Rowan barely gave Azaria the chance to properly sit before launching into his interrogation, and she didn't hold back either. At least not after everything that had happened.
Between bites of food and sips of wine, she walked him through the entire ordeal, her voice animated as she relived each moment. She told him about the secretary who had tried, and failed exponentially, to stop her. About the way she had ignored the panicked calls behind her as she marched straight toward the boardroom like she owned the building. She described the looks on everyone's faces when she walked in unannounced, the tension in the air, the shock that rippled through the room. And then she told him everything she had said, every word she had thrown at Idris and Theon without holding back, every ounce of frustration and truth she had poured out in that moment. Even now, sitting in her apartment, she could still feel the adrenaline from it, the fire that had fueled her.
She described everything minute detail and Rowan ate it up like a man starved of his daily dose of gossip.
"And honestly," she added, shaking her head with a small, almost incredulous laugh, "I still feel like I should have said more."
Rowan stared at her like she had just recounted the plot of an action movie instead of her own day. His fork hovered halfway to his mouth as he processed everything she'd said, eyes wide with a mix of shock and admiration.
"You barged into the boardroom," he repeated slowly, as if saying it out loud would make it more real. "Ignored the secretary. Interrupted a meeting. Told off two of the most powerful men in the company… and then quit? Beatrice is gonna die when she hears this."
Azaria laughed and shrugged, though there was a hint of satisfaction in the motion. "When you say it like that, it sounds a little dramatic."
"A little?" Rowan finally set his fork down, leaning back in his chair as he ran a hand over his face. "Azaria, that is the most dramatic thing I have ever heard you do, and I've known you for years."
She laughed, the sound as light as it had been all day. "Well, now you've seen a new side of me."
"I have," he said, pointing at her as if to emphasize it. "And I don't know whether to be proud or concerned."
"Be proud," she shot back without missing a beat.
Rowan huffed a laugh, shaking his head. "I mean, I am," he admitted. "Because honestly? They deserved it. Every single bit of it. Those nincompoops."
Azaria's smile softened slightly at that, something warm settling in her chest.
"But I'm also not surprised Idris ran after you," Rowan continued, picking his fork back up. "I heard that man does not let things go easily. He probably wanted to drag you back inside and reprimand you on the spot."
Azaria snorted, taking a sip of her wine. "Oh, I'm sure he did."
Rowan raised an eyebrow. "So what happened? Did he catch up to you?"
She shook her head, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes. "He tried."
"Tried?" Rowan echoed, leaning forward.
"I saw him coming," she explained, setting her glass down. "And for a second, just a second, I genuinely considered hitting him with my car."
Rowan choked on his drink. "You what?"
Azaria burst out laughing at his reaction, holding up her hands defensively. "Relax, I didn't do it."
"Zee–"
"I said I didn't do it," she repeated, still laughing. "I just… drove past him really fast."
Rowan stared at her, somewhere between horrified and amused. "You're unbelievable."
"I just didn't want to hear a single word he had to say," she said, her tone settling slightly. "Not after everything. Not when he stood there and let that decision happen like it was nothing."
Rowan's expression softened, the humour fading into something more understanding. "Yeah," he murmured. "I get that."
They fell into a brief, comfortable silence as they ate, the earlier intensity easing into something calmer.
"I'm going to miss you, you know," Rowan said after a moment, glancing up at her.
Azaria smiled faintly. "I'll miss you too."
"No, I mean it," he continued, leaning forward slightly. "The office is not going to be the same without you. You basically held half of that place together."
She huffed a small laugh. "Apparently not enough for them to notice."
"That's their loss," Rowan said firmly. "And honestly? I'm glad you quit. You didn't deserve that kind of disrespect. Not after everything you've done."
Azaria held his gaze for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Yeah," she said softly. "I know."
The conversation shifted after that, the heaviness giving way to something better as Rowan seamlessly transitioned into the latest office gossip. He spoke with such enthusiasm that only he could muster, recounting everything he and his equally curious partner-in-crime, Beatrice, had managed to uncover. From whispered conversations in hallways to suspiciously timed bathroom breaks by two employees who were obviously hooking up and questionable decisions from upper management, nothing escaped their notice.
Azaria found herself laughing more than she had all day, the tension that had clung to her since the morning finally beginning to melt away.
By the time they finished eating, the earlier frustration felt distant. She could still feel it a little deep down, but it was no longer as suffocating.
They moved together in coordination as they cleared the table and cleaned up the kitchen. Plates were rinsed, surfaces wiped, leftovers stored away, all while their conversation continued in bits and pieces.
Azaria was just drying her hands when she noticed Rowan had gone quiet.
She glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow. "What?"
He hesitated for a moment, then leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. "What's your next plan? What are you gonna do now?"
The question lingered in the air, heavier than anything they had discussed since he arrived.
Azaria didn't answer immediately. She turned off the tap, placing the towel aside before facing him fully. She had a calm expression on her face.
"I'll probably reach out to Rhodes Industries," she said.
Rowan blinked several times then he straightened so quickly he nearly knocked into the counter behind him. "You're going to what?"
Azaria didn't flinch. "Apply for a job there."
"Rhodes Industries?" he repeated, as if he hadn't heard her correctly the first time.
"Yes, Rowan."
He stared at her, completely flabbergasted. "Azaria, that's not just any company. That's–" he gestured wildly, searching for the right words, "–that's Aldrith Corp's biggest rival."
"I'm aware."
"You'd be walking straight into enemy territory."
She crossed her arms lightly, tilting her head. "It's a job, Rowan. Not a battlefield."
"That depends on who you ask," he muttered, still trying to process it. "Do you have any idea how that's going to look? You leave Aldrith and then immediately show up at Rhodes? People are going to talk."
"They already talk," she pointed out. "At least this way, I'll be getting paid somewhere that might actually appreciate my work."
Rowan opened his mouth, then closed it again, clearly torn between arguing and understanding.
"I'm not saying don't do it," he said finally, running a hand through his hair. "I'm just saying… be careful. That's a big move. A risky one."
Azaria nodded. "I know."
"And maybe," he added, softening his tone slightly, "look into other options too. Just in case."
"I will," she assured him.
He studied her for a moment longer, then sighed. "You've already made up your mind, haven't you?"
A small smile tugged at her lips. "Mostly."
Rowan shook his head, but there was a hint of admiration in his expression. "You're something else, you know that?"
"I've been told."
He pushed off the counter, stepping closer before pulling her into a hug. "Just… don't do anything too crazy without telling me first, okay?"
Azaria laughed softly, returning the embrace. "No promises."
They pulled apart after a moment, the warmth of the evening settling.
"Alright," Rowan said, glancing toward the door. "I should get going before it gets too late."
She walked him to the entrance, watching as he slipped his shoes back on and adjusted his suit jacket.
"Text me when you get home," she said.
"Yes, Mother," he teased lightly, earning himself a small shove.
He grinned, opening the door before pausing briefly. "Goodnight, Zee."
"Goodnight, Ro."
He stepped out, offering one last wave before disappearing down the hallway. Azaria closed the door softly behind him, leaning against it for a moment as she exhaled.
The apartment was quiet again.
She turned off the lights, making her way to her bedroom with a sense of calm she hadn't felt all day. The exhaustion finally caught up to her as she slipped under the covers, her body sinking into the mattress.
Within minutes, she was asleep, finally getting the rest she needed after such a horrid day.