Nyra didn't sleep.
She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling, replaying the same moment over and over not the kiss itself, but everything around it. The tension before. The second after. The way her body reacted before her brain caught up.
That part annoyed her the most.
She hadn't panicked.
Hadn't pushed him away immediately.
Hadn't hated it.
And that was unacceptable.
By morning, she was already irritated with herself.
She showed up at work like nothing happened. Sharp. Efficient. Untouchable. Adrian stayed behind his glass walls, equally composed, equally silent.
They didn't speak.
That was worse than a confrontation.
By evening, Nyra's thoughts were loud again. Not chaotic just relentless. Circling. Picking at the same truth she refused to name.
So she did the one thing she rarely did when her head got too full.
She called Elias.
They met somewhere neutralno drama, no history attached. A quiet place with low lights and minimal noise. Elias took one look at her face and knew.
"You're thinking too hard," he said.
She exhaled. "I know."
They sat in silence for a minute before she spoke again.
"I didn't hate it."
Elias didn't react. Didn't ask who.
That told her everything.
"I shouldn't even be saying this," she continued. "Nothing happened. And yet… it did."
He stirred his drink slowly. "Did it scare you?"
She shook her head. "No."
"Then why are you here?"
Nyra hesitated.
"Because I liked it," she admitted quietly. "And I don't want to."
That landed heavier than confession ever should.
Elias finally looked at her. Not surprised. Not disappointed.
"Liking something doesn't mean you owe it anything," he said.
"I know. But it complicates things."
"Everything does with you," he replied gently. "You don't run from danger. You run from attachment."
She gave a humorless smile. "Smart habit."
"Expensive one."
Nyra leaned back, eyes closing briefly. "I can't afford him."
"I know."
"And I don't want whatever that was to have leverage over me."
Elias nodded. "Then don't give it power."
She opened her eyes. "How?"
"By calling it what it is," he said calmly. "A moment. Not a destiny."
That eased something in her chest. Just a fraction.
"I didn't cross a line," she said slowly. "But I stood close to one."
Elias smiled faintly. "You always do."
She smirked despite herself.
"But," she added, quieter now, "I'm not going back there."
"Good," Elias said. "Because if you do, it won't stay a moment."
They sat with that truth, unspoken but understood.
Somewhere else in the city, Adrian stood at his office window, replaying the same kiss for entirely different reasons.
He hadn't hated it either.
And that realization bothered him far more than desire ever could.