10

After sensing he is being tailed by vehicles linked to the Hugo organization, Lucian arrives at Emry’s home visibly agitated. He admits he prioritized seeing Sloane at his office over handling the security issue, then berates himself for losing discipline and exposing her to danger.

In Emry’s office, amid banter about burnt dinner and sweaters, Lucian reveals that Sloane’s visit unsettled him more than the organized-crime threat because she evokes a past he wants to forget. He recalls feeling betrayed by Sloane when he was vulnerable and juxtaposes that memory with their recent near-intimate moment on his desk, which reignites his desire and frustration.

Emry steers the conversation to emotional accountability, reminding Lucian that suppressing feelings is unsustainable and that he has the control to experience and manage them. Lucian resists, insisting his control depends on containment, but Emry argues for facing discomfort to grow, framing happiness and wholeness as possible for Lucian despite his past.

While Lucian toys with the idea that giving in to the attraction might dissolve the tension, Emry urges embracing life’s messiness. The immediate crisis de-escalates as they order pizza and plan to play chess, leaving Lucian steadier but unresolved about Sloane and still aware of the Hugo threat.