Chapter 157

• ALYONA
• I walked into the office, the coffee cup warm in my hands. I kept my steps steady, forcing a calm smile as I placed it beside his laptop. “Good morning, sir,” I said quietly. For a moment, my stomach twisted. Was he going to say something about last night? Would he ask me what I was doing at the venue? The thought made my fingers curl against my skirt. I wasn’t ready with any answer, and the nerves showed in the way I shifted my weight, my eyes darting toward him and away again.
• But Alexander didn’t ask. He didn’t even glance at me for more than a second. He gave a small nod, then lowered his eyes back to the schedule on his screen, as if I hadn’t spoken at all. I stood there awkwardly, the silence pressing down on me. His indifference cut sharper than if he’d scolded me. It was as if he was deliberately ignoring that I was in the room.