Aria made an effort to concentrate on her work, but each time Mr. Damon Reid approached her desk, her heart began to race more quickly than it should. His presence was mesmerizing, a gentle force she couldn't ignore. She kept her eyes on the spreadsheet, pretending to type, yet she felt his stare follow her, noticing every single movement. He seemed drawn to the way she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. She convinced herself she was hallucinating it, that any adult in her position would mistake professional attentiveness. However, there was an unmistakable energy in the room as he cleared his throat behind her chair and she turned to face him. Neither of them said out loud, but they both understood the tension.
Later that afternoon, he called her into his office under the premise of reviewing a customer report. She stepped in, clutching the folder, trying to hide the nervous tremor in her hands. With his arms folded, Mr. Reid leaned back slightly and studied her with an expression that she couldn't quite put her finger on—interest, evaluation, or something else entirely. She placed the folder on the desk and felt the faint brush of his fingertips against hers as she opened it. Her breath caught, though she forced herself to retain composure. His voice was steady but low, his words hanging longer than required as he cleared his throat. "These numbers are precise, but I need your input," he added, though she believed he cared more about the way she was standing than the figures before them.
As the meeting continued, the tension between them grew heavier, unspoken but evident. When he was explaining, she saw how he moved a little closer and fixed his gaze on hers for a few seconds longer than was proper. Aria's mind swirled,striving to separate professionalism from the unexplainable tug she felt. She could feel him observing her, reading her like an open book, as her hands trembled a little while she took notes. His hand touched hers once again when she moved to get a pen out of the drawer—not by chance, it seemed—and she recoiled, but an odd heat persisted. "Be careful," he whispered, a gentle cautionary tale masquerading as concern. She swallowed, wondering whether to feel terrified or exhilarated. This game had begun, and neither seemed willing to stop it.
By the end of the day, Aria found herself lingering at her desk, reluctant to leave immediately. Mr. Reid had returned to his office, but she could feel the invisible tension weaving between their places. Every time he moved, every footstep, every rustle of paper, sounded exaggerated, and she wondered if he was aware of how she felt. She heard a knock on the door, and he emerged with a pile of documents. "I thought you might need these," he replied, placing them purposely close to her hands. Once more, their fingertips barely touched, yet it was enough to make her heart skip a beat. "Thanks," she muttered, though her voice showed a note of distraction. He grinned softly, knowing exactly the effect he had.
The office emptied slowly as colleagues departed, leaving only Aria and Mr. Reid. He leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on her as she organized her workspace. "You've been focused today," he said, voice soft, carrying an intensity that made her shiver despite herself. Aria smiled faintly, unsure how to respond without revealing her awareness of his scrutiny. She felt the pull of something dangerous yet thrilling, the thrill of being noticed, of being challenged silently by a man who held authority over her daily life. Each glance he gave was deliberate, each word measured, and she knew this wasn't mere mentorship—it was a subtle game of proximity, testing boundaries she didn't yet understand but found incres
Aria felt his presence more keenly than ever as she sat across from him and went over the section. Every word he said lingered, and she wasn't ready for the weight of every look. His close proximity prevented her from being the professional employee she wanted to be. She gestured to a figure on the spreadsheet, her hands shaking a little. A spark ignited in her as he leaned forward and touched her elbow. "That's right," he said, meeting her gaze. She forced herself to swallow in an attempt to gather her thoughts. She assured herself that this wasn't attraction. However, every nuanced gesture and low tone of his voice felt purposefully alluring. She understood that this was the start of a risky game, not simply a typical workday.
He called her back as she was gathering her belongings to head out the door. "Aria," he uttered in a faint, barely audible whisper intended solely for her. Her hands gripped her bag strap hard as she froze. He moved in close enough to detect the subtle aroma of his cologne without encroaching on her personal space. He tilted his head slightly and met her gaze, saying, "The report isn't due until tomorrow, but I'd like your thoughts on one section now." Her heart raced. She nodded and turned to face him again, paying attention to every little detail. The atmosphere between them became more intense, filled with an unsaid, playfully perilous dance they
When she eventually got up to go, the air between them was heavy and electric, and the room was charged. Mr. Reid remained at the doorway for longer than was necessary because he didn't leave right away. He said, "Don't stay late just to impress me," but it sounded like he was having fun. Aria felt tightness and anticipation in her gut; she wanted to run away, but she also wanted to stay. She nodded and forced a courteous grin, but she could feel his eyes tracking her every move as she made her way to the elevator. Her heart was racing, and she was certain that their professional boundaries had already started to blur.