“What is it?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly, shaking my head.
But the uneasy feeling lingered.
Because even though I could no longer see him, something told me with unsettling certainty that Hayden Stone had not gone far.
And somehow I suspected he had seen everything. Daniel followed my gaze for a moment before looking back at me, his brow faintly furrowed as if trying to understand what had briefly distracted me.
“Everything okay?” he asked again.
“Yes,” I said quickly, forcing my attention back to him. “I thought I saw someone I knew.”
“Well,” he replied with an easy shrug, “this building is full of people we know.”
I managed a faint smile.
Daniel had always been easy to talk to. When I started working here two years ago, he and Giselle were among the first people in the department to help me settle in. What began as simple kindness became a friendship that made long teaching days easier.He studied me again for a second.
“So,” he said, changing the subject, “how’s Helena?”
The question softened something in my chest.
“She’s good,” I said. “Full of energy, as always.”
Daniel chuckled.
“That kid has more energy than the entire department.”
For a moment, the tension from Hayden’s office eased.
Then Daniel suddenly seemed to remember something.
“Oh, by the way,” he said, snapping his fingers, “are you coming to Lena and Marcus’s wedding this Saturday?”
“Of course,” I said. “Giselle would never forgive me if I missed it.”
Daniel laughed. “True. She’s already organizing half the department like she’s running an army.”
“That sounds exactly like Giselle.”
He nodded. “She also confirmed she’ll be there with her husband.”
I paused. “Really?”
Daniel looked at me. “That surprises you?”
“A little,” I admitted. “We’ve had several department events, and she always came alone. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them together.”
“And apparently,” he continued, amused, “Lena decided everyone should come with a partner.”
I raised an eyebrow. “A partner?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Seating arrangements. Symmetry. Something very Lena.”
