Chapter 62: I’m Not My Father
Evaline:
The cold marble floors of the Council building echoed beneath my boots as I walked in for the second day. I was too tired to pretend I wasn’t exhausted, too tired to hide the tension in my shoulders after yesterday. But I came anyway, because I refused to be chased out. Not by River. Not by anyone.
The receptionist glanced up at me, offered a wary smile, and nodded me toward the elevator. There was no small talk this time. Maybe she could already sense the storm brewing again.
I rode the elevator up in silence. My reflection was staring back from the polished metal walls, making me realize that I was looking paler than usual. And it was mostly because of the morning sickness that had hit me the hardest today.
I badly wanted to take a day off and just stay in bed. But I knew better than to dream about getting a day off on my second day of internship.
So, I forced myself to get ready and arrived to my current least favorite place, and to work for my least favorite person.
The hallway to his office was feeling longer today. He hadn’t messaged or summoned me, but I knew he was expecting me. That man probably timed every breath he took. Of course he would notice if I was five seconds late.
Once outside, I knocked.
"Come in," came the cool, familiar voice.
With a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
He was standing by the window again, a dark silhouette against the pale morning sky. His shoulders were straight, his hands clasped behind his back. He was looking... Regal. Controlled.