Lina followed in silence.
The assistant walked ahead of her, heels clicking softly against the polished floor, each step measured, unhurried.
Lina kept her gaze low.
Her fingers clenched lightly at her sides.
Her heartbeat wasn't steady.
Not anymore.
When they stopped in front of the door...
Her breath caught.
"Go in," the assistant said.
Simple.
Like it meant nothing.
Lina nodded.
Slowly.
Then pushed the door open.
The moment she stepped in...
Adrian stilled.
It hit him instantly.
That scent.
Stronger than ever.
Closer than before.
Not lingering.
Not faint.
Here.
His hand moved before he could stop it, covering his nose slightly as his brows pulled together.
"What's wrong, sir?" the assistant asked, noticing immediately.
Adrian didn't answer right away.
His gaze shifted...
Locked onto Lina.
"…don't you smell that?" he said finally.
The assistant frowned slightly.
"…smell what?"
Silence.
Lina stepped further in.
Slow.
Careful.
"No," the assistant said. "There's nothing."
Nothing?
That didn't make sense.
It was right there.
Adrian lowered his hand slowly.
Still watching her.
"You may leave," he said.
The assistant hesitated for a second.
Then nodded.
"Of course, sir."
The door closed behind her.
And just like that...
The room felt smaller.
Lina's chest tightened.
Her breathing uneven now.
Shallow.
She couldn't look up.
Not yet.
Her heart pounded harder with every second of silence.
"I know what you're thinking."
His voice broke through it.
Low.
Controlled.
Lina slowly raised her head.
Adrian was already standing.
She hadn't even noticed when he got up.
He moved toward her.
Slowly.
Each step deliberate.
Lina stepped back.
Instinct.
Her back hit nothing.
But she stopped anyway.
The distance between them disappeared too quickly.
"Why does your body carry that scent?" he asked quietly.
Her breath hitched.
"I—"
"What did you do to me?"
The words were sharper now.
Not loud.
But heavy.
Lina blinked.
Confused.
Lost.
"I don't understand," she said, her voice smaller than she intended.
"Oh?"
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"Playing dumb?"
"I'm not—"
"You don't know?" he interrupted softly.
His gaze dropped slightly.
Not to her face.
Lower.
Then back up again.
Slow.
Measured.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Lina said, but her voice lacked strength now.
Adrian didn't respond.
He just leaned in.
Closer.
His breath brushed faintly past her shoulder as he inhaled...
Deep.
Deliberate.
There it was.
Stronger.
Warmer.
Unmistakable.
"It's from you," he murmured.
Lina froze.
Her knees weakened slightly.
"No—"
"It is."
His voice dropped lower.
Almost certain.
Her vision blurred.
Her body reacted before her mind could.
She dropped.
Knees hitting the floor.
"Please—" her voice trembled, uneven, "I didn't do anything… please spare me…"
Silence.
Heavy.
Unmoving.
And then...
"Sir?"
The voice cut through everything.
Sharp.
Clear.
Adrian blinked.
The room snapped back.
His assistant stood in front of him.
"…she's here."
Lina stood by the door.
Still.
Holding the files.
Untouched.
Unmoved.
The distance between them...
Normal.
No one on the floor.
No trembling voice.
No confession.
Nothing.
Adrian exhaled slowly.
Almost inaudible.
"…right."
His hand brushed lightly against his temple.
"I was just… thinking."
The assistant didn't question it.
She simply nodded.
"Should I stay?" she asked.
"No."
A pause.
"You can leave."
The door closed again.
This time...
For real.
Adrian's gaze lifted.
Lina stood where she had been the entire time.
Quiet.
Unaware.
"…sir?" she said softly.
He didn't answer immediately.
Because for a brief moment...
He wasn't sure which version felt more real.
The one that happened.
Or the one that didn't.