Evan Lee — POV
I sit inside the meeting room, spine straight, hands folded neatly on the table. The low hum of the projector fills the silence, its light flickering across the glass wall. Papers lie open in front of me, numbers and graphs staring back, but my mind refuses to stay here.
Arem sits beside me, calm and composed as always, his presence steady. Still, the thought of Alex tightens painfully around my chest. Since the day he saw me with Rion, we haven't met. We haven't spoken. I don't have the courage to face him—don't know what I'd even say.
"Sir."
Arem's voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
"Are you okay sir...?"
I blink, then lift my head. "I'm okay," I say, nodding quickly, too quickly.
He studies me for a second longer than necessary, then places another file in front of me. "Sir…"
I lower my gaze, forcing my focus back onto work.
Evan Lee, get a grip. This is not the place to fall apart.
