Eminence (In Revision)

Note 9 - Face to Face

After Warren let Jack into the house, they sat at opposite ends of the dining room table. The distance between them felt deliberate. Neither spoke. It wasn't just silence; it was assessment.

"Where's Emanon?" Jack asked, his voice stiff, almost formal.

Warren glanced toward the open bathroom door, then back without moving much.

"Probably still in the bedroom," he replied flatly.

"Right," Jack said, nodding once, eyes scanning the room like he didn't believe it.

Jack sat rigid, posture unnaturally straight, like someone trying too hard to appear composed. He kept adjusting his hair, his eyes flicking around the room like he was bracing for something. Across from him, Warren slouched deep into the chair, jaw tight, eyes locked on Jack with thinly veiled irritation. The tension had settled fast and sharp, like a knife between them—Warren felt it like an intruder in his own skin.

"So... how's it been—living with Em?" Jack asked, voice strained with forced casualness.

Warren didn't blink. "It's fine," he said flatly.

"That's... good. I appreciate what you've done. Really. You won't have to keep it up much longer."

Warren's posture straightened. "I'm sorry—what did you just say?"

"I'm taking Em home with me," Jack began, but Warren cut in, voice sharp.

"You're not taking her anywhere."

Jack's nerves visibly spiked. "W-What exactly is your relationship with Em?"

"That's not something you need to know," Warren replied, his tone clipped.

"Then why won't you let her leave?"

Warren narrowed his eyes. "Why would I?"

"Y-You're under contract? That's fine. I'm not asking you to break it. I just want to take her home."

Warren's voice dropped to a warning register. "She is home. She's not going anywhere."

Jack's eyes widened, his voice lowering. "You've slept with her... haven't you?"

The silence that followed was sharp, a blade unsheathed between them.

"Yes," Warren said evenly. "I'm seeing her."

Jack's face stiffened. He leaned in, the calm cracking.

"Do you even understand what being with someone like her means?"

Warren didn't blink. "Do you? You ran."

"It's not—" Jack cut himself off and leaned back, scanning the room with sudden awareness.

"She's here, isn't she?"

Warren frowned. "What?"

Jack didn't look at him. "You can't see her either... but I can feel her. She's watching."
Warren's eyes flicked around the space, unsettled.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Jack went quiet, eyes still scanning the room as if weighing something invisible.

"Can we go grab lunch? Just the two of us."

Warren stared at him. "You think—"

"I'll explain everything. But not in front of her. She won't understand. Please."

Warren held his gaze for a beat, then pushed his chair back with a low scrape.

"Fine."

He didn't wait for Jack to follow.