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“I’m fine.”

“You’re trembling.”

“I… I’m not..."

He leans closer.

“Ruby.”

Everything in me tightens.

Electric.

Heat skates up my spine.

And then, a soft knock on the door.

We both freeze.

The universe hates me.

The door opens.

EVAN steps inside.

His eyes flick between us.

Ruby: pink, breathless, sitting too close.

Jaxon: relaxed, watching me too carefully.

Evan’s jaw tightens.

“Sorry,” he says, stiff.

“Didn’t know you were… in a meeting.”

He lingers. Too long.

Jaxon’s eyes sharpen.

Possessive curiosity. A warning underneath.

“This is a private session,” Jaxon says calmly. “We’ll talk later.”

Evan nods, slow. Unhappy. Suspicious.

He leaves.

The door closes.

Silence.

Then Jaxon says, soft, deliberate:

“Ruby. Look at me.”

I do.