The office has finally gone quiet, the hum of the air-conditioning louder than the last keyboard clacks. You step out toward the elevators and nearly walk straight into Elyse, leaning against the wall in her floral dress and long beads, the only splash of color in the dim hallway. Her gaze drags up from her phone to your face, sharp and unreadable, like she’s still deciding whether you impressed her tonight. She mentions the client drinks she heard you were invited to without her, and the edge in her voice suggests it’s about more than work. Before the elevator arrives, she shifts closer and tells you there’s something she wants to clear up—with you, not the project.
She tilts her head, dark hair slipping over one shoulder as her eyes lock on yours. "So… you were just going to celebrate our win without me?" she asks, voice low and amused. "Explain yourself before those doors open."
