The elevator doors closed behind me, and the sudden jolt made my stomach flip.
I wasn't used to being watched this closely. Not really. Not like Noah had been all day.
As the doors opened to the lobby, I nearly collided with someone. Papers flew. My laptop bag slipped from my shoulder.
"Careful!" a sharp voice called.
I looked up—Noah. Already there. Hands steadying my bag, eyes on me.
"I'm fine," I said, brushing off the incident, though my hands were shaking.
"Not really," he said quietly. "You've been tense all morning."
Before I could reply, a coworker rounded the corner, voice dripping with false cheer. "Aria! Did you hear about the project reassignment?"
My stomach dropped. My pulse raced. Something had happened while I was distracted by them.
Noah's gaze sharpened. "We'll fix it," he said.
I wanted to argue, but the pressure was immediate. Decisions being made without me, rumors starting before I could even process.
And just like that, the calm, controlled life I thought I had ended.