The day of the dinner arrived without fanfare.

Eloise buried herself in work with absolute focus, as if every email answered and every spreadsheet reviewed were a way to ignore the weight of what awaited that night. August seemed just as absorbed, locked inside his office, not calling her in or provoking her the way he usually did.

The atmosphere was professional.

Quiet and tense.

Around two in the afternoon, his office door opened. August stepped out, posture impeccable, expression unre