Chapter 17

Weekend came after acting suspiciously too normal.

Sienna barely had time to sit down when a whirlwind of color and chaos burst into her apartment, dragging the scent of travel, sweat, and airport pretzels along with it.

"God, this city smells like stress," Maeva announced, kicking off her hiking boots at the door like she still lived here. "Do people even breathe here, or just sip coffee and cry into spreadsheets?"

"Hi, Mae," Sienna said, blinking at her sister's oversized backpack thudding onto the hallway floor.

It's been months since her elder last called.

"You look like you fought a mountain."

"I did fight a mountain. And I won," Maeva grinned, brushing a braid over her shoulder. Her hair had grown longer—sun-bleached and wild. Her skin was golden, tanned from wherever she had last dropped off the grid. "God, look at you. Still wearing blazers like you're trying to seduce a tax return."

"That doesn't even make sense."

"Exactly."

Sienna chuckled, a little breathless from the sheer force of Maeva's presence. It had been eight months. The last time they'd video called, Maeva was climbing somewhere in Chile and had bad signal. Now she was here, in Sienna's apartment, toeing the edge of the throw rug and pulling her into a tight hug.

"You smell like office," Maeva said into her hair.

"You smell like dirt."

They both laughed.

Sienna pulled away first, motioning toward the couch. "Sit. You want tea? Water? Or just the usual insult-and-go?"

"Water. I'm off coffee. It was making me dream of tax forms."

While Sienna got her sister a glass, Maeva flopped onto the couch, limbs spilling like she'd never been told how to sit properly. It was familiar. Grounding. Sienna had grown up watching her sister claim space like a monarch, even when they had so little of it.

Maeva glanced around. "Still minimalistic. You need a houseplant. Maybe a man. Or a hobby that doesn't require Excel."

"I like my apartment exactly the way it is."

"You mean sterile?"

"Functional."

"Right, that's what they say before they're found dead in a blazer and no friends."

Sienna handed her the glass of water. "You're unbearable."

"You missed me."

"Tragically."

They sat in silence for a moment. A heavy, warm silence. It hadn't always been like this. There were years when Maeva had been more mother than sister, making sure Sienna had hot meals, brushing out her hair, whispering stories when the generator ran out and they had to study by candlelight. Maeva had given up everything—college, relationships, the luxury of being young and reckless—to make sure Sienna could graduate.

And then she left. Sienna hadn't resented her. She'd understood. How could she not?

"You look good, though," Maeva said eventually. "Bit pale. Probably low in vitamin D. You seeing anyone?"

Sienna raised a brow. "Going for subtle, are we?"

"Nope."

"I was seeing someone. Kind of. Briefly."

"That Theo guy you mentioned? The nice one who probably cried during Pixar movies?"

Sienna sipped her tea. "Yeah."

"Was he good in bed, at least?"

Sienna choked on her tea. Cause the closest thing they did , something sexual at least for her, is holding hands.

Maeva just grinned. "What happened?"

"Nothing. We weren't a match. I got busy."

"You always get busy."

"I work."

"Yeah, for Cassian fucking Hayes."

Sienna didn't answer.

Maeva sat up straighter, her grin fading a little. "You're still working for him."

"I like my job."

"You like him."

"Don't."

"Sienna. Come on. That guy's a walking warning label. Rich, cocky, suits that cost more than our childhood house—"

"Don't do this."

"He treats you like a trophy assistant. Makes you run around like he's incapable of opening his own doors. I know you, Si. I know how easy it is for you to disappear into someone else's orbit."

Sienna set her cup down with a little too much force. "He is my friend, well according to him, bestfriend and my boss. I need to focus on him."

Maeva softened. "I just don't want you to waste your youth being the backbone of someone else's empire. Especially not his."

There was a pause.

Sienna looked down at her hands. "He's not all bad."

"Didn't say he was. Just said he's not good for you."

Sienna stayed quiet.

Maeva leaned in, her voice lower. "Are you sleeping with him?"

"God, no."

