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Alex had exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “If I tell him to ease up, he won’t listen.”

“I don’t expect him to,” Calloway said. “I expect you to keep him from getting himself killed.”

Now, as he stared at the closing door, he just hoped Marcel would act before it was too late.

Calloway pulled a cell phone from his pocket and pressed a redial button. “It’s done.”

* * *

Noon sunlight streamedthrough the large window behind Ruth Everhart's desk, casting long shadows over the meticulously organized surface. Stacks of case files sat to one side, her laptop perched in the middle, and a half-empty mug of black coffee sat on a mug warmer within arm’s reach. She was scribbling notes on a yellow legal pad inserted in a leather portfolio, her brow furrowed, fully immersed in preparing for an upcoming deposition.

A soft knock at the door drew her attention. Before she could respond, Matt Brandt stepped inside, balancing a paper bag and two drinks in a cardboard tray. His grin was wide, but something about it felt too familiar, too insistent.

“Thought you could use a lunch break.” He placed the bag on her desk without waiting for an invitation. The scent of fresh deli sandwiches wafted out as he set down one of the drinks—a raspberry seltzer, her favorite.

Ruth blinked, momentarily startled. “Oh… Matt. You didn’t have to do that,” she said, her voice cautious.

“It’s nothing.” He settled into one of the guest chairs across from her desk like he belonged there. “I know how hard you work. Someone’s gotta look out for you.”

Ruth smiled faintly, her mind racing. His gestures had once seemed friendly, even supportive. But now, they felt loaded, like they came with strings she didn’t want to pull.

“Thank you,” she kept her tone professional, “but I actually brought something from home today.”

He waved her comment away like it didn’t matter. “You can eat that later. This is better. And, hey, I’m here to keep you company.”

Ruth stiffened slightly, closing her legal pad and setting her pen on top. “Matt, I really appreciate it, but I have a lot to get through before a teleconference this afternoon.”

“Exactly.” He leaned forward and propped his elbows on her desk, his voice dropping to something conspiratorial. “You’ve been buried in work. I figured this would give you a chance to breathe. Maybe even relax for five minutes.”

She forced a polite smile, ignoring the way his eyes lingered a beat too long on her blouse before meeting hers. “That’s thoughtful, but I’m fine. Really.”

Instead of taking the hint, Matt stood and moved behind her desk, startling her as he placed a hand on the back of her chair. “You’ve got to stop running yourself into the ground, Ruthie. Stress isn’t good for you. I could help you with that if you’d let me.”

Her breath caught, and she immediately pushed the chair back. She stood, putting distance between them. “I appreciate the concern, Matt, but I manage just fine.”

He chuckled, brushing off her obvious discomfort. “You don’t have to be so formal with me. We’re friends, right? Or maybe… more than friends?”

Ruth’s heart sank as her worst fears about his intentions crystallized. She felt the walls closing in, but she kept her tone steady. “We are colleagues. I think we should keep things strictly professional, Matt. It’s important to me to maintain clear boundaries.”

Matt’s grin faltered, but only slightly. “Boundaries, huh? Don’t tell me you’re one of those women who think every guy’s out to get something. I’m just trying to be nice here.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Ruth said quickly, hating the defensive edge in her voice. “I just… prefer to focus on work.”

He took a step closer, forcing her to lean subtly away. “You’re too tense, Ruthie. That’s all I’m saying. If you’d just let yourself unwind, you’d see how good things could be. You wouldn’t be buried under such a heavy workload.”

Before she could respond, Melanie appeared in the doorway, her voice cutting through the moment like a lifeline. “Ruth, your deposition starts in five minutes.”

Ruth shot her a grateful glance. “Thanks, Melanie. I’ll get set up now.”

Matt lingered, clearly weighing whether to push further. Finally, he stepped back, his tone turning playful but with an edge that sent a chill down her spine. “Alright, Ruthie. Guess I’ll let you get back to it. But you should loosen up—you might be surprised at what you’re missing.” He crossed the threshold. “Stop by my office at five. I want to go over your defense for the Warren case with you.”

He gave her a slow, deliberate smile before turning and strolling out of the office, leaving the deli bag on her desk.

The moment he was gone, Ruth let out a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping as she glanced at Melanie, who was watching her from the hallway.

“You okay?” Melanie asked softly.

Ruth nodded, though her hands trembled slightly as she reached for the bag. “Lunch is on me today,” she said with a forced laugh, trying to lighten the moment.