Chapter 82

The office was quiet as Erica sat at her desk, savoring a rare moment of peace. The changes she had implemented were starting to take root, and the once-toxic environment was finally transforming into something she could be proud of. Yet, as much as she wanted to rest, her mind kept drifting back to the way Julian had looked at her last night. There was something deeper in his eyes, a connection she had felt but was only now allowing herself to acknowledge.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. She looked up to see Julian standing in the doorway, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

“Am I interrupting?” he asked, stepping inside.

“Not at all,” Erica replied, smiling as he took a seat across from her. “In fact, I was just thinking about last night.”

“Funny,” he said, leaning in, “I was too.”

For a moment, they sat in a comfortable silence, each trying to find the words to describe a feeling that had been building between them for so long. Julian’s steady presence