Almost caught

‎The air inside the office turned suffocating.

‎Elias instinctively stepped back, slipping the document behind his back. The folded paper clung to his damp palm.

‎   Alessio’s dark eyes landed on Elias.

‎Not on his face but lower. At the angle of his elbow. The unnatural way his shoulder was drawn back.

‎Did he see it?

‎Elias steadied his breathing. He kept his left hand loose at his side. Normal. Nothing to hide.

‎Alessio strode towards him with slow, deliberate steps.

‎Each one seemed to echo through the room.

‎  "Elias."

‎His deep voice cut through the silence.

‎Elias nearly jumped.

‎"Yes, sir?"

‎"Come here."

‎Alessio extended a hand.

‎Not requesting.

‎Cold sweat trickled down Elias's spine.

‎His fingers tightened around the document hidden behind him.

‎If Alessio discovered what he was holding...

‎The distance between them shrank.

‎One more step.

‎Then another.

‎Alessio's gaze dropped. Not quite behind Elias's back. At his waist. At the way his jacket pulled wrong.

‎His eyes narrowed.

‎"What is that?"

‎The question wasn’t accusation. It was curiosity like a cat pawing at a closed door.

‎The folded edge of the document dug into into his palm.

‎"I..." Elias’s throat was dry. "Nothing, sir. Just—"

‎Alessio's hand rose.

‎One finger hooked beneath the edge of Elias's jacket.

‎"Let's see what you—“

‎"Mr. Alessio."

‎Sophia's voice shattered the moment.

‎Both men turned to her. Alessio's finger paused before putting it down.

‎"The documents are ready, and your meeting with Mrs. Cheng is scheduled for two o'clock."

‎Silence filled the room.

‎Sophia froze under Alessio's stare.

‎The entire office seemed to stop breathing.

‎Then Alessio looked back at Elias. His eyes were still on that spot at Elias’s waist. No one knew what he was thinking.

‎For a moment, neither spoke.

‎"Prepare the car," Alessio said at last. He didn’t look at Sophia.

‎Sophia blinked in confusion.

‎"And reschedule the meeting."

‎"Sir?"

‎"I said reschedule it."

‎His eyes never left Elias.

‎A dangerous smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Not certainty. Interest.

‎"We have something more important to discuss."

‎Elias resisted the urge to glance behind him.

‎Alessio turned to Sophia without breaking eye contact. "Leave."

‎Sophia’s mouth opened before closing it.

‎Her heels clicked twice, before retreating. The door shut.

‎The room felt smaller.

‎Alessio's eyes narrowed

‎"Your posture is off today."

‎"You’re favoring your right side." He took another step closer. "Like you’re hiding an injury. Or something else."

‎Elias forced a laugh. "Just slept wrong."

‎"Mm." Alessio didn’t believe him. But he didn’t push. Not yet. He looked at Elias the way he studied contracts. Looking for the loophole.

‎"Turn around."

‎  "What?"

‎"Turn around, Elias. Let me see."

‎If he turned, the bulge of the folded paper would be obvious. If he didn’t, refusal was confession.

‎Instead of turning, Elias stepped forward closing the distance them.  Aggression instead of submission.

‎"Is there a problem with my work, sir?"

‎Alessio’s eyebrows rose. Just a fraction. Surprised. Then approval. He liked when Elias had spine.

‎"The problem," Alessio said, hands rose slowly, "is that you’re acting like a man with a secret."

‎  His fingers stopped an inch from Elias’s collar. Not touching. Hovering. Waiting to see if Elias would flinch.

‎Elias couldn’t. His whole body was locked.

‎Alessio’s lips twitched. "Interesting."

‎His phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket.

‎For a second, a flicker of annoyance flashed across his face. He pulled it out without looking away from Elias, answered.

‎"What."

‎A pause. His eyes finally left Elias. Just for a second.

‎"Now?" Another pause. "Fine."

‎He hung up. The moment was broken, but the suspicion wasn’t.

‎"You come with me," Alessio said. He adjusted his cufflinks. "We’re going to the estate."

‎"Sir, the Mrs. Cheng—"

‎"Family dinner." Alessio’s smile was thin. "Father wants to meet you. Personally."

‎Elias’s breath hitched slightly. He had heard about the Moretti patriarch. And there weren't exactly good things.

‎"Why?"

‎Alessio’s gaze strayed to Elias’s waist one last time. "He said he’s heard... interesting things about my staff lately."

‎The drive was silent. Alessio stared out the window, yet Elias never relaxed. Every bump in the road pressed the folded document harder into his back.

‎When the gates of the De Luca estate opened, Alessio finally spoke.

‎"Fix your jacket."

‎Elias looked down. It was fine.

‎Elias looked up at Alessio, confusion written across his face.

‎"It’s wrinkled," Alessio said. Turning to look at him.

‎He brushed invisible dust from his sleeves.

‎"You should be more careful.“

‎He opened his own door before the driver could. "Move."

‎The front doors of the estate opened before they reached the steps.

‎Roman De Luca stood there with hands in his pocket.

‎He wasn’t supposed to be in the country.

‎He wore no jacket, sleeves rolled to the elbow, looking like he’d just come from a fight he enjoyed.

‎His gaze landed on Alessio.

‎. Roman's smiled widened.

‎"Brother," he drawled. "You actually brought him.“

‎Then his gaze settled on Elias.

‎He leaned sideways against the doorway.

‎"I was starting to think you were hiding my favorite accountant."

‎Beside him, Alessio steps halted.

‎The warmth —what little of it ever existed—vanished from his face.

‎His jaw tightened.

‎Elias suddenly understood one thing.

‎This family dinner was about to become a war.

‎

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