Chapter 42

Claire's POV The next day at work, I was definitely feeling the effects of my all-nighter, but I was still managing to function. The translation sample had been more complex than I'd anticipated, requiring careful attention to technical terminology and cultural nuances that had kept me awake well past dawn. But it was worth it—I was confident I'd produced quality work. I tried to maintain my usual efficiency, organizing Theo's schedule and handling correspondence with my typical attention to detail. But by mid-morning, fatigue was starting to creep in. When I yawned for what felt like the tenth time in an hour, I noticed Theo glancing up from his computer. "Did you sleep well?" he asked, his steel-gray eyes studying my face with that penetrating attention that always made me feel exposed. "I did and I'm fine," I said quickly, straightening in my chair and forcing myself to look more alert. "Just stayed up a bit late watching a movie." He didn't look entirely convinced, but he returned