"How come you're here?" Fleming Mercer set his bag down and turned to face

her.

Esmeralda Mercer felt a strange, indescribable awkwardness, mixed with

emotions she didn't dare examine too closely.

"I just brought you a jacket." She held up the coat in her hands, as if she needed to prove she hadn't been eavesdropping.

Adrian rubbed the bridge of his nose, suddenly feeling more out of place than ever-even though, technically, he was just an outsider.

He barely knew Fleming's fiancée; after all, Fleming never mentioned her. But for her to overhear that conversation just now... It didn't seem right.

"Alright then, why don't I give you two some time alone?" Adrian flashed Esmeralda a friendly smile, doing his best to seem welcoming before stepping out. He even closed the door gently behind him.

Esmeralda hesitated, remembering that Adrian was closer to Lucy. He'd probably take Lucy's side, if it ever came to that.

"Okay," she murmured, nodding.

Finally, she walked farther into the room and handed the jacket to Fleming. "Have you settled in here yet?"

what she'd heard. Something like, "It was just a joke," or "Don't take

she was embarrassingly easy to

the jacket from her and walked toward the bathroom,

reserved, rarely wasting words. Explanations,

a

put her worn clothes into the machine, wondering-Did he find her

it, she mustered up her courage and asked, "Were you talking to Lucy just

hanging the rest of his clothes in the closet. "Just checking in. Making sure she's alright," he replied

the little bit

her voice

a small jade pendant hanging from Fleming's phone-something she'd never seen before.

"Didn't know you liked little

she could get a good look, Fleming abruptly set down the hanger,

his tone wasn't overtly angry, Esmeralda could sense his displeasure. The shift in his demeanor hit her

stranger, someone he refused to let

in his eyes. Then, catching himself, he tucked his phone away and looked at her. "I might have to head out for a meeting later, he said. "I probably

effect, asking her to

important

panicked

mind drifted to the

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