Seeing it with his own eyes, every detail Elizabeth Wilson had described unfolded right before him.

Elizabeth had said that, because of the collaboration, Albert Rivera often dined with Emily Blair-and that he'd started sending her flowers, too.

Imagination was one thing; witnessing it in person was something else entirely.

A slow-burn anger simmered in Tristan Davis's chest.

"Who ordered takeout?"

Tristan's voice drifted through the room, cool and quiet. Emily glanced over at him. "What's wrong, are you hungry?"

He didn't answer, just kept his gaze fixed on her. Albert looked down, smiling

slightly. "Emily hadn't eaten before she came tonight, so I ordered something for her. She's always liked this place's brunch menu."

Emily chimed in, "Yeah, we've pretty much finished everything already. If you wanted some, you're out of luck."

Tristan fell silent again.

Emily couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about him tonight.

"What's up with you?" she asked, searching his expression.

He pressed his lips together, still refusing to speak.

Judging by his sharp suit, Emily figured he'd come straight from some formal event. Maybe he'd run into trouble at work, she thought.

Albert stepped in to break the tension. "Let's tidy up first. We can talk outside—it's getting late."

Emily's tone lightened. "Sounds good."

Tristan watched them clean up, his face unreadable, silently noting just how in sync the two of them seemed.

Once they finished, Emily walked over to him. "All done. Let's go."

Tristan followed her out, still brooding and silent.

All the way downstairs, he trailed after Emily, not saying a word, while she and Albert continued discussing their project as though Tristan was invisible.

From Tristan's perspective, their conversation felt like a cold draft at his back, something unsettling and out of place.

Albert tried to draw him in, making several attempts to include him, but each time Tristan just muttered a brief "yeah" and went quiet again, as if his mind had short- circuited.

Emily couldn't help but find his behavior baffling.

Thankfully, Albert didn't seem to mind.

When it came time to see Albert off, Emily asked Tristan to wait for her by the company's front doors while she walked Albert to his car for a private word.

She kept her voice low. "Sorry about him-I'm not sure what's gotten into him tonight. Maybe he's just having one of those days. Don't take it personally."

Albert laughed, clearly unbothered by Tristan's coldness. "No worries, it doesn't bother me."

Emily grinned. "Glad to hear it. Drive safe."

Albert hesitated, looking at her. "You seemed really worried I'd be upset with him. Are you two close?"

She paused, then answered honestly, "We've known each other for a few years now. I guess you could say we're pretty good friends."

"A few years?"

Emily nodded, making no attempt to hide it.

Albert studied her for a moment.

Maybe Emily herself hadn't noticed, but when she talked about Tristan, her whole demeanor changed. Normally she was sharp and decisive, never caring what anyone thought or who she might offend. But when it came to Tristan, she actually seemed worried about Albert taking offense, even going out of her way to smooth things over behind Tristan's back.

Albert pressed, "Seems like you two are really close."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "You could say that."

What Albert said next nearly made Emily's mind go blank.