The aftermath of the interview had left them both feeling lighter, as if the weight of the world had been momentarily lifted. Ethan had returned to his phone, attending to business matters with an intensity that only heightened the undeniable presence of the man he was—a CEO under constant pressure. But even in the midst of his professional duties, there was a shift in the air, something subtle and powerful between him and Lena.
Lena sat on the edge of the couch, a book in her hands, though her eyes were unfocused. The kiss still lingered in her mind, as if it had carved its own space in her thoughts. She had expected the moment to be fleeting, another spark in a world full of uncertainty. But it had been different—deeper, more real.