silence that was far more terrifying than the audit itself.
I began packing my things, my hands finally starting to shake now that the audience was gone. I could feel him standing by the door, watching me.
"One year, El," he said. His voice wasn't raspy anymore. it was just quiet.
I froze, my hand hovering over my blazer pocket. I didn't look up. He's the one who was gone but he has the nerve to mention that words.
"I believe we're here to discuss the project audit, Mr. Danra."
"Don't do that," he stepped closer. I could smell his scent—something clean, and like mint. It was the scent I had imagined a thousand times but never actually known.
"Don't 'Sir' me when we're alone."
I finally looked up, meeting those eyes that were "different" now.
"Why not? You're the one who taught me how to handle silence, Riley. I'm just practicing what you preached."