I parked in front of Sienna's company building and drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, watching people hurry past in the evening drizzle. She was still inside. Although I have already told her I'm waiting for her outside.
The doors opened, and there she was. Umbrella in hand, coat draped over one arm, chin tilted with that quiet defiance I'd learned to recognize as her armour.
When her gaze met mine through the rain, her lips parted slightly, almost like she wanted to say something.
She walked over, heels clicking against the wet pavement.
"You didn't have to come," she said as she opened the car door.
"I know," I replied, taking the umbrella from her and holding it over her head anyway. "But if I left you to drive yourself home after a day like this, you'd end up falling asleep at a red light."
She gave me a side-eye. "And if I did, at least it'd be quiet."
I smirked. "You just don't like being taken care of."
"I don't need to be."
"Never said you did," I murmured, closing her door and walking around to the driver's side.
ʚ♡ɞ ʚ♡ɞ ʚ♡ɞ ʚ♡ɞ ʚ♡ɞ ʚ♡ɞ ʚ♡ɞ
For a while, the sound of the rain filled the silence between us steady, soft, familiar.
Sienna watched the city lights blur past, her expression unreadable. She looked tired, but in that graceful, stubborn way she always carried herself like exhaustion was an inconvenience she refused to acknowledge.
"I found something," I said finally.
That got her attention. "About Mr. Blackwood?"
"Yeah." I glanced at her. "And it's not good."
She straightened slightly. "Go on."
"His company's been covering financial holes with shell corporations. Some of those names are connected to Kai Louis's network."
Her brows drew together. "Kai?"
"Yeah." My grip on the wheel tightened. "He's been playing both sides — probably using the merger as leverage to get access to your assets. If this goes through, you'll inherit his debts before the ink even dries."
She stared at me, the muscle in her jaw tightening. "So everything he's been doing the sudden charm, the offers, the visits"
"Were calculated," I said quietly. "He's using you."
Sienna turned away, her reflection caught in the rain-dappled window. "I should've known. He's too smooth to be sincere."
I hesitated before saying what came next. "It gets worse."
Her gaze snapped back to me. "What do you mean?"
"Blackwood's got a private security wing," I explained. "Not just corporate bodyguards the kind of people who erase problems.
"Anyone?" she repeated softly.
"Yeah." I gave a humourless smile.
She went quiet for a long time. The tension in the car thickened until it felt like breathing through glass.
Finally, she whispered, "And you?"
"What about me?"
"You're on his radar too, aren't you?"
I didn't answer right away. My eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead.
"Doesn't matter," I said eventually. "I've dealt with worse."
"You always say that," she muttered.
"Because it's true."
Her lips pressed together, as if she wanted to argue but didn't know how.
Then, more softly, she added, "You shouldn't have to protect me, Cyrus."
I almost laughed. "Too late for that."
Her eyes flicked toward me, and for a moment, the storm outside felt like background noise to the one brewing inside the car.
We stopped at a red light.
Sienna's profile was framed in the glow of the city delicate and strong all at once.
"You know," I said, voice low, "you don't have to do this alone anymore."
She looked at me then properly looked and I swear the whole world slowed down.
"I know," she said. "But I also don't want to be someone you have to save."
I smiled faintly. "Then don't be. Just… don't shut me out either."
Her gaze lingered for a second too long before she turned back toward the window.
"Drive, Cyrus," she whispered. "Before I change my mind about being nice."
I chuckled and obeyed, even as something in my chest tightened because for all her words, she didn't move her hand away when mine brushed against it on the gearshift.
By the time we reached home, the rain had stopped, but the air between us hadn't cleared.
I parked, turned off the engine, and sat there for a moment listening to the quiet hum of the night.
"Sienna..."