C9 Echoes of the Heart

The office was quieter than usual. With everyone wrapping up after the gala, Lila and Jake were the only ones left. Jake was fidgeting with some blueprints when Lila approached.

"Hey," she started, "thanks for having my back at the gala."

Jake looked up, meeting her gaze. There was a hesitation, a brief flicker of something deeper in his eyes. "Always," he responded.

There was a pause