"Have you thought about it?"

Sienna didn't answer.

Maeva sighed. "Look, I'm not gonna judge. I've dated worse. Remember that guy from Michigan who tried to teach me how to breathe like a goat?"

Sienna snorted. "I blocked that memory."

"You should block Hayes too. Seriously, he may have the whole broody businessman thing down, but that's not a reason to ignore your own life. When's the last time you went out? Did something spontaneous?"

Sienna tilted her head. "This morning I had a bagel instead of oatmeal."

Maeva made a dramatic gagging noise.

"I'm serious, Si. You've built this whole routine to keep yourself safe. And it works. You're amazing. You're competent. You're literally the backbone of that company. But you've forgotten how to live."

"I live just fine."

"You exist. There's a difference."

The words hit something inside Sienna she didn't want to name. A small, quiet ache. One she normally drowned in emails and project reports.

Maeva saw it, too. She reached out, nudging her knee against Sienna's. "You ever think about taking a break?"

"And do what? Join you on a hike through the jungle?"

"Why not? Or travel. Or take a sabbatical. Go to Italy. Take a pottery class. Date someone without a suit addiction."

Sienna smirked. "You mean be you?"

"No. I mean be you without the leash."

They sat again in silence. But it wasn't heavy this time. It was thoughtful.

Finally, Sienna spoke. "He's... difficult."

"Cassian?"

She nodded. "He's arrogant. Impossible. But sometimes... he's different. Like he forgets to perform."

Maeva looked at her carefully. "That sounds like a man who's not sure what he wants."

"He knows what he wants. He just doesn't know how to ask for it."

Maeva exhaled. "And do you know what you want?"

Sienna looked away.

There it was again. That quiet ache.

She wanted control. But she also wanted chaos. She wanted to be seen—but not devoured. She wanted Cassian's hands—but not his world.

"Maybe," she said finally. "I want a life that feels like mine. Not a life I owe to someone."

Maeva smiled. "That's a start."

Later that night, they sat on the balcony. Maeva with a beer, Sienna with ginger tea.

The city glowed below them, a million windows lit like little promises.

Maeva stretched. "You still play piano?"

"Not since college."

"You should. You used to sound like sunlight."

Sienna turned to her. "You think I'm making a mistake?"

Maeva didn't hesitate. "No. I think you're waiting for permission to stop making the same choice over and over."

Sienna didn't answer. The wind picked up, rustling her hair.

In the silence, her phone buzzed. A message from Cassian:

"Status on the Marlowe site?"

She stared at it. He could have asked anyone. But he texted her.

Maeva leaned over. "Tell him you're busy."

Sienna hesitated. Then, slowly, she typed:

"Will update tomorrow. Out with family tonight."

She hit send.

And for the first time in a while, it felt like maybe she had taken a step back into her own life.

Her phone rang again, and this time it wasn't Cassian. It was his mother.

Sienna blinked at the caller ID. "Mrs. Hayes?"

Maeva snorted. "What, the mother now? Damn, girl. You got the whole family chain of command."

"Shut up," Sienna whispered as she answered. "Hello?"

"Darling! It's Margo Hayes," came the warm, aristocratic voice through the speaker. "I hope I'm not disturbing. Cassian told me you're finally taking a break. I'm hosting a little dinner tomorrow. You must come."

"Oh… thank you, ma'am, that's very kind, but—"

"No buts! You're like family. I'll send a car. Seven sharp. Don't wear anything tragic. Bye, darling!"

The line went dead.

Maeva cackled. "Wow. She Hayes-handled you."

Sienna stared at the phone, dazed. "She's… actually nice. Really nice."

"She also just bulldozed you into a dinner invite without blinking. You attract powerful people like a moth to money."

Sienna groaned, flopping back on the couch. "I cannot believe I just got hijacked by Margo Hayes."

Maeva sipped her beer. "Oh, I can. Honestly, I can't wait to hear how dinner goes. What's next, a family yacht invitation?"

Sienna sighed.