“And Julian?” She almost smiled. “You’re making your own coffee from now on.”

“You,” he breathed.

“Sorry doesn’t unbind nine years.”

Julian frowned. “I was fourteen. I hated those things.”

She turned to leave.

Over the next two weeks, Julian tried everything. He tripled her salary. He offered a corner office. He threatened to blacklist her from hospitality. Elena smiled, polished her resume, and said no.