Chapter 29 Tensions And Tethers

• Clara wasn’t expecting to run into Julian in the hallway.
• Not because it was late—half the building had emptied hours ago—but because she had spent the last twenty minutes deliberately timing her exit to avoid exactly this. And yet, here he was. Leaning against the wall outside his office, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, the ghost of exhaustion pressed under his eyes.
• She should’ve turned the other way. Should’ve mumbled an excuse and made a sharp left into the stairwell.