Eve and Leo stepped out of the elevator into the spacious ground floor lobby, where the same woman who had escorted them earlier now waited patiently.
As they approached, she stepped forward with a composed smile.
"Here, ma'am. I was instructed to give you this," she said, handing over a sleek black card embroidered with fine gold threading.
Eve took it with a brief glance, feeling the weight of what it represented. The woman added with the same professional poise, "It has the Master's personal number. In case you need to contact him."
Eve's fingers curled around the card as her mind flickered back to the offer Adrian Voss had made just minutes ago. Without a word, she slipped it into her bag.
"Thanks," she said, giving the woman a small nod and a polite smile.
They were guided out of the building's glass doors and toward the gated driveway, where a glossy black luxury car rolled to a smooth stop in front of them.
"Just for your comfort," the woman said kindly, holding the door open.
Eve hesitated but said nothing. She simply stepped inside. Leo climbed in after her, settling into the seat on the opposite side.
The car pulled away, gliding through the towering business district toward home. Eve sat in silence, her thoughts lingering on Voss's proposal. Being under his protection was no small thing—it was an invitation to step into power, into influence. But it also meant exposure. Accepting meant leaving her quiet life behind. People would watch her. Some would want to befriend her. Others would try to tear her down.
The car finally pulled up in front of their residential building. Leo gave her a gentle tug, pulling her from her thoughts.
She nodded at the driver, murmured a soft "Thank you," and stepped out. Together, they ascended the stairs and entered their small apartment. As soon as the door shut behind them, Eve dropped her bag and collapsed onto the sofa with a heavy sigh.
Leo walked straight to the washroom, closing the door behind him.
Eve closed her eyes and leaned her head back, trying to will away the weight of the day. After a moment, she stood up and made her way to the fridge. She poured herself a tall glass of cold water and drank it all in one long pull, the chill cutting through her exhaustion.
She looked at the closed washroom door, then moved to the stool by the kitchen counter and sat, resting her arms and head on its surface.
Leo took his time. When he finally emerged, he had changed into his usual shorts and a soft T-shirt. In his hands, he held the oversized black shirt and trousers he'd worn earlier. His cheeks were faintly flushed as he walked to his room, placed the clothes down neatly, and returned to the living room.
She felt a light hand on her shoulder and opened her eyes to see Leo standing beside her.
He pointed toward the washroom, then at her room, making a clear suggestion.
She was just about to respond when she heard it—a soft, careful whisper.
"Rest."
It was quiet, barely audible, but unmistakably spoken. Her breath caught. Her son had spoken.
Her heart raced. After all this time... he was speaking again.
Maybe, she thought, maybe accepting Voss's offer wouldn't just change her life—it might change Leo's too.
She remained seated for a while, watching him retreat to his room and close the door.
Eventually, she got up, walked to the washroom, and shut the door behind her.
She undressed slowly—pulling the shirt over her head and tossing it into the laundry basket, followed by her bra, pants, and purple underwear. She turned the shower knob all the way to cold and stepped under the stream.
The icy water bit into her skin, racing down her scalp, spine, and legs like an electric shock. But with it came clarity. A trembling sigh escaped her lips as the fatigue seemed to melt off with each splash.
After scrubbing down, she changed into her soft pink sleepwear—worn cotton pants and a loose shirt—then walked into her bedroom and collapsed onto her bed. She barely registered the feel of the mattress before she drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.
She slept through the entire day, untouched by time, as the sun traced its slow arc across the sky. Daylight faded into dusk, and the silver glow of the moon took its place, casting gentle shadows across her quiet room. Still, she did not stir.
Night passed in silence, and as dawn crept in, golden rays spilled softly through the curtains, bathing her in warm light. They kissed her content, peaceful face—the face of someone who, for the first time in a long while, had truly rested.
Eve woke early, made a simple breakfast for Leo, and saw him off to school. Then she made her way to the bus stop, eyes still heavy, thoughts quieter than they had been in days.
The bus arrived. She boarded, slid into a window seat, and watched the city blur by as people entered and exited around her. When her stop was called, she stepped off and headed toward the office entrance.
Just as she crossed the lobby, she felt a familiar hand on her shoulder and turned.
"Hey, Eve! How was the weekend, girl?" Lena grinned.
"It was... fine," Eve replied with a practiced smile.
Lena rolled her eyes dramatically. "You always say that. One day, I hope you'll actually tell me you did something wild instead of being mysterious and boring."
Eve chuckled under her breath as they reached the elevator.
If only you knew, she thought.
The elevator doors opened with a soft ding. They stepped in. Only two others rode with them—mercifully quiet. As they reached their floor, the two women exited and entered the familiar rhythm of office life.
Everything quickly fell back into its routine pattern—emails, reports, meetings. The weight of the weekend began to fade under the sheer momentum of Monday's demands.
For a little while, Eve let herself forget. Forget the card in her bag. Forget the quiet whisper in her kitchen. Forget the towering shadow of Adrian Voss.
Just for now.