The morning began quietly—too quietly for Leah's liking. The soft hum of keyboards filled the open office space, but beneath it, there was a tension she couldn't name.
Her inbox pinged.From: Adrian VossSubject: New Assignment
Report to my office in ten minutes. Bring your notes from the Wilshire audit.
Her pulse skipped.
By now, she was used to his precision—his habit of saying everything in as few words as possible. But this felt different. He could've sent instructions through the internal portal; instead, he wanted to speak.
She straightened her blouse, smoothed the wrinkles from her skirt, and told herself not to overthink it.
When she entered his office, Adrian was standing by the window, jacket off, one hand resting on the back of his chair. The skyline reflected faintly behind him—gray and endless.
"Close the door," he said, without turning.
Leah obeyed, her nerves tightening.
He finally faced her. "We're taking on a new client. Corporate merger. Confidential, high-profile." He slid a file across the desk. "I want you to lead the preliminary analysis."
Her breath caught. "Me?"
"You've earned it," he said simply. "You're the only one who's handled comparable data without missing detail."
She hesitated. "That's a huge responsibility."
"That's why I'm assigning it to you." His tone softened, but only slightly. "You'll report directly to me."
Leah stared at the folder. "Why not Daniels? Or Cruz?"
Adrian's eyes lifted, meeting hers. "Because they're predictable. You're not."
Something fluttered in her chest. She didn't know if it was pride, fear, or something far more complicated.
He moved closer, pointing to a chart inside the folder. "The client will expect updates daily. Every figure needs verification before submission."
She nodded, trying to focus. But he was standing too close—close enough that she could smell faint traces of cedar and coffee. When his sleeve brushed hers as he leaned over the desk, her heartbeat stuttered.
Adrian noticed. His hand paused midair. For one suspended second, their eyes met.The air between them thickened—no words, only awareness.
Then he stepped back. Professional again. Composed. "You'll start today."
Leah cleared her throat. "Understood."
"Good." He picked up another document, his gaze already shifting. "And, Leah—"
She froze at the sound of her name, low and deliberate.
"Don't let anyone in accounting interfere with your process. If they question you, they can talk to me."
That tone—firm, protective—sent warmth through her even as she fought to keep her expression neutral. "I'll handle it."
He gave a brief nod, and the meeting was over.
By afternoon, word had already spread: Leah Bennett is leading the merger prep.
She felt the weight of stares in the hallway, the whispers that always followed anything connected to Adrian Voss.
"Voss's favorite," someone muttered near the printer when they thought she couldn't hear.
She pretended not to notice, burying herself in data, spreadsheets, and deadlines. But it was impossible to ignore how quickly admiration turned to speculation in this place.
By evening, she was still at her desk when Adrian reappeared. Most of the office was empty. He stood beside her monitor, scanning the open file.
"You've made progress," he said quietly. "Faster than I expected."
"I just… wanted to get ahead before tomorrow."
He leaned closer, his gaze following the screen's glow. "You have a tendency to overwork."
"I learned it from you."
That earned the faintest twitch of his mouth—a near smile again. "Touché."
When she turned her head, their faces were closer than she realized. The space between them narrowed until even breathing felt like an intrusion.
Then, as if remembering himself, Adrian straightened. "Good work today. Go home."
"I will. Soon."
He hesitated, then said, softer than before, "Don't make me start checking if you leave on time."
Leah blinked. "You'd actually do that?"
He looked at her—steady, unreadable. "If it keeps you from burning out, yes."
Something in his voice stayed with her long after he walked away.
That night, Leah sat at home with the folder spread open before her. Numbers filled the pages, but her thoughts drifted to the man who trusted her with them. The man who rarely trusted anyone.
Maybe it wasn't just about the assignment.Maybe it was a test of something deeper—of whether she could stand beside him without losing herself in his gravity.
And somewhere, in an office still lit after midnight, Adrian stared at the same documents—his jaw tight, his pen unmoving—thinking of her, and the look she gave him when he said her name.