The soft glow of the evening sun filtered through the worn curtains of Elias's apartment, painting the walls in warm golds and oranges. The hum of the city outside was distant, muffled, a world away from the sterile, tension-filled environment of Blackwood Enterprises.
Elias kicked off his shoes and loosened his tie, finally letting out a long breath. His shoulders, stiff from hours of sitting under Damien's scrutinizing gaze, began to relax. The familiar sounds of his family filled the small apartment.
"Eli! Dinner's almost ready!" his mother called from the kitchen, her tone gentle but firm.
He nodded and followed the sound, finding his younger siblings sprawled across the living room floor, laughing over a board game. Maya, the youngest, looked up and grinned. "You're late again! Did you even finish your homework, Eli?"
Elias crouched down, ruffling her hair. "Of course I did. But I needed to survive the day first."
His mother smiled knowingly as she stirred a pot on the stove. "Work's been hard on you lately, hasn't it?"
Elias ran a hand through his hair, hesitating before he spoke. "It's demanding, yes. Mr. Blackwood expects everything to be perfect, all the time. There's no room for mistakes."
"Sounds exhausting," his father said, leaning against the doorway. "But you're handling it, son. We're proud of you."
Elias offered a small, tired smile. The apartment smelled of home-cooked food, of spices and comfort, an anchor against the storm of his day. He sank into the couch with his siblings, laughing at Maya's antics as they recounted tales from school. For a while, he could let go of deadlines, cold glares, and the ever-present pressure of Damien's office.
Yet even here, the stress clung to him like a shadow. Every time he laughed, he caught himself imagining Damien's sharp eyes scanning his work, finding flaws. The thought made his chest tighten. He pushed it aside, reminding himself that home was a sanctuary, however temporary.
Dinner was a lively affair, filled with teasing, laughter, and the kind of easy camaraderie Elias rarely found at work. He savored it, letting the warmth of family wash over him.
Later, as he washed the dishes, his mind drifted back to the office. The reports, the criticism, Damien's cold, commanding presence, it all waited for him tomorrow. And though he couldn't admit it, the thought stirred something uneasy within him, a mixture of frustration, exhaustion, and curiosity.
But for tonight, the world outside the apartment walls could wait. Here, surrounded by family, Elias allowed himself to simply be himself lost in the peace it brings.
Later that evening, Elias stood by the small window in his room, watching the city lights flicker to life. The skyline was blurred slightly by a thin film of dust on the glass, but the view was still comforting. It reminded him that the world was wide, filled with possibilities—maybe even ones that extended beyond deadlines and long hours under Damien's silent scrutiny.
He reached for his journal, tucked neatly between a stack of old textbooks. Writing had become his quiet outlet, a space where he didn't need to edit his words for professionalism or politeness.
"He looked at me again today—like I was both a disappointment and a puzzle. I hate that I notice. I hate that I care."
The pen paused mid-sentence. Elias sighed and closed the notebook, suddenly irritated at himself. It was foolish to dwell on these feelings, these unspoken thoughts that had started to settle in his chest like dust in corners.
A knock at the door interrupted his spiral. It was Maya, holding two mugs of hot chocolate in her small hands. "You looked like you needed this," she said with a soft smile.
Elias chuckled and took the mug from her, touched by her quiet gesture. "You always know."
She sat beside him on the bed, legs swinging. "You're not happy at work, are you?"
He blinked, surprised by her perception. "It's not that I'm unhappy... it's just complicated."
Maya shrugged in the way only a child could. "Then maybe make it less complicated. Talk to someone. Or quit."
Elias laughed, ruffling her curls again. "It's not that easy."
She leaned against his arm. "Maybe not. But you still deserve to be happy."
Her words echoed long after she'd gone, leaving Elias with his now-cold mug and thoughts that refused to be silenced. He lay back on the bed, eyes tracing the familiar cracks in the ceiling, and let out a long sigh.
The truth was, Damien Blackwood had become more than just his boss. Not in any official way, of course,but in the way he occupied space in Elias's thoughts. It was confusing. Infuriating. Intense. And somehow, in ways Elias didn't yet want to define... magnetic.
Elias closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep. But even as exhaustion pulled at him, the memory of Damien's voice lingered-low, sharp, and utterly inescapable.