I couldn't focus.
Not after what happened.
Even hours later, I was still thinking about her.
Elias' sister.
The way she looked at me…
Like she already knew something I didn't.
"Jessy."
I blinked.
Starlet was standing in front of me, arms crossed.
"You've been staring at that same page for ten minutes."
"I'm working," I muttered.
"No, you're thinking," Riley added from the bed.
"And when you think this hard, it's never good."
I sighed.
"I met someone today."
That got their attention.
"Who?" Melyne asked.
I hesitated.
"Elias' sister."
Silence.
Then—
"What?!" Starlet snapped.
"In his office?"
I nodded slowly.
"And?" Riley leaned forward.
I swallowed.
"She was… nice."
They exchanged looks.
"That's suspicious," Starlet said immediately.
"It's not," I frowned.
"She was actually… kind."
Melyne studied me carefully.
"What happened exactly?"
I hesitated again.
Then said it.
"She saw my bump."
Silence.
"And?" Riley pressed.
"She… didn't react badly."
"That's it?" Starlet asked.
I shook my head slightly.
"She assumed…"
My voice dropped.
"That it's his."
The room went completely still.
"WHAT?!" Starlet exploded.
"I didn't correct her," I added quickly.
"Jessy!" Riley said.
"I didn't know how to!" I snapped.
"It just happened so fast—"
Melyne didn't interrupt.
She just watched me.
Thinking.
"What did Elias say?" she asked quietly.
I paused.
"He didn't deny it."
That hit differently.
And we all felt it.
Meanwhile…
"You didn't deny it."
Elias didn't look at her.
He simply poured himself a drink.
"I didn't confirm it either."
His sister smiled.
"Still counts."
"It doesn't."
"It does," she said calmly.
Silence filled the room.
Then she leaned forward slightly.
"You like her."
Elias didn't respond.
Didn't look at her.
Didn't react.
And somehow…
That was louder than any answer.
She watched him closely.
Waiting.
But he gave her nothing.
No denial.
No confirmation.
Just silence.
She smiled slowly.
"Interesting."
He finally looked at her.
"What do you want, Amara?"
There it was.
Amara.
His sister.
"I want to know why my brother," she said softly,
"who doesn't even look at women twice… suddenly looks like that when she walks in."
"I don't."
"Again," she said, amused,
"you're terrible at lying."
Elias exhaled.
"This is irrelevant."
"No," Amara replied calmly.
"It's not."
She stood up.
"I'm inviting her."
Elias frowned slightly.
"To what?"
"Dinner."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
She smiled.
"You don't get to decide that."
"I do."
"Then stop me."
Silence.
He didn't.
And she noticed.
The next day…
"Jessy?"
I turned.
And froze.
She was here.
At the company.
Amara.
Standing like she belonged.
Because she did.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," she said warmly.
"No… I mean— no," I stammered.
She smiled.
"I came to see you."
Me?
"I wanted to ask you something."
I swallowed.
"Okay…"
She stepped closer.
"I'm having a small dinner at home tonight."
My heart dropped.
"And I would love for you to come."
Everything in me froze.
"I don't think that's a good idea—"
"It is," she said gently.
"I—"
"You don't have to be nervous," she added softly.
"It's just dinner."
Just dinner.
With Elias' family?
That didn't sound like just anything.
"I really don't think—"
"Please."
Her voice softened.
And that was the problem.
She wasn't forcing me.
She was making it hard to refuse.
"I'll be there," she added quietly,
"waiting for you."
Then she smiled.
And left.
Just like that.
Leaving me standing there…
Completely overwhelmed.
Across the building…
Elias stood by the window.
Watching.
He had seen everything.
He knew what she was doing.
And he didn't stop it.
Because part of him…
Didn't want to.
Elsewhere…
"You invited her?"
Vanessa's voice was sharp.
Amara didn't look bothered.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Amara smiled faintly.
"Because I'm curious."
Vanessa's eyes darkened.
"She's nothing."
"That's what makes her interesting," Amara replied calmly.
Vanessa scoffed.
"You're overthinking it."
"Am I?"
Silence.
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"I don't like her."
Amara finally looked at her.
"I didn't ask."
That hit.
Hard.
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
Because for the first time…
She felt it.
A shift.
And she didn't like it.
Not one bit.
Back in my room that night…
"I'm not going."
"You're going," Starlet said immediately.
"No."
"Yes."
"I can't."
"You have to," Riley added.
Melyne looked at me.
And said the one thing I couldn't ignore.
"This could change everything."
Silence.
My heart pounded.
Because deep down…
I knew she was right.