Days after the dinner, Gray went back to his office like normal.
"So," While seated in his office chair, Gray tilted his head upward and glanced at Mara, "How's the investigation going?"
Mara sighed. There was hesitation in her eyes before answering.
"Well… it's doing fine, I suppose?" she said. "There's nothing really new, though."
"What does that even an?" Gray frowned slightly.
Mata sighed and walked forward. She placed a folder on his desk, then opened it.
"What we currently have is a list and compilation of witness statents," Mara explained. "It's all about people's talking and their stories. We have so photos too." She flipped a few pages to show it.
"But there's nothing really solid," she continued. "We don't have anything solid to cent and harden our position. It's a lost case. We need to find sothing more."
Gray picked up one of the papers and scanned it in silence. After a few seconds, he lowered the paper and leaned back in his chair. A quiet sigh escaped his lips.
"You're right," he said at last. "We weren't thinking that much then."
"I realized that witnesses can change their minds," Gray continued calmly. "Photos can be explained away. Anyone with enough money and influence can call all of this a coincidence."
He closed the folder and rested a hand on top of it.
"Gray—" Mara frowned.
"Don't worry," he cut her gently. "Let handle the next part. You already did yours."
Mara's expression imdiately darkened.
"Hey, that's exactly what worries ," she said. "Every ti you say that, you end up putting yourself right in the middle of things."
Gray looked at her, then gave a small reassuring smile.
"I know where the line is," he said. "And I know how not to cross it. Don't worry"
Mara shook her head. "You're dealing with people who've been doing this longer than you've been in business. They don't play fair. If you push too hard—"
"I won't push," Gray replied evenly.
"They're comfortable right now and confident. I will make it work safely."
Mara stood still and studied his face for a long mont.
"Just promise you won't do anything reckless," she said quietly. She knew that she wouldn't be able to change Gray's mind either way.
Gray's smile didn't change. He nodded and even gave her a teasing look.
"I promise I won't be careless," he replied.
Mara exhaled slowly. She was clearly unconvinced, but she still nodded.
"Fine," she said. "I'll keep monitoring everything on our end and will find more things that I can to help you."
"Good," Gray said, standing up. "Just 2 more months. I want us ready."
Mara's shoulders finally relaxed a little. The tension that had been sitting there since she entered the office eased, just enough.
"Two months," she repeated, a small smile forming on her lips. "Yeah. Two months and we'll be done."
Gray nodded. "Yup. Just two months."
There was a brief silence after that. Mara turned as if she were about to leave, but she stopped halfway as if she realized sothing. As she turned her head back to Gray, the smile on her face faltered.
She pressed her lips together, her fingers curling slightly at her side.
"By the way, Gray…" she said in a low voice.
"Yeah?" He looked up and raised a brow.
"After this is over," Mara continued slowly, "there's sothing I want to say to you."
Gray blinked.
"To ?" His brows furrowed in confusion. "Say sothing? Why wait? You can tell anything anyti. Even right now."
Mara shook her head right away.
"Nope," she said softly. "Not now."
There was sothing different in her eyes. There was an unknown expression that was unfamiliar. It was sothing Gray could not quite na or point out.
"I want to say it after this," she repeated.
"Alright," he said after a mont even if he was currently confuse. "I guess I'll wait for it then."
Mara smiled and nodded.
"Thank you," she said.
She completely turned and walked toward her own desk, leaving Gray staring at her from a distance. She started doing her thing, leaving Gray silent on his desk.
Gray moved his gaze away from her.
'Mara will say sothing after all this?'
It bothered him more than he wanted to admit. Still, he let out a quiet breath and dismissed the thought.
Whatever it was, he knew he would eventually know it. For now, he had other things to focus on.
The office slowly beca quiet as they went back to their own work. Aside from the investigation, they had a business to run.
Mara began sorting through docunts while Gray pulled a file and scanned through the sales numbers of sales from the first branch.
Then—
Suddenly, rapid footsteps echoed down the hallway of their floor's office. They were fast and obviously sounded rushed.
The two looked up at the sa ti. Their eyes t briefly. The sudden noise made them both alert. Before either could speak, the door to Gray's office swung open.
Gray pushed his chair back and stood instinctively, surprise flashing across his face.
The person in the doorway also froze.
"Chloe?" Gray's eyes widened when he saw her familiar figure.
Chloe's face was pale, her eyes swollen and red. Tears stread down her cheeks without stopping. The mont she saw Gray, she imdiately ca down running to him.
"Hey, Chloe, what happened—"
Before Gray could finish his words, Chloe's arms wrapped tightly around him. She pressed her face into his chest as a loud sob escaped her lips. Gray stiffened for a second. He was completely caught off guard.
Instead of questioning it, he patted her back. Worry filled his thoughts.
"It's okay, Chloe," he said quietly, even though he was still in a state of confusion. "You're here. You're safe."
With those soothing words, Chloe clutched his shirt tighter. Her shoulders were shaking as she cried harder.
Mara stood up from her desk, concern written all over her face. She closed the office door behind Chloe, then stayed a few steps away to give them space.
Gray looked down at Chloe.
"Talk to ," he said softly. "What happened?"
"Gray… my dad…."
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