Another visit

The week passed slowly with a blur of board meetings and spreadsheets, but Elara couldn’t shake off the memory of Damian’s interaction with her mother. His gentle smile and thoughtful questions replayed in her mind, a flawless act that tugged at her heartstrings.

She buried herself in work, staying late at the office to avoid the penthouse’s oppressive silence. But on Friday evening, a text message lit up her phone:

“Car will pick you up at 2 PM tomorrow. - D”

No question mark, no room for negotiation. Typical Damian. She started typing a response about having plans, then stopped. The truth was, she wanted to see her mother again. If that meant enduring another afternoon of pretense with Damian, so be it.

Saturday arrived clear and crisp. When Elara stepped into the car, she found Damian already inside, reading something on his tablet. He wore a casual blue sweater that probably cost more than her first car, but it softened his usual sharp edges.

“You’re early,” she said, settling int