Chapter 94: [94] Dormant Pressures
October 7, 2:12pm
The gondola lifted them smoothly away from the station. Through the glass walls, Xavier watched the ground fall away. The facility grew smaller below them, revealing its full layout—a cluster of buildings arranged around a central courtyard, surrounded by a perimeter fence.
"This is so cool," Margaret said, pressing her hands against the glass. "Look how tiny everything gets!"
"The view is quite spectacular," Alexander agreed, though his attention seemed more focused on scanning the mountain above them.
Naomi sat on the bench opposite Xavier, visibly shivering despite trying to hide it. Her thin cashmere sweater provided little protection against the mountain chill, and the gondola’s heating system hadn’t yet kicked in.
Xavier sighed internally. He’d noticed her discomfort on the bus but had refused her obvious ploy for his jacket. Now, however, her shivering seemed genuine rather than manipulative. He glanced at the other men in the gondola. Nolan huddled in his own puffy jacket, looking too nervous to notice anyone else’s discomfort. Alexander, despite his leadership qualities, often missed subtle social cues with women.
Looks like it’s all up to me...
Xavier shrugged out of his black coat and held it out to Naomi.
"Here," he said simply.
Naomi looked up, genuine surprise crossing her face before she controlled it. Her pupils dilated noticeably—a physiological reaction she couldn’t fake.
"I thought you said you weren’t giving me your jacket," she said.