Lex took the elevator down to the main floor. The mirrored doors slid open, revealing the sleek marble lobby.
That's when he saw her.
Rose Russo.
She was moving quickly, balancing a small stack of packages against her hip as she crossed toward the reception desk. Her hair was tied back loosely, strands escaping and framing her face. She hadn't changed much—still sharp-eyed, still moving like she had somewhere more important to be.
Lex stopped a few paces from the desk, watching as she signed off on the packages.
She didn't notice him at first.
"Delivery for Mr. Maddux's estate," Rose said to the receptionist. Her voice was calm, professional, but Lex caught the faint tiredness beneath it.
"Barnie's lucky," Lex called out, leaning against one of the columns.
Rose froze for half a second.
Slowly, she turned, her eyes narrowing as they locked onto him.
"…Lex?"
He smirked. "Didn't expect to see you here."
Rose didn't answer right away. She gaze over him like she was trying to piece together a puzzle that didn't fit right.
"You're early," she said finally.
Lex chuckled. "So I've been told."
She stepped closer, the packages still tucked under her arm. The faint smell of fresh laundry clung to her.
"Don't you show up just before lunch?"
Lex shrugged. "Maybe I'm just responsible now."
Rose arched a brow, unimpressed. "Yeah, sure. And Barnie suddenly became a philanthropist."
Lex's smirk faded slightly, but the amusement didn't leave his eyes.
"Still working for him, huh?"
Rose glanced down at the packages. "It's a job."
"It's more," Lex said, tilting his head. "You hate this. You could work anywhere."
Her eyes flicked back to his, unreadable.
"You think I have options, Lex?"
He knew better than to press.
Rose shifted the packages to her other arm, breaking the silence.
"I don't work there full-time. Just deliveries, cleaning, whatever pays the bills."
Lex's gaze softened just slightly. "Still supporting your mom?"
Rose's jaw tightened, but she nodded. "Yeah. Someone has to."
It was the same as before.
Lex knew that weight—the need to keep things together when everything else threatened to fall apart.
Rose turned to leave, but Lex's voice caught her.
"Dinner," he said casually.
She paused mid-step.
Lex smiled faintly. "Let me take you to dinner."
Rose glanced over her shoulder, eyebrow raised. "Why?"
He shrugged. "Because I feel like you're about to tell me no."
Rose stared at him for a long second. Then, she smiled—but it wasn't warm. It was the kind of smile that carried more defenses than affection.
"You're right," she said, stepping toward the exit. "I am."
The door swung shut behind her, leaving Lex standing alone in the lobby.
He didn't move right away.
Instead, his eyes lingered on the space she left behind, hands tucking into his pockets as the faint traces of amusement lingered.
Same Rose.