After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

Arnold’s voice came through, casual but with an undertone of something unspoken. “Are you free today? Alex wants to hang out with Abby.”

Cole leaned against the wall, glancing toward Nora, who had gone back to reading but seemed slightly aware of his presence. He replied evenly, “I’m taking Abby out today. Maybe another time.”

Arnold let out a short chuckle. “You’ve been going out more lately.”

Cole smirked faintly, though there was an edge of something else in his expression. “Abby’s been opening up more.

She’s not as reserved as before.”

They exchanged a few more words before ending the call, but as Cole slipped his phone back into his pocket, something lingered in his mind.

Arnold knew all of this knowledge–probably even more than Cole did–but he had never been willing to teach

Nora.

His eyes darkened slightly at the thought.

The marriage between Arnold and Nora had always been surrounded by rumors.

Many people say that it was Nora’s underhanded tactics that forced Arnold to have to marry her in the first place.

Cole had believed it too, once. But after spending time with her, after seeing how she carried herself with quiet dignity, it was getting harder to reconcile that image with reality.

And then there was Linda–the woman who had somehow inserted herself between them.

had been underhanded, wasn’t it

had always resented the very idea of ‘mates‘–that he had resisted his connection to Nora not out of hatred, but perhaps

fate, against something

aware of

passed quickly, their conversation stretching longer

begun as a simple exchange about economics had seamlessly drifted into other topics–philosophy, literature, even the nature of ambition. Cole found himself surprised at

she had a sharp, analytical mind, the kind that dissected ideas

away, the sun

99.1%

the large windows,

room in warmth, making

fingers resting

small, satisfied expression flickered across her face, “Thanks for today,” she

back in his chair, a relaxed smile forming, “You can ask me anything, anytime. I won’t

She had expected professionalism, maybe some casual politeness, but this–this warmth was unexpected. It lingered between them,

side of the room, Elisa

a constant background melody throughout

a

Cole watched Nora step away, he found himself speaking without much

unreadable, but there was something steady in her voice. “See

home first before heading off on her own, the silence of the car giving her space to think. Cole was different from what she

they were simply acquaintances. That was all.

leaned against the doorframe of his office, arms crossed, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “I

glanced up at her with a