Elara quickly picked up her phone. She did not look back at Adrian, not even for a second. Her steps were calm as she walked toward the door, but her fingers tightened slightly around the phone in her hand, betraying the storm she was trying to keep in her mind.
The door opened before she reached for it. A nurse stood there, just about to enter. For a small second, their eyes t but Elara only gave a small, polite nod, her expression already composed again, as if nothing unusual had happened behind that door. Then she walked past her.
Her pace was neither fast nor slow, but once she stepped into the quiet corridor, her feet ca to an abrupt stop.
She stood there for a long ti. And without even thinking, her hand lifted and brushed against her lip, as if trying to confirm sothing... or maybe erase it. Then she lowered it again.
Her expression returned to its usual calm. Without turning back, she continued walking down the corridor.
–
Adrian stared at Elara’s back as she walked out of the room.
His breathing stayed hurried and uneven, his chest rising and falling a little too fast. The warmth of her body still lingered on his skin, and the taste of her lips refused to leave him. Even the faint scent of her perfu hung in the air, making it hard for him to think straight.
The mont the door clicked shut behind her, a nurse stepped in. She moved quietly to the side of the bed, holding a clipboard in her hands. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, clearly hesitant.
"Sir... may I check your pulse?" she asked softly.
Adrian didn’t look at her. He simply lifted his arm and held it out. The nurse quickly wrapped the cuff around it, checked his pulse, and then changed the bandage on his head with careful movents.
"Any pain?" she asked.
Adrian only shook his head in reply, his eyes still fixed on the door. He didn’t even glance at her.
The nurse tried again. "Do you need any ass–"
"You can go," Adrian muttered flatly, his voice cold and sharp.
The nurse stiffened, nodded quickly, and picked up her clipboard. She turned and headed for the door.
Before she could reach it, the door burst open. She flinched, her hand flying to her chest as she stepped back instinctively.
Harris stepped inside, looking flustered. "Sorry! The door is kinda crazy. I still haven’t gotten used to it." He bowed deeply, then straightened up with a bright smile.
The nurse shook her head lightly and tried to walk past him. Harris leaned toward her at once. "That bad in there?"
The nurse sighed tiredly and moved to pass him again, but Harris shifted slightly and blocked her path.
"Listen. I understand how you might be feeling." He leaned closer to her again. "It took years for to get used to him."
"Please I–"
"You look a little stressed." Harris quickly cut her short. "Do you need a coffee? I know a quiet spot just down the hall. The coffee machine there actually works, unlike the one on the third floor that only gives you sadness in a cup."
The young lady only pressed her lips together, clearly trying not to react.
"Or if you’re free later, we could go to the vending machine down the building. It has chocolate bars that don’t fight back when you press the button. I swear it’s the only reliable thing you have in this hospital."
Harris kept muttering nonstop. When it seems the nurse couldn’t take it anymore, she let out a quiet breath, shook her head, and finally slipped past him– Leaving the room without another word.
Harris watched her go, then gave a small, satisfied nod to himself. "I think she’s starting to like ," he muttered under his breath. "Honestly, it’s hard not to."
He adjusted his coat a little, then turned around with an easy smile. "Right?"
The smile on his face froze the mont his eyes t Adrian’s.
"Ah... boss," he added quickly, his tone changing at once as he walked forward.
The air in the room felt noticeably colder. Harris paused for a fraction of a second, then imdiately activated what looked like a well practiced survival instinct. He flashed a bright smile.
"You’re looking much better already! That bandage really suits you. Very heroic– Like a wounded general in those old dramas."
Adrian did not seem to hear his arrant nonsense.
Harris’s eyes shifted around the room, then slowly returned to the bed. His gaze lingered for a second longer than necessary, taking in the slightly disordered sheets. His brows lifted a little.
"Did sothing happen?" He muttered in confusion. "Because I’m pretty sure the sheets weren’t like this when I left earlier."
Adrian’s expression did not change.
Harris cleared his throat and straightened, deciding very quickly that it was best not to push further.
His face beca more serious, though a trace of amusent still lingered at the corner of his lips. "I ran into Miss Veyne on my way up," he added casually. "She always looks cold, but she’s actually very caring."
Adrian still had his eyes on the door.
Harris watched him for a mont. Then he cleared his throat, took in a deep breath and straightened up properly. "The truck driver is dead," he said in a calm voice.
"He was still stable last night," he continued, glancing briefly at the floor before looking back up again. "Then this morning... they suddenly pronounced him dead."
He shook his head pitifully and sighed. "Kai Corporation is getting really bold. Does their new CEO not know the history behind their company?" he added. "Or did they forget who built the ground they’re standing on in the first place?"
Adrian’s gaze remained cold and distant, like none of it surprised him.
"They’re testing limits." he said at last.
Harris gave a small nod in agreent. Then, after a brief pause, he spoke up casually. "Boss... the production team is moving to Crelou soon."
Adrian’s expression did not change, but there was a short pause before he responded.
"Hm."
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