The tension from the morning refused to fade. It followed Caro into the conference room, into the hallways, into every glance she shared with Peter. She placed the files carefully on the table, aware of how close he stood beside her, how his silence now felt heavier than words. "You have been quiet," she said softly, not looking directly at him. "That usually means you are thinking too much." Her fingers tightened slightly. "Or suspecting too much."
Peter did not respond immediately, and when he did, his voice was calm but edged with something sharper. "And you have been avoiding eye contact," he replied, his gaze fixed on her profile. "That usually means you are hiding something." He stepped a fraction closer, lowering his voice just enough that only she could hear. "So tell me, Caro, which one of us should be more concerned right now?"
