Chapter 81

Claire's POV "Ms. White, could you come into my office for a moment?" Theo's voice through the intercom was perfectly professional, giving no hint of the intimacy we'd shared the night before. But I caught the subtle warmth beneath his formal tone, the way he said my name like he was savoring it. I gathered my tablet and the quarterly reports he'd requested, smoothing my pencil skirt as I stood. A few days had passed since my talk with Luna Roanna, and we'd fallen into a careful rhythm at work—maintaining our professional facades while stolen glances and brief touches spoke of something deeper simmering beneath the surface. His office door was already open when I approached, and I found him standing at the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city, his hands clasped behind his back. The afternoon light caught the silver threading through his dark hair, and for a moment I simply admired the powerful line of his shoulders beneath his perfectly tailored suit. "Close the door," he