The glass was still there.
Arianne’s steps slowed as she entered the study. She hadn’t put it away last night. Hadn’t touched it at all after—
She stopped that thought.
The cushion on the couch had moved too. Pushed out of place. She could see the dent where he’d sat, the angle wrong against the rest of the room.
Her fingers twitched toward the glass. Toward the proof that he’d been here.
She pulled her hand back.
Left it.
She moved past and set her tablet down, her attention catching on the reflection in the window before she turned away again. Her hand lifted toward her collar, adjusting the edge of her blouse with a small, precise motion. The fabric sat properly, smooth where it needed to be.
It covered what it needed to.
Her fingers lingered a fraction longer than necessary before dropping back to her side.
Footsteps approached from behind.
Franz entered without knocking, his presence quiet but defined enough that she didn’t turn imdiately. His gaze moved through the room once, taking in the small inconsistencies without comnt—the glass, the cushion, the light.
It paused on her.
Not long.
Just enough.
Then he continued forward.
"You’re already up," he said.
"Reviewing," Arianne replied, her tone even. "Not working."
Franz stepped closer to the table, his fingers brushing against the glass before lifting it. He turned it in his hand, noting the mark it had left behind, then set it down again, repositioned by a few centiters without remark.
He didn’t ask.
The side door opened without ceremony.
Gio entered first, Daryll behind him. Two invitations hit the desk.
Arianne’s na printed cleanly across one. Arianne Sumrs — Interim CEO, Rochefort Group.
The other: Noah Hart.
Sa event. Different nas.
"They’re aligning schedules," Franz said.
"Or forcing overlap," Arianne replied.
Daryll folded his arms. "Either way, you’re both expected. Backing out draws more attention than showing up."
Gio inclined his head. "Rochefort’s attendance is assud. Your absence would be noted."
"dia-heavy," Daryll added. "Multiple outlets. Live coverage potential."
Arianne’s fingers rested on the invitation’s edge before withdrawing.
"We attend. Separate arrivals. Different access points. No patterns."
Franz glanced at her. "Any interaction must be explainable."
"Brief. Professional. Nothing sustained."
Gio nodded. Daryll followed him out.
The invitations remained.
Arianne picked hers up again, not to reread, but to hold, her thumb resting along the edge as she considered it.
Franz stepped closer, stopping beside her rather than across.
"We’ll need to control movent," he said.
Arianne turned toward the window. Her reflection stared back—collar high, hair smooth, nothing out of place. She touched her throat where his mouth had been last night.
Dropped her hand.
The fabric covered it. That was the point.
Their voices settled into a rhythm that required no effort, each adjustnt building naturally on the last. Franz reached for the edge of the invitation in her hand, straightening it, his fingers brushing against hers.
"We’ll need to stay disciplined," he said.
Arianne glanced at him, her gaze steady.
"You’re capable of that," she replied.
The line sat between them a mont longer than necessary before dissolving.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway. Lighter this ti.
Lily appeared at the doorway first, her head tilting as she looked between them. Leo followed, tablet already in hand, his steps deliberate.
"Are you done talking?" Lily asked, stepping inside.
"We are," Arianne said.
Leo typed quickly, then turned the screen.
Busy?
"No," Franz said. "Not anymore."
Lily looked at them both again, her expression narrowing as if sothing didn’t match what she had expected to see.
"Do you like each other?" she asked.
Leo glanced down at his screen, then up again.
Like?
Arianne didn’t deflect.
"Why would you ask that?"
Lily moved her weight. "Because you don’t act like mommy and daddy."
Leo nodded.
Different.
Arianne’s gaze softened, though her posture remained composed. "What do they usually do?"
Lily thought for a mont, then answered carefully.
"They stay close. They talk a lot. Mommy smiles. Daddy always looks at her."
She paused, then added, "They hug too."
Leo typed again.
Together. Always.
Franz leaned toward Arianne, his voice lowering just enough to stay between them.
"They might think we’re not making progress."
Arianne’s gaze moved toward him.
"They don’t need to be inford," she replied.
Franz’s mouth curved before he looked back at the twins.
"We’re getting along very well. You just don’t see everything."
Lily frowned. "It doesn’t look like it."
Leo turned his tablet.
Not enough.
Franz exhaled, sothing almost amused passing through his expression. He glanced at Arianne, then back at the twins.
"Would you believe us if I kissed your Aunt Aria right now?"
Lily’s eyes widened.
"Wait—"
Leo’s fingers moved quickly.
No see.
They turned and ran toward the door, their steps quick but uneven, not fully committed to leaving.
Franz didn’t follow them with his gaze.
He reached for her.
His hand found her waist, and her breath caught before she could stop it. He pulled her closer—not sudden, not hesitant. Just him.
Her palms pressed flat against his chest. To push? To hold?
She didn’t decide.
Her hands stayed.
Franz glanced toward the direction of the door. He could see the two small shadows cast on the floor.
"I’m going to kiss your Aunt Aria now. Are you sure you want to look?"
A beat of silence followed. Then the faint sound of movent—too quiet to be absence.
Franz turned back to her and closed the distance.
The kiss ca easily, without hesitation, familiar in a way that didn’t require adjustnt. Arianne responded just as naturally, no delay, no recalibration. The space between them disappeared without resistance, held steady for a mont that extended just long enough to matter.
From the hallway—
"YES! YES! FINALLY!"
Lily’s voice carried down, loud enough to give herself away.
Leo’s tablet lit up beside her.
SUCCESS.
Arianne pulled back, her hand moving to her collar, smoothing the edge of her blouse before it could move out of place.
"They were still watching," she said.
Franz glanced toward the hallway, unconcerned.
"They needed confirmation. It would be a pity if they ended up discouraged."
His hand stayed at her waist. His lips brushed the side of her head.
Neither moved.
From the hallway, Lily’s whisper: "They’re still hugging. Is that all they do?"
Leo’s tablet lit up. Give them ti.
Arianne’s fingers curled into Franz’s shirt.
They had no idea.
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