Unspoken Transactions

Alex Carter had always believed that architecture was about control. You controlled the structure, the lines, the materials. Every detail had a purpose. Every decision shaped the outcome.

But in moments like this, as he stepped into Matthew Kingston's office, he was reminded that not everything could be controlled.

Some things—like the past—refused to stay neatly in place.

Matthew stood by the window, his back to Alex, posture tense. The office was sleek and modern, floor-to-ceiling glass on one side, dark wood paneling on the other. A place designed to project power.

But power, Alex knew, was often just an illusion.

"You work fast," Matthew said without turning around.

Alex stepped closer, letting the door shut behind him. "I don't like wasting time."

Matthew finally turned. His gaze was steady, unreadable. He had the look of a man who had seen too much and learned to live with it.

"You want answers," Matthew said. "So ask your questions."

Alex studied him for a moment.

"I know Elena was forced out of a project seven years ago," he said. "And I know you were, too."

Something flickered in Matthew's expression. Not surprise—resignation.

"Is that what she told you?"

"She didn't tell me anything," Alex said. "That's the problem."

Matthew let out a quiet breath, shaking his head. "Of course she didn't."

Alex took a step forward. "Then why don't you?"

A muscle in Matthew's jaw tightened.

"You don't get it, do you?" he said. "You think this is some puzzle you can solve, some injustice you can fix. But you have no idea what you're walking into."

Alex's patience thinned. "Then explain it to me."

Matthew was silent for a long moment.

Then, finally, he moved to his desk, pulling open a drawer. He retrieved a single folder, tossing it onto the polished surface between them.

Alex hesitated for only a second before picking it up.

The first page was a contract. An old one, but the names stood out immediately.

Murphy & Carter Designs.

His breath stilled.

It wasn't just Elena's name on the document.

It was his.

Slowly, he lifted his gaze. "What the hell is this?"

Matthew's expression was grim. "Proof."

Elena didn't like being followed.

She wasn't paranoid—she was cautious. Years in the industry had taught her that power plays didn't just happen in boardrooms; they happened in whispers, in alliances forged behind closed doors.

And yet, as she walked through the downtown streets, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her.

It wasn't the first time she had felt this way since Alex started asking questions.

But tonight, it felt different.

More deliberate.

She turned a corner, quickening her pace slightly. The city hummed around her, lights reflecting off glass buildings, the air thick with the scent of rain on concrete.

Then, just as she reached the entrance of her apartment building, a voice stopped her.

"Leaving so soon?"

She turned sharply.

A man leaned casually against the wall, half-hidden in shadow. Well-dressed, his suit impeccable, his expression unreadable.

But Elena knew better than to mistake him for a bystander.

He wasn't here by accident.

She met his gaze evenly. "If you have something to say, say it."

The man smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You've been stirring up old ghosts, Miss Murphy."

Elena's pulse remained steady. "If you came all this way to talk in riddles, I suggest you find someone else to waste your time on."

He chuckled, pushing off the wall. "No riddles. Just a friendly reminder."

She didn't move as he took a slow step closer.

"Some things," he said, voice smooth, "are better left buried."

Elena tilted her head slightly. "That almost sounded like a threat."

The man smiled again. "It's just advice."

Then, without another word, he turned and disappeared into the night.

Elena stood there for a moment, heart steady but thoughts racing.

She had expected Alex to dig.

She hadn't expected them to notice so soon.

This wasn't just about the past anymore.

It was about the present.

And if she wasn't careful, it was about to become her future.