- Beneath her Notice – Chapter 1
- Beneath her Notice – Chapter 2
- Beneath her Notice – Chapter 3
- Beneath her Notice – Chapter 4
- Beneath her Notice – Chapter 5
- Beneath her Notice – Chapter 6
- Beneath her Notice – Chapter 7
- Beneath her Notice – Chapter 8
- Beneath her Notice – Chapter 9
- Beneath her Notice – Chapter 10
- Beneath her Notice – Chapter 11 1 min read
- Beneath her Notice – Chapter 12
- Beneath her Notice – Chapter 13
- Beneath her Notice – Epilogue
written by Anonymous author
original source of the story was Submitted by a visitor
Chapter Eleven: Plausible Deniability
The accident could not honestly be repeated.
It could, however, be reconstructed.
“Start again,” Elena instructed.
She left the floor with the Mannheim folder, waited five minutes, and returned. Mara continued working in her Casadei Blades. Adrian remained hidden.
None of them knew he was there.
That was the fiction.
Adrian offered his hands. Elena crossed the reception area and stepped upon one as though it were empty carpet. Mara found the other without looking down.
They discussed the Mannheim appendix while their heels held him between them.
Elena’s control was economical. She needed no constant adjustment; her stillness was enough.
Mara wanted reaction.
She stood in the Casadeis, hands upon her hips, transferring her weight whenever Adrian appeared too composed. Tears came. His signal hand began to turn.
Mara leaned forward, hungry for surrender.
“Mara,” Elena said.
The redhead looked up.
“Sit.”
Mara hesitated—then obeyed.
The pressure eased.
Only then did she understand the second contest. Mara commanded Adrian, but Elena commanded the room.
At the end, Adrian emerged with marked hands.
“She thinks she controls both of us,” Mara said after Elena departed.
“Doesn’t she?”
Mara looked down at the chrome Blades.
For the first time, she had no immediate answer.
—