Chapter 1: Reconnection
Arielle stepped into the hospital conference room, heels clicking lightly against the polished floor. Her eyes immediately found the familiar figure she hadn’t seen in years. Elowen. Petite, soft-featured, hair falling in a gentle cascade down her back. She looked almost too delicate for the corporate chaos around her—but that calm aura, that warmth, had always drawn Arielle in.
“Elowen?” Arielle’s voice was smooth, confident, just as she remembered.
Elowen turned, startled. Her eyes widened, and for a heartbeat, time seemed to stop. “Arielle…” She tried to smile, but her lips trembled slightly.
The tension was immediate, palpable. Arielle’s chest tightened—not with doubt, but with desire and familiarity. She had known she’d see Elowen eventually; she had just hoped for sooner.
“Long time no see,” Arielle said lightly, approaching. Their hands brushed as she handed Elowen a folder, and Elowen’s heart leapt. That brief touch lingered longer in her mind than it should.
Arielle noticed. She always noticed. And she smiled, just a fraction, knowing she had Elowen right where she wanted—curious, conflicted, captivated.
