Ava tried to focus.
She really did.
But everything felt… off.
The conversation from the conference room replayed in her mind over and over again.
You're different.
I don't know why.
Stay away from Clara.
It didn't make sense.
None of it did.
And what made it worse—
was him.
He had gone back to normal.
Cold.
Distant.
Unreadable.
As if nothing had happened.
Ava clenched her pen slightly.
"…Seriously?"
"Talking to yourself now?"
She looked up.
A man stood beside her desk.
Tall.
Relaxed.
With an easy smile that didn't feel forced.
"I'm Daniel," he said. "New in management."
Ava blinked, slightly caught off guard.
"…Ava."
"I know," he said lightly. "You're kind of… well-known already."
She sighed.
"Not in a good way."
Daniel shrugged.
"Depends on who you ask."
Something about him was… easy.
Comfortable.
Not intense.
Not overwhelming.
Just… normal.
And for the first time since she got here—
Ava felt like she could breathe.
"So," Daniel continued, leaning slightly against her desk, "you always look this serious, or is today special?"
Ava huffed a small laugh.
"…Today's complicated."
"Good," he said. "I like complicated."
And just like that—
they were talking.
From across the office—
he saw it.
Every second of it.
The way she smiled—
slightly.
Rare.
But real.
The way she relaxed—
just a little.
And most importantly—
who she was smiling with.
Daniel.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"…Sir?"
He didn't respond.
"…Sir?"
His assistant shifted awkwardly.
"Cancel the 2 PM meeting."
"Sir?"
"I said cancel it."
His eyes didn't leave the glass wall.
Didn't leave her.
Back at Ava's desk—
"You should take a break sometime," Daniel said. "This place will drain you if you let it."
Ava smiled faintly.
"I've noticed."
"Come with me for coffee later?"
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
"…Maybe."
And that's when—
"Miss Ava."
Her smile disappeared instantly.
She didn't have to turn to know.
But she did anyway.
He was standing there.
Too close.
Too sudden.
His expression unreadable.
But his presence—
heavier than usual.
"You're needed."
Ava blinked.
"…Now?"
"Yes."
No explanation.
No room to argue.
She stood.
"…I'll see you later," Daniel said casually.
Ava nodded slightly.
"…Yeah."
But as she walked past him—
she felt it.
That shift in the air.
That tension.
Inside his office—
the door closed behind her.
Silence.
Ava crossed her arms slightly.
"…You interrupted me."
"I'm aware."
Her brows furrowed.
"…For what?"
A pause.
Then—
"Work."
She let out a quiet breath.
"…Right."
She turned slightly.
But before she could take another step—
"Do you always agree so easily?"
She stopped.
"…What?"
He walked closer.
Slowly.
"That man," he said, voice controlled, "asked you to leave with him."
Ava turned fully now.
"It was coffee."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is the point?"
Silence.
Then—
"…You said maybe."
Ava stared at him.
"…Why does that matter to you?"
The question landed.
Hard.
Because neither of them had an answer they were ready to say out loud.
"I'm responsible for this office," he said finally.
Ava let out a small, disbelieving breath.
"…So this is about work?"
"Yes."
"…You're lying."
That hit.
His expression tightened slightly.
"Be careful."
"With what?" she shot back.
"With how you speak to me."
Ava stepped closer.
Not backing down.
"Then stop giving me reasons to question you."
Silence.
Thick.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
"You told me to stay away from Clara," she continued, her voice quieter now.
"…but you didn't say anything about him."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"…That's different."
"How?"
A pause.
Then—
"…Because I said so."
Again.
That same answer.
And this time—
Ava wasn't accepting it.
"That's not enough," she said softly.
Another step closer.
Now—
too close.
"Then what is?" he asked.
Her breath slowed.
"Honesty."
That word—
hung between them.
He looked at her.
Really looked at her.
And for a second—
that wall—
almost cracked.
"…You're a distraction."
Ava blinked.
"…What?"
His voice dropped slightly.
"You shouldn't be."
Her heart started beating faster.
"But you are."
Silence.
The kind that makes everything feel louder.
"…That's not my fault," she whispered.
"I know."
A pause.
"That's the problem."
They were close now.
Too close.
Ava could feel it—
that pull again.
Stronger this time.
"Then fix it," she said softly.
A dangerous thing to say.
Because for a moment—
it looked like he might do the opposite.
Like he might close the distance instead.
But then—
he stepped back.
Again.
Always back.
"Stay focused on your work," he said, voice controlled again.
The shift—
instant.
Like nothing had happened.
Ava swallowed slightly.
"…You keep doing that."
He didn't respond.
"You pull me in…" she continued quietly,
"…and then you act like none of it meant anything."
Silence.
And this time—
it felt heavier than before.
Because she wasn't wrong.
"…You should go," he said finally.
Ava laughed softly.
But there was no humor in it.
"Of course."
She turned.
Walked to the door.
But before she left—
"…I'm still getting that coffee."
She didn't look back.
She just walked out.
And for the first time—
he felt it.
That unfamiliar feeling.
Sharp.
Uncomfortable.
Unwelcome.
Jealousy.