Chapter 10: Silence Between Us

Monday morning felt colder than usual.

Not because of the weather.

Because my phone hadn't lit up once since Saturday night.

For two years, waking up meant finding a message from Adrian.

"Good morning."

"Did you sleep well?"

"Don't skip breakfast."

Some days it was something silly.

Some days it was something thoughtful.

But there was always something.

Today...

Nothing.

I kept checking my phone anyway.

Lily noticed immediately.

"Still no messages?"

"No."

"How are you holding up?"

"Poorly."

"That's honest."

"I'm too tired to lie anymore."

She sighed.

"Give him time."

"I know."

"He's hurting too."

"I know that as well."

"Then stop checking your phone every thirty seconds."

"I'm checking every forty."

"Progress."

I smiled weakly.

At exactly eight-thirty, the office elevators opened.

Adrian stepped onto the floor.

Normally, conversations became quieter when the CEO appeared.

Today, complete silence spread across the department.

Everyone greeted him.

"Good morning, Mr. Carter."

"Morning."

"Good morning."

"Morning."

Then his eyes met mine.

Just for a second.

"Good morning, Miss Hayes."

"Good morning, Mr. Carter."

Professional.

Calm.

Like Saturday night had never happened.

He continued walking.

My chest tightened.

Lily leaned closer.

"That looked painful."

"It was."

"You both looked like strangers."

"Maybe we are now."

"Don't say that."

"It feels true."

The morning passed slowly.

Every time Adrian walked past Finance, I instinctively looked up.

Every time...

He stayed focused on work.

No teasing.

No lingering smiles.

Nothing.

It shouldn't have hurt.

After all, this was how our relationship had always looked inside the office.

But now I knew what waited behind those formal words.

Distance.

Pain.

Around noon, Nora appeared beside my desk.

"Conference room three."

"Now?"

"Implementation meeting."

"Right."

I grabbed my notebook and followed her.

"How is he?" I whispered.

"Working."

"Nora..."

"He barely slept."

I stopped walking.

"What?"

"He was in the office until two this morning."

"Because of work?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"Because work was easier than going home."

My heart sank.

Nora looked at me.

"He's trying, Emma."

"I know."

"Try just as hard."

Conference room three was already full.

Department heads.

Project managers.

Adrian stood near the presentation screen.

"Let's begin."

For the next ninety minutes, he was completely professional.

Confident.

Focused.

Brilliant.

Watching him lead the room reminded me why everyone admired him.

He never raised his voice.

He never wasted words.

Every decision had a reason.

Every question received a thoughtful answer.

At one point, he asked me for my opinion.

"Miss Hayes?"

I looked up.

"Yes?"

"Do you agree with the projected timeline?"

"No."

Several people looked surprised.

"Why not?"

"The supplier estimates are too optimistic."

"Explain."

I walked everyone through the numbers.

When I finished, Adrian nodded once.

"Adjust the schedule accordingly."

"Will do."

That was it.

No extra conversation.

No hint that we'd spent two years falling in love.

After the meeting, people slowly filtered out.

I stayed behind, pretending to organize my notes.

Adrian packed his laptop.

He was almost at the door when I spoke.

"Adrian."

He stopped.

For a few seconds, neither of us moved.

"Can we talk?"

"We're talking now."

"Not like this."

"Emma..."

"Please."

He closed the door quietly.

"Five minutes."

"I'll take whatever you give me."

He leaned against the table.

"How are you?"

"Honestly?"

"Always."

"I miss you."

His expression changed.

"You don't get to say things like that casually."

"Why?"

"Because they still matter."

"They'll always matter."

"Emma..."

"I know you're angry."

"I'm not just angry."

"Then what are you?"

"Confused."

"About?"

"Everything."

He sighed.

"For two years, I believed I knew you better than anyone."

"You do."

"Do I?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't I recognize you?"

"Because you weren't looking for Emma."

"Maybe."

"You were looking for someone who didn't work for you."

He looked down.

"You're probably right."

"I never lied about loving you."

"I know."

"I lied because I was scared."

"I know that too."

"Then what's left?"

He took a long breath.

"Trust."

The word settled heavily between us.

"You broke it."

"I did."

"Now I don't know how to rebuild it."

"I'll spend the rest of my life trying if I have to."

His eyes lifted to mine.

"Don't make promises because you're afraid of losing me."

"I'm making them because I already did."

Silence.

Then someone knocked.

"Mr. Carter?"

Nora opened the door halfway.

"Your one o'clock meeting has arrived."

Adrian nodded.

"I'll be there."

She looked at both of us.

Neither of us spoke.

She quietly closed the door again.

Adrian picked up his laptop.

"I have to go."

"I know."

"Emma..."

"Yes?"

"I'm trying not to walk away forever."

Tears threatened again.

"Thank you for trying."

He left.

I stayed in the empty conference room for several minutes.

When I finally returned to my desk, Lily immediately looked up.

"Well?"

"He's trying."

"That's good."

"It doesn't feel good."

"Healing never does."

"Since when are you wise?"

"Since you started crying every other hour."

"I do not cry every other hour."

"Every three hours then."

I laughed despite myself.

That evening, I stayed late to finish the revised project schedule.

Most of the office had already gone home.

Around seven-thirty, I walked toward the printer.

As I rounded the corner, I heard voices coming from Adrian's office.

"You should tell her," Nora said.

"Not yet," Adrian replied.

"She's blaming herself for everything."

"Because she isn't responsible for everything."

"Then tell her."

"When I'm sure."

I stopped breathing.

Sure about what?

"The flowers arrived this afternoon," Nora continued.

"Good."

"Should I send them?"

"Not yet."

"You're impossible."

"Probably."

"She's going to think you've given up."

"Maybe that's safer."

"For who?"

A long silence followed.

Then Adrian answered so quietly I almost missed it.

"For the man who's already bought a ring."

My world stopped.

A ring?

Before I could think, my elbow bumped against the printer tray.

It crashed loudly onto the floor.

The office fell silent.

Adrian's office door opened.

His eyes immediately found me.

For a long moment...

Neither of us said a word.