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"Are you ok?" Stella watched as Cory, pale and worrying his bottom lip, typed a response onto his phone.
"We're gonna need to see those numbers before signing off on any new contracts."
"Er. Yeah. Of course."
"I've got a few meetings this morning and then we're gonna meet with Alex and Doug to discuss a strategy for going forward."
"Strategy? for what?"
"No idea. Guess we'll find out. But hey, least she's back in the building."
"Yeah. Maybe we should tag her. We can say its a new insurance policy." Cory actually managed a small laugh. When did he last do that? With it a small amount of tension was released from his shoulders.
"I think you should definitely suggest that in the meeting."
The lift stopped at level two. The doors opened and Laura Peterson walked in. Suddenly the tension was back. Tenfold. It was radiating off him so surely they could all see it. Swapping pleasentries Laura mentioned something about her own meeting with Cybil. Cory wasn't listening. Instead he concentrated on his shoelaces and willed the lift to hurry up.
"Oh by the way Stella, Bradley might be a bit late to the studio. She was panicking about something." She was speaking to Stella but Cory's response was quicker.
"What happened?" His jaw was clenched. "Oh just family stuff I think. Kept muttering about trust. Thought it best to leave her to it."
The lift hit level six and all three of them stepped out.
"Well wish me luck." Laura shot them both a smile that suggested she did dental comercials inbetween her news show. Then turning on her heel, she walked in the direction of Cybil's office.
Cory glanced back towards the lift doors. He looked lost.
"Do you want me to take that first meeting?" He turned to see Stella and released a breath.
"Could you just meet them at my office. I'll join you when I've..." He turned to press for the lift again.
"Sure. I'm on it." She smiled and was gone. She could really walk fast when on a mission.
Cory stepped into the lift again and pressed the button marked two.
Com'on Com'on.
--
He soon found Bradley's door and ushered Gayle away.
"Bradley? Its Cory."
The door opened and Bradley's eyes met his. She's been crying. Quickly stepping into the room, he turned and shut the door behind him. Before he could turn around again Bradley had found his arm and then he was holding her. Close and with one hand in her hair, he could hear her shallow breaths. He tried to calm her with his other hand rubbing a gentle sequence into her back.
"Breathe. Please, just breathe." Just like that awful day when she had to break the news about Hannah. Everyone was in shock and Cory just held her with his eyes, telling her it'll be ok. Just to breathe. But this was diffrent. Now he really was holding her and she had started mirroring his actions with her hand smoothing the hairs on the back of his neck.
"I wish you could trust me." Her voice was small but it was enough to make Cory's frame freeze. Almost on instinct, Bradley placed her palm between his shoulder blades, holding him to her. After a moment he let out a long breath and she felt his shouders drop again. She stifled a sob but didn't pull away. If anything she seemed to step closer. Why wasn't she pulling away?
He knows he needs to say something. Explain. Apologise. Say something! But he can't formulate anything. Instead, Cory turns and places a kiss to her hairline. Bradley's hand stills on his neck. Fuck. I shouldnt have done that. But then Bradley places her lips to the corner of his jaw. It's just like the last time we hugged. But no it wasn't as long as this. Why hasn't she pulled away? Well if one of them does it then the other can too. Right? Its not so bad. They're not crossing a line so much as just moving it a little further away.
"Cory?"
"Yeah"
"I dont know how to let go. I know I need to but I just..." Cory's only response was to hold her closer. That was enough for Bradley to know that he understood. She rested her head on his shoulder and her breathing finally started to even again. Perhaps they could hold on a little longer.