CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Mia Cruz

The rest of the day passed in a blur.

I tried to focus, tried to drown myself in work, but my thoughts kept circling back to Marco. To the attack. To the way he stood on that stage, commanding the world’s attention while I sat at my desk, feeling like nothing more than a forgotten spectator in his carefully controlled world.

He hadn’t reached out.

Not last night. Not this morning.

I told myself I didn’t care. That I didn’t need him to check on me.

But the truth?

It hurt.

“Earth to Mia.”

I blinked and looked up to see Mr. Gravitas standing beside my desk, arms crossed. His sharp gaze studied me with quiet scrutiny.

“You’ve been staring at that same email for the past five minutes.”

Shit.

“I—uh, just lost track of time,” I said, forcing a tight-lipped smile.

He didn’t look convinced. “Take a break.”

Before I could argue, he walked away, leaving me with no choice but to grab my bag and head to the break room.