For the next four days, Adrien and Rachel barely interacted at all. She sent project updates through email rather than stopping by to discuss them as she sometimes had before. In the few meetings where they were both present, she was professional but notably distant, her usual warmth and engagement replaced by cool formality. They passed each other in hallways with brief polite nods and nothing more.
Adrien found himself checking with Janet regularly, trying to gauge whether Rachel’s work was being affected by the revelation. “She’s fine professionally,” Janet assured him each time he asked. “Still producing excellent work, still meeting with the team regularly, still contributing great ideas. Maybe a bit quieter than usual, a bit more reserved, but nothing that concerns me from a work performance standpoint.” “Is everything okay?” “Just some complicated personal matters she’s processing. Nothing that should affect her work long-term.”
But Adrien was deeply concerned, not just professionally, but personally. He’d hurt someone he’d been trying to help. He’d taken away something precious from her—the certainty that she’d earned her place entirely on her own merit—and he couldn’t give it back no matter how much he wanted to.
Natalie noticed immediately that something was wrong with her father. “Did something happen, Dad?” she asked on Wednesday evening, three days after the revelation. “Why do you ask, sweetheart?” “Because you’ve been sad. You’re doing that thing where you work too much and don’t really talk when you’re upset about something.” Adrien managed a small smile. “Some complicated grown-up stuff happened at work. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“Is it about Miles’s mom? About helping them?” Adrien looked at his daughter with surprise. “How did you know?” “Because I’ve been thinking about it, too. About whether we should have told her or kept it secret.” Natalie climbed onto the couch next to her father. Something she did less often now that she was eight and growing more independent. “Mom used to say that secrets always come out eventually, that it’s better to tell the truth even when it’s really hard and uncomfortable.”
“Your mom was right about that, but sometimes the truth hurts people even when you tell it for good reasons.” “Did the truth hurt Miss Rachel?” “Yes, I think it hurt her quite a bit.” “But it’s still better than her finding out from someone else, right? Or never knowing the whole truth.” Adrien hugged his daughter close. “I hope so, sweetheart. I really hope you’re right about that.”
On Thursday evening, five days after their difficult conversation, Adrien’s phone rang at 7:30. Rachel’s number appeared on the screen. His heart rate picked up immediately as he answered. “Hello.” “Hi. Is this a good time to talk?” Her voice was calm but serious. “Yes, of course it is.” “I’ve been thinking a lot about everything you told me last Friday about what it all means.” Rachel paused and Adrien could hear her taking a breath. “Can we meet? Not at the office, somewhere neutral where we can actually have a real conversation without worrying about who might see.”
“Yes, absolutely. Where would you like to meet?” “There’s a coffee shop on Fifth Street called Parker’s. Do you know it?” “I can find it.” “Tomorrow evening around six o’clock. Miles will be at a friend’s house for dinner, so I’ll have time to really talk.” “I’ll be there at six.” “Thank you.”