Chapter 22
Rowan's POV
The room was neater than I'd expected. Nora hung up her coat and poured me a glass of water.
"Do what you need to do. Don't mind me," she said.
I sat at the desk and texted Jack. Ten minutes later, he knocked with my laptop and files.
"Need me to stay?" Jack asked.
"No."
He glanced at Nora but said nothing, then left.
I opened my laptop and started handling business from Reynolds headquarters. Several financial reports needed review, and there was a board video call scheduled.
Nora settled on the sofa, quietly scrolling through her phone. Occasionally she stood to pour water or stepped onto the balcony to watch the rain.
At nine-thirty, the video conference began.
"Good evening, everyone," I said. "Let me hear what's happening at headquarters first."
Several faces appeared on screen—the CFO, General Counsel, and a few department heads.
"What impact has the Hartwell situation had on us these past two days?" I asked.
The CFO spoke first. "Some concern from shareholders, but it's manageable. A few major investors called with questions. I provided preliminary explanations."
"And the board?"
"There's an emergency meeting tomorrow morning," the General Counsel said. "They'll need you to report on the investigation progress from Oakridge."
"No problem." I said. "We've identified the issue at Hartwell—the CFO and two board members are involved in insider trading. Their CFO is coming to talk tomorrow. We'll have a solution soon."
"Timeline?"
"Within two weeks at the earliest—"
In my peripheral vision, Nora stood and walked toward the balcony.
Her silhouette crossed the edge of the video frame.
The screen went quiet for a second. The executives' expressions shifted slightly, but no one spoke.
"Continue," I said evenly.
"Two weeks should give us a preliminary plan," the General Counsel resumed.
Nora seemed oblivious, still watching the rain from the balcony.
The meeting lasted another twenty minutes. I finalized several key decisions and had each department prepare relevant materials.
"That's all for tonight," I said. "Contact me if anything comes up."
After closing the video, I stood.
"I should go."
Nora turned, disappointment flickering across her face.
"Already?"
"It's almost ten," I said. "You should rest too. Call if you need anything."
"Alright." She walked over. "Thanks for keeping me company."
I nodded, picked up my laptop, and headed for the door.
---
The hallway was quiet.
My room was on the fifteenth floor, but when the elevator stopped on fourteen, I suddenly remembered Lena's room was on this level too.
The doors opened. I stepped out.
Room 1428, around the corner at the end of the hall.
I didn't know why I was walking that direction.
At her door, I stopped.
Light showed beneath the gap. She was still awake.
I raised my hand and knocked.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
Lena stood there, still in her white shirt and dress pants from earlier, jacket removed. She looked tired, but her eyes were alert.
"What is it?" she asked.
Behind her, I could see her laptop still open on the desk, the screen filled with dense text.
"You worked hard today," I said.
She didn't respond.
"We've basically figured out the case," I continued. "The CFO is coming to talk tomorrow. Shouldn't be any major problems. Don't worry."
"Mm." Her tone was flat. "Anything else?"
I looked at her.
Her hair was slightly mussed, probably from running her fingers through it while working. Her complexion was pale, faint shadows under her eyes.
"Get some rest," I said.
"You too," she said, starting to close the door.
Instinctively, I pressed my hand against it.
"Lena."
She raised her eyes to mine. Those eyes held no emotion—just exhaustion and indifference.
I suddenly didn't know what to say.
"Good night," I said.
"Good night," she said, and closed the door.
I stood there, hearing soft footsteps inside, then the sound of a chair being pulled out.
She'd gone back to work.
I turned toward the elevator.
Passing a mirror on the wall, I caught my own expression—tired, irritated, and something else I couldn't name.
The elevator doors opened. I stepped in.
Fifteenth floor. My room.
I pushed the door open without turning on the lights, walking straight to the window.
Rain still fell outside. Oakridge's nightscape blurred in the wet darkness.
I thought of the look in Lena's eyes just now.
No anger, no hurt, not even excess emotion.
Just indifference.
---
Lena's POV
The door clicked shut behind him.
I walked back to the desk and closed my laptop.
Time to sleep. Tomorrow's meeting wouldn't prepare itself.
I picked up my phone to set an alarm. The screen lit up with several unread notifications—work emails, an updated report from Rachel, and that company group chat I'd been added to a few days ago. Thirty-something unread messages, the red badge announced.
I tapped it open.
The first thing I saw was a screenshot. The video conference from tonight—Rowan in the center of the screen, expression cold and professional. Someone had drawn a red circle around a figure in the background. A woman's silhouette, wearing nothing but a thin, off-shoulder camisole.
From the angle and build, it was Nora.
Below the image, the messages rolled:
[OMG, who's that? Is Mr. Reynolds dating someone?]
[That angle... that's definitely a hotel room.]
[Only three women on this trip. Process of elimination—it's gotta be Nora Kane.]
[No wonder the company suddenly partnered with our firm. It was all for her.]
[Guess we'll be calling her Mrs. Reynolds soon lol.]
I scrolled down a few more messages, then stopped.
A short laugh escaped me.
So that's what it was.
His little visit to my door just now—the "you worked hard today," the "get some rest"—nothing but a guilt-management exercise. Fresh from another woman's hotel room, he'd knocked on my door to deliver a few polite lines. Made himself feel less like a bastard.
Actually, no. He wouldn't feel guilty at all.
He was just a bastard. Simple as that.
I long-pressed the group name and selected "Exit Group Chat." Confirmed.
I had no interest in wasting time on pointless gossip.
I put the phone down and headed to the bathroom.
While brushing my teeth, that screenshot flashed through my mind again—Rowan's back, Nora's outline.
But that was all it was. A passing thought.
I'd known this was coming. From the moment he carried her luggage at the airport, let her interrupt during meetings, took her to dinner—it had all been obvious.
This was just confirmation. Nothing more.
I rinsed my mouth and looked up at my reflection in the mirror.
Calm. Flat. No ripples.
Good.
I went back to bed, set my alarm, turned off the light, and lay down.
Rain was still falling outside. Drops tapped against the window in an uneven rhythm.
I closed my eyes and regulated my breathing. My mind moved through work items, one after another.
The rain became background noise.
I felt myself sinking into sleep.