Chapter 26 – More Questions Than Answers

Emma looked up from her tea.

The woman standing beside their table carried herself with effortless confidence, the kind that couldn't be bought with expensive clothes alone. Her cream blouse was impeccably pressed, her dark hair gathered into a sleek knot, and every detail about her appearance seemed carefully considered.

Daniel looked up.

Recognition flickered across his face.

"Violet."

"So it is you," the woman said with a smile. "I thought I was imagining things."

Emma glanced between them.

Daniel looked... relaxed.

Not overly pleased to see her.

Not annoyed by the interruption.

Just familiar.

"What are you doing here?" Violet asked, looking around the modest dumpling shop. "It's rare to see you somewhere like this."

"I wanted dumplings."

"I can see that."

Her eyes drifted over the bamboo steamers scattered across the table before returning to him.

Then, almost casually, she asked,

"Where's Nathan?"

Emma blinked.

Nathan?

Daniel answered without missing a beat.

"Not with me."

"I noticed."

A grin tugged at Violet's lips.

"I don't think I've ever seen you out without him."

"He'll survive."

"I'm sure he will."

She laughed quietly.

Emma stayed silent, but the name lodged itself in her thoughts.

Nathan.

Who was Nathan?

A brother?

A business partner?

Someone important enough that people expected him to be at Daniel's side?

Daniel noticed the curiosity on her face.

He turned slightly toward her.

"Nathan is just a friend from work."

The explanation came so easily that Emma almost felt embarrassed for wondering.

"Oh."

She nodded once.

"Emma," Daniel continued, "this is Violet Grace. We work together."

Violet smiled warmly and offered her hand.

"It's nice to meet you."

"You too."

Emma shook it.

"I've heard absolutely nothing about you," Violet said with a laugh.

Daniel raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not sure that's something to brag about."

"Oh, come on."

She looked at Emma.

"He's incredibly low-key."

Emma smiled.

"I've noticed."

"He tells us the bare minimum about everything."

"I tell people what they need to know."

"Exactly."

Violet pointed at him.

"See? That's what I mean."

Emma couldn't help laughing.

Watching someone tease Daniel so effortlessly was oddly entertaining.

"So," Violet continued, folding her arms lightly, "finding you here was already surprising."

She looked around the tiny restaurant.

"I usually imagine you eating breakfast somewhere quiet with a laptop and three meetings waiting for you."

"I do own weekends."

"Technically."

Her eyes moved between Daniel and Emma before a knowing smile spread across her face.

"But breakfast with someone?"

She chuckled.

"Now that's unexpected."

Daniel remained perfectly composed.

"I don't see why."

"Oh, please."

She looked at Emma.

"He's practically invisible outside work."

Emma glanced at Daniel.

"Really?"

"He leaves the office, disappears, and then magically reappears the next morning."

Daniel calmly sipped his tea.

"I've always considered that a normal commute."

"It is."

Violet nodded.

"But somehow you've turned it into a personality trait."

Emma laughed.

"I believe that."

Daniel looked at her.

"You do?"

"I do."

"You've known me for... what?"

She pretended to count.

"A handful of dates."

"And you've reached that conclusion already?"

"I think it's a fair assessment."

He smiled to himself.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Violet watched the exchange with unconcealed amusement.

"I've never seen you smile this much."

Daniel looked at her.

"You should pay more attention."

"Oh, I do."

She grinned.

"That's exactly why I'm saying it."

Emma felt warmth creep into her cheeks.

She wasn't sure whether it was Violet's teasing or the fact that Daniel didn't deny any of it.

Instead, he simply reached for the teapot.

Emma's cup was nearly empty.

Without asking, he filled it.

Violet noticed.

Her eyebrows lifted ever so slightly.

"Well."

Daniel looked at her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Her smile widened.

"I just learned something new today."

Daniel sighed quietly.

"I'm almost afraid to ask."

"You should be."

Emma hid another smile behind her teacup.

There was something refreshingly easy about their conversation.

Violet clearly respected Daniel.

But she also wasn't intimidated by him in the slightest.

She teased him the way only someone who had known him for years could.

Finally, Violet glanced at the clock on the wall.

"I should stop interrupting."

She picked up the takeaway coffee waiting near the counter.

"It was lovely meeting you, Emma."

"You too."

As she turned toward the door, she looked back one last time.

Then she smiled at Daniel.

"You really are keeping this quiet."

"I wasn't trying to make an announcement."

"I know."

She laughed.

"Enjoy your morning date."

The bell above the door chimed softly as she stepped outside.

Silence settled over the little restaurant once more.

Emma watched the door for a moment before looking back across the table.

Daniel was calmly eating another dumpling as though nothing unusual had happened.

She rested her chin on her hand.

"...So."

He looked up.

"So?"

"You have coworkers who call you 'Boss.'"

"I do."

"You have a friend named Nathan who apparently follows you everywhere."

"He spends a lot of time with me."

"And Violet thinks it's shocking that you're having breakfast with someone."

Daniel smiled faintly.

"Violet enjoys exaggerating."

"Does she?"

"Very much."

Emma studied him.

The watch.

The tailored clothes.

The effortless confidence.

The mysterious Nathan.

The coworker who called him 'Boss.'

The way Violet had spoken to him—not like an ordinary employee, but like someone who knew exactly how important he was.

She set down her chopsticks.

"I feel like I know less about you now than I did an hour ago."

"I hope not."

"I do."

He leaned back slightly.

"What would you like to know?"

She opened her mouth.

Then stopped.

There were too many questions.

What exactly did he do?

How many people worked for him?

Why did everyone seem surprised to find him in a neighborhood dumpling shop?

And why did he continue answering every question without truly answering any of them?

She laughed softly.

"What?"

"I don't even know where to start."

"Then start anywhere."

She met his eyes.

"What do you actually do?"

"I work in business."

Emma groaned dramatically.

"That is the most useless answer you've ever given me."

"It happens to be true."

"I know it is."

She pointed her chopsticks at him.

"But it's suspiciously true."

For the first time that morning, Daniel laughed out loud.

"...That's fair."

"I knew it."

"I'm not trying to be mysterious."

"You absolutely are."

"I'm really not."

"You keep answering my questions without answering them."

He considered that for a moment.

"...Also fair."

Emma folded her arms with exaggerated satisfaction.

"So?"

"So..."

He smiled.

"I'll tell you."

"When?"

"When it feels like the right time."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Another non-answer."

"It is."

She sighed theatrically before reaching across the table and stealing the last soup dumpling from his steamer.

Daniel watched her.

"You know," he said, "that was my last one."

"I know."

She took a triumphant bite.

He shook his head, laughing under his breath.

"You really are fearless."

"I'm only brave because you haven't stopped me."

Daniel's gaze lingered on her for a moment before the corners of his mouth lifted.

"I don't think I want to."

For reasons she couldn't explain, that quiet confession made her heart skip harder than anything else he'd said all morning.

Yet even as they finished breakfast together, one question refused to leave her mind.

Who exactly was Daniel Brooks?