Elias didn't usually leave the office during the day.
But today…
He did.
"Five minutes," he said, checking his watch.
"That's what you always say," his sister replied, leaning back in her chair.
Elias exhaled.
"You came without telling me."
"I like surprises," she smiled.
She studied him for a moment.
Carefully.
"You look different."
"I don't."
"You do," she insisted.
"Less… cold."
"That's not a compliment."
"It is," she said lightly.
Then she leaned forward.
Eyes narrowing slightly.
"What's her name?"
Silence.
Elias didn't respond immediately.
That was enough.
His sister smiled slowly.
"I knew it."
"There's no 'her,'" he said calmly.
"Mhm," she hummed.
"You're terrible at lying."
"I'm not lying."
"Then you're hiding," she corrected.
Before he could respond—
The door opened.
"Is this what you said—"
I stopped.
Because I wasn't expecting…
Anyone else.
My eyes moved from Elias…
To the woman sitting across from him.
Elegant.
Confident.
And very clearly…
Not just anyone.
"Oh—" I said quickly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you had someone—"
"It's fine," Elias said immediately.
Too quickly.
That was my first clue.
"Jessy," he added, standing up.
"Come in."
Jessy.
The way he said my name…
Was different.
The woman noticed it too.
I stepped in slowly.
Still holding the file in my hand.
"I brought the revised documents," I said, trying to stay professional.
But her eyes…
Were already on me.
Watching.
Studying.
And then—
She smiled.
Warm.
Genuine.
Unexpected.
"So this is Jessy," she said softly.
I blinked.
"This is my sister," Elias added.
Oh.
That explained everything.
"I'm sorry," I said quickly.
"I didn't mean to interrupt."
"You didn't," she replied smoothly.
"You actually made this much more interesting."
I didn't know how to respond to that.
So I just nodded slightly.
"You work with him?" she asked.
"Yes."
She tilted her head slightly.
Still smiling.
"That must be… intense."
I almost smiled.
"It is."
Elias didn't react.
But I could feel it.
That tension again.
"You can leave the file," he said.
I stepped forward.
Placed it on the table.
And that's when it happened.
Her eyes dropped.
Just slightly.
To my stomach.
A pause.
A shift.
Then—
Something changed in her expression.
Not judgment.
Not shock.
Curiosity.
And something else.
Realization.
She looked at Elias.
Then back at me.
Then smiled again.
But this time…
It was different.
"Oh," she said softly.
I felt it.
That assumption.
And for a second…
I didn't know whether to correct it.
Elias noticed too.
"Don't—" he started.
But she cut him off.
"How far along?" she asked me gently.
I hesitated.
"Five months."
She nodded slowly.
Still watching me.
Then—
She stood up.
Walked toward me.
And before I could react—
She took my hand.
"You're beautiful," she said.
I blinked.
Caught off guard.
"Thank you…"
There was no judgment in her eyes.
No discomfort.
No distance.
Just…
Warmth.
"I like her," she said casually.
I froze slightly.
Elias didn't respond.
But I could feel it again.
That shift in the room.
"I should go," I said quickly.
But as I turned—
"Jessy."
I paused.
"You should take care of yourself," she added softly.
"Don't let him overwork you."
I almost smiled.
"I'll try."
Then I left.
But the moment I stepped out…
My heart didn't feel normal.
Because something had just happened.
Something unexpected.
Inside the room…
Silence.
Then—
"You're unbelievable," Elias muttered.
His sister laughed softly.
"What?"
"You assumed—"
"I observed," she corrected.
"That's not—"
"Relax," she said.
Then she sat back down.
Still smiling.
"I like her."
"That's irrelevant."
"No," she said calmly.
"It's not."
Silence.
"She's not like the others," she added.
"There are no others."
She raised a brow.
"That's even more interesting."
Elias didn't respond.
Because for the first time…
He didn't have control of the situation.
And she saw it.
Clearly.
"Is it yours?" she asked suddenly.
Silence.
Elias didn't answer.
And that…
Was answer enough.
Her smile widened slightly.
"Well," she said softly.
"This just got complicated."