Chapter 188: This is going to be a nightmare.

The meeting had ended.

The others had left, scattering across Apex HQ, some diving back into their routines, others still processing the massive change in their lives.

But Dominic Hale hadn’t moved.

Neither had Elena Steel.

They stood in the now-empty briefing room, silent, watching each other like two people who knew exactly what the other was capable of.

There was no hostility.

No tension of a looming fight.

But there was something.

Something undeniable.

Dominic exhaled slowly, crossing his arms. "Didn’t think I’d ever see you again."

Elena, ever poised, ever controlled, simply smiled.

"Life’s funny like that, isn’t it?"

Dominic scoffed. "That’s one way to put it."

A beat of silence.

Then—"How long have you known?"

Elena raised a brow. "Known what?"

Dominic gave her a flat look.

"That this would be where you ended up," he said. "That Apex would be the CIA’s new pet project and that you’d be the one walking through that door."

Elena’s lips curved slightly.

"Since they asked me to take the job," she admitted.

Dominic studied her. "And you took it anyway?"

Elena tilted her head. "Would you have?"

Dominic exhaled sharply. "No."

Elena smirked. "Then it’s a good thing I’m not you."

Damon, Seraphina, James, Liam, and Zayn had all lingered nearby.

Because, honestly?

None of them were about to miss this.

"How long do you think they’ll dance around whatever this is?" Liam muttered.

James smirked. "Oh, at least a few months."

Zayn exhaled. "It’s weird seeing Dominic look like that."

Seraphina raised a brow. "Like what?"

Zayn tilted his head. "Like he actually gives a shit about someone."

Damon chuckled. "Well, that’s terrifying."

James leaned against the wall. "So, we taking bets?"

Seraphina smirked. "Absolutely."

Liam rubbed his chin. "I give them a month before something explodes."

Zayn scoffed. "Two weeks. Dominic doesn’t have patience for this kind of thing."

Damon exhaled. "You’re all idiots."

James smirked. "And yet, you’re standing here too."

Damon didn’t argue.

Because, honestly?

This was the most interesting thing to happen in weeks.

Back inside the briefing room, Dominic finally moved.

He stepped closer, just enough that Elena had to tilt her head slightly to look up at him.

"You could’ve told me," Dominic said, voice quieter now. "That you were coming here."

Elena exhaled, her expression softening just slightly.

"And what would you have done?" she asked.

Dominic didn’t answer immediately.

Because he didn’t know.

And that was the problem.

Elena watched him carefully.

"Time doesn’t stop, Dominic," she murmured. "We don’t get to go back."

Dominic’s jaw ticked.

"I know that," he said.

Elena nodded once. "Good."

A pause.

Then, softer—"Then let’s see if we can move forward."

Dominic exhaled.

And maybe—**just maybe—**he wasn’t entirely against the idea.

The moment Dominic finally stepped out of the room, all five of them pretended they hadn’t been eavesdropping.

Dominic gave them all a slow, unimpressed look.

"Really?"

James smirked. "What? Just standing around. Enjoying the view."

Dominic sighed. "You people have too much time on your hands."

Zayn shrugged. "You’re the one making things interesting."

Liam grinned. "So… when’s the first date?"

Dominic shot him a deadpan look.

Damon chuckled. "I’d run if I were you, Carter."

Liam held up his hands. "Hey, I’m just saying—"

Dominic walked away.

Seraphina smirked. "He didn’t say no."

Damon sighed, shaking his head. "This is going to be a nightmare."

James, sipping his drink, grinned.

"Or," James mused, "it’s going to be the best entertainment we’ve had in years."

No one disagreed.

Because, honestly?

He was probably right.