Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Business Trip

Adrian left for Geneva on a Monday morning.

He told me the night before. We were in his office. He was packing a bag. He didn't look at me when he said it.

"Three days," he said. "Maybe four. There's a deal I need to close. A partnership. It can't wait."

I didn't respond. I just watched him fold a shirt. He was careful. Precise. The same way he did everything.

"Felix will be here," he said. "Sloane will be here. The team will be here."

"I know."

He stopped. He looked at me.

"You'll be fine," he said.

It wasn't a question.

"I know," I said.

He nodded. He went back to packing.

I walked to the door. I paused.

"Adrian."

He looked up.

"Come back."

He didn't smile. But something in his expression shifted. Something warm.

"I will," he said.

---

The first day was quiet.

I went to my office. I worked on Sarah Chen's case. Marcus had found a lead. A former employee of Marlowe Shipping who was willing to talk. Dana was tracking him. Leo was running background checks.

I worked through lunch. I worked through dinner. I didn't notice the time.

At eight, Felix knocked on my door.

"You should eat," he said.

"I'm not hungry."

"You're never hungry."

I looked at him. He looked at me.

"Fine," I said.

We walked to the kitchen. He made something simple. Pasta. Olive oil. Garlic. We ate in silence.

After a while, he said, "He'll be back."

"I know."

"You don't have to worry."

"I'm not worried."

He looked at me. He didn't believe me. But he didn't push.

---

The second day was harder.

I woke up early. I reached for my phone. No messages. No missed calls. I told myself it was fine. He was busy. He was working. He was closing a deal.

I went to my office. I worked. I didn't think about him. I didn't think about the empty space beside me. I didn't think about the silence.

At noon, Daniel came by.

He brought lunch. Sandwiches. Coffee. He set them on my desk.

"You okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine."

"You look tired."

"I'm fine."

He looked at me. He didn't believe me. But he didn't push.

We ate in silence. After a while, he said, "He'll be back."

"I know."

"You don't have to pretend."

I looked at him. He looked at me.

"I'm not pretending," I said.

He nodded. He didn't ask anything else.

---

The third day was the worst.

I woke up at three in the morning. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't stop thinking. About him. About Geneva. About everything that could go wrong.

I got up. I walked to the living room. I sat on the couch. I stared at the wall.

The city hummed outside. The clock ticked. The silence was loud.

I picked up my phone. I called him. It rang twice. Then he answered.

"Elena."

His voice. Tired. But there.

"I couldn't sleep," I said.

"Neither could I."

I didn't respond. I didn't know how.

"I'm coming home tomorrow," he said.

"I know."

"Get some sleep."

"I'll try."

I hung up. I set the phone down. I lay back on the couch.

I didn't sleep. But I rested.

---

He came back on the fourth day.

I was in my office when I heard the door open. I didn't look up. I didn't need to. I knew it was him.

"You're back," I said.

"I'm back."

I looked up. He was standing in the doorway. He looked tired. But he was there.

"How was Geneva?"

"Long."

"Did you close the deal?"

"I did."

I nodded. I looked at him. He looked at me.

"I missed you," I said.

He didn't respond. He just looked at me.

"I missed you too," he said.

He walked to my desk. He didn't reach for me. He didn't take my hand. He just stood there.

"Get some sleep," he said.

"I will."

He nodded. He left.

I stayed at my desk. I looked at the door. I almost smiled.