"Still here?"
Adeline didn't look up. "Apparently."
Nathan stepped onto the empty floor, holding two cups of coffee. "Figured you could use this."
She blinked. "You didn't have to."
"I didn't. But I remember my first week. Brutal." He handed her the cup.
She accepted it. "Thanks."
He leaned against the cubicle wall. "So… why'd you really take this job?"
She smirked. "Do you interrogate all the new hires?"
"Only the ones Luke Waylen publicly barks at on day one."
She took a sip. "Guess I made an impression."
Nathan chuckled. "You did. For what it's worth, no one here likes him."
"Well, at least that's mutual."
A quiet pause.
"You doing okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine."
"Liar."
She glanced at him. "Okay, not fine. But breathing. That counts."
He nodded. "People here talk. But not everyone's out to get you. Survive the week, and they'll move on."
"Good. Survival's kind of my thing."
"You seem like it."
The elevator dinged.
Footsteps echoed.
Nathan straightened. "That's... unexpected."
A familiar voice called out, "Moore?"
Adeline turned. "Mr. Elias?"
He arched a brow. "Still here?"
She gestured to the files. "Work."
Nathan quickly added, "She volunteered—"
"I didn't ask," Elias said, eyes on Adeline. "You'll burn out."
"I've handled worse."
He studied her, then calmly reached into his coat, sanitizing his hands. "Efficiency doesn't require martyrdom."
"Duly noted."
A pause. Elias stepped slightly closer.
"You did well today."
Adeline blinked. "You checked?"
"I check everything."
Nathan looked between them. "I should... go send the files."
Elias didn't respond.
Nathan vanished.
Adeline folded her arms. "So... is this a warning or a review?"
"Neither." His gaze was steady. "Observation."
"Of what?"
"You."
Silence. A breath too long.
Then he turned. "Don't stay too late, Moore. This place is a battlefield, but even soldiers need sleep."
The elevator doors slid shut behind him.
Adeline stood still, coffee forgotten in her hand.
That voice.
Why does it feel so damn familiar?