Some minutes later, they all gathered in the living room. All five of them. The atmosphere was heavy and awkward from the moment everyone sat down. Elian was still at the same spot on the couch, expression closed off. He didn’t look at Elena more than once, and even then his gaze was cold and brief. James stood near the wall behind him, arms crossed. His eyes stayed mostly on Elian. While Mark sat on the opposite side of the room, by the closed window, jaw tight, face set into stone. He kept glancing between Elian and James, as if expecting another argument to start at any second. You couldn't blame him, really. In the short time he'd come to know his boss's husband's right hand man, he had realized James and his boss was alike in so many ways. They were both stubborn, had little patience, and would get ticked off by the littlest things. Elena remained in the chair across from the couch where Elian was seated, hands resting carefully on her lap. She looked composed, but
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