The promotion had come with weight you hadn’t expected — heavier tasks, a wary team, and the sense that every move was being judged. Most kept their distance, leaving you to navigate the silence alone.

Levi was the exception. He appeared at your desk that morning with a quiet step and a paper cup, the faint scent of coffee rising between you as he set it down.

“Good morning,” he said, voice calm, almost hesitant. “Would you mind if I sat near you today?”