In my line of work, I had seen my share of fights. Though I was rarely the one throwing punches. When the people they called muscle stepped in, the other side never stood a chance. It was always one sided.
Over time, I had come to associate the word workout as strongly with something almost like an illusion of omnipotence.
What I had seen in that bathroom felt exactly like that.
"Why do you ask?"
Elara's voice pulled me back. A small, amused smile played on her lips as her gaze lingered on me.
"It's just…" I hesitated, then continued, surprised by the steadiness of my own voice. "You seem strong."
I wasn't sure where that sudden boldness came from. Confidence was something I lacked even more than money. A stray thought crossed my mind—maybe that hangover cure wasn't doing what it was supposed to. Or maybe it was doing the opposite.
"Are you sure I'm strong… or you're just not weak?"
There was a teasing edge to her words. When I caught the faintly mocking smile on her lips, something flared inside me.
"I'm not," I shot back. "Back in school, I was always above average in physical education."
Her smile only widened.
"I'm not so sure," she said. "To me, you seem far too weak. Maybe it's because you're just too skinny."
I had heard that before. I had even thought it myself at times. But hearing it from her—said like that—sparked a frustration I hadn't expected.
"No, I'm not skinny."
"Well, that's not how it looked when I saw you in that bathroom."
"That's only because you were looking at my backside," I blurted out before I could stop myself. Heat rushed to my face. "I have a delicate back, but my breasts are big, you know."
The moment the words registered, my mind went blank.
My cheeks burned. Embarrassment crashed over me, sharp and overwhelming. I wanted to disappear—to crawl under the table and never come back up.
But beside me, Elara—after a brief moment of surprise—burst out laughing.
It wasn't like the laughter in the bar. This felt different. Impulsive.
For a few seconds, I forgot why she was laughing at all. I just stared at her, watching as the sound faded and she slowly composed herself, her gaze returning to me.
She looked like she was about to say something—
When my phone lit up on the table.
Alex's name flashed across the screen.
I grabbed it immediately and answered, grateful for the interruption.
The call was brief.
Alex asked why I hadn't come back yet and offered to come pick me up. I refused, gave him a short answer, and ended the call before he could insist.
I set my phone down, a quiet sense of relief settling in my chest. For now, at least, I didn't have to keep walking down that embarrassing path.
"Boyfriend?"
The word caught me off guard just as I was about to stand. I froze mid-movement.
Really—what was it with today and surprises?
"What? No, no, no," I said quickly, shaking my head a little too fast. "He's Alex. You know. My friend."
"But that sounded a little too affectionate for just friends," Elara murmured. Her gaze flicked back to me. "Or… do you have romantic feelings for that friend?"
The thought wasn't completely unreasonable. Relationships between alphas and omegas weren't rare, even when they went unnamed or unspoken. To someone who didn't know us, it probably looked exactly like that.
"What are you talking about? It's nothing like that. We just grew up together in the same orphanage, and…" I hesitated, then added more quietly, "…he's family."
If there was one thing in my life I was truly grateful for, it was my bond with Alex. It was the one constant I cherished, something far too precious to risk by turning it into something as fragile and uncertain as romance.
And I knew Alex felt the same.
The smile that had been lingering on Elara's face faded suddenly. Something seemed to trouble her, though she gave no sign of what it was.
My mind jumped to the only conclusion that made sense to me.
"I'm not going to introduce him to you," I said quickly, "no matter how much you ask."
Elara was an alpha. Alex was an omega. And Alex had told me enough stories—especially about an alpha's thirst for an omega—that the thought came naturally to me.
For a moment, Elara just looked at me.
Then her smile returned, brighter and more playful than before.
"Has anyone ever told you how obtuse you are?"
I clenched my jaw, silently cursing myself for opening my mouth at all.
By the time our conversation finally wound down, the rain outside had stopped completely.
I stood up a little too quickly, as if the sudden movement might cut through the awkwardness that had been steadily building between us.
But the truth was, I didn't want to linger any longer. Every moment spent with Elara only seemed to tangle my thoughts further, and tonight, I didn't feel capable of thinking clearly at all.
I took a step away, but Elara's voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Wait. I'll give you a ride."
The offer startled me at first, though the surprise faded almost as quickly as it came. By now, I was getting used to her habit of catching me off guard.
"No. I'll just walk."
"It's late," she replied. "The streets aren't safe at night."
I bit back the thought that flickered through my mind—that if anything, the real danger was standing right beside me. Of course, I couldn't say that out loud. Not when she was keeping one eye on me at all times.
"But you've been drinking, Director."
Her gaze drifted away, as though that possibility hadn't occurred to her until now.
"Then we'll call a designated driver."
I hesitated. Then I let out a quiet sigh.
There was no room left for refusal. All I wanted was to be home, alone with my thoughts. More than anything, I didn't want this night to stretch on any longer.
"…Okay."
Once I gave in, Elara shifted her umbrella to the side and gestured for me to come closer.
"Come on. My car's over there."
I walked carefully, keeping a small gap between us—but before I could do anything about it, her arm slipped around my waist, drawing me closer.
The distance to the car was short. Only a few steps through the lingering drizzle.
But to me, it felt endless.
My heartbeat quickened with every step. I wouldn't have minded walking alone in the rain. But pressed so close to her, the space felt suffocating and impossibly long.
My senses betrayed me.
Her scent lingered around me, cool and steady. Strangely similar to her own expressions. Cold. Calm. Indifferent.
And yet, amid all of that, while all of this was happening, especially with her fingers digging on my stomach.
It reminded me of when she searched me thoroughly and more before. My face turned red, and the distance wasn't felt short anymore.