The next day felt… heavier.
Not in a dramatic, overwhelming way.
But in a quiet, persistent manner — like something unspoken was waiting just beneath the surface, ready to rise.
Lana tried to focus.
She had meetings lined up, reports to finalize, decisions to review — the kind of structured routine that had become her anchor in the past weeks.
Still…
Her mind drifted.
Back to last night.
To the warmth of that kiss.
To the words Thomas had said.
You’re always on my mind.
She exhaled slowly, shaking her head as she tried to ground herself in the present.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
She looked up.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Thomas stepped inside.
Her heart skipped — not wildly, not painfully, just… noticeably.
“Do you have a few minutes?” he asked, his tone calm
