What Lies Ahead
As soon as Ellen and Aubrey disappeared into the restroom, Mason shifted slightly in his seat, aware of the silence hanging between him and Gerald.
Mason reached for his drink, taking a slow sip while his eyes drifted to the conveyor belt of sushi that circled lazily around the room. Gerald, seated across from him, did the same, but there was a serious look on his face.
They sat in silence for a moment, then Gerald cleared his throat, breaking the awkward stillness. "So," he began casually, leaning back in his chair, "how's work going? Still buried in that new project?"
Mason nodded, his mind easily slipping into the comfort of familiar topics. "Yeah, it's been keeping me busy. Long hours, but we're making progress. You know how it is."