The moment Isabella stepped into the office that morning, she knew something was off.
Alexander Knight didn't even greet her. Instead, he dropped a thick stack of files on her desk—hard enough to make her flinch.
"These need to be sorted, cross-checked, and arranged before noon," he said coldly.
Isabella stared at the pile, stunned. "Before noon? That's—"
"A problem?" he cut in, raising a brow.
She straightened immediately. "No, sir."
But it was a problem.
The workload was overwhelming—far more than usual. Files upon files, each requiring careful attention. It felt deliberate… like he was pushing her beyond her limits.
Still, Isabella worked.
She refused to complain.
An hour later, frustration was beginning to creep in. Papers were spread across her desk, her fingers moving quickly but not fast enough.
"Hey… need some help?"
Isabella looked up to see Nolan standing beside her, offering a friendly smile.
Relief flickered across her face. "Honestly? Yes. This is a lot."
"Don't worry, I've handled worse," Nolan said lightly as he pulled a chair closer.
They began working together, sorting and arranging the files, occasionally exchanging small comments that turned into quiet laughter.
"You're actually fun to work with," Nolan said.
Isabella smiled. "Better than suffering alone."
Then—
The air shifted.
A familiar, heavy presence filled the space.
Alexander Knight had entered.
His eyes landed on them instantly.
On Nolan. Sitting too close.
On Isabella. Smiling. Relaxed.
Something dark flickered in his gaze.
He walked toward them, each step slow… controlled… dangerous.
"What are you doing here?" he asked sharply.
Nolan stiffened immediately. "S-sir… I was just helping her—"
"Helping?" Alexander's voice dropped.
Nolan swallowed. "Yes, sir."
Alexander's eyes hardened.
"Leave. Before you get fired."
The words were calm—but carried unmistakable threat.
"Yes, sir!"
Nolan didn't hesitate. He stood up so fast his chair almost fell, then hurried away without looking back.
Silence followed.
Heavy. Tense.
Isabella slowly looked up at Alexander, confusion written all over her face. "He was just helping—"
"Too slow," Alexander cut in, his tone sharp. "You haven't finished this yet."
Her brows furrowed slightly. "I was going to—"
Before she could finish, he pulled out a chair beside her.
And sat down.
Right next to her.
Isabella froze.
Her eyes widened slightly in shock as she watched him reach for a file, flipping it open with ease.
"Separate them by category first. Then arrange by date," he said, already working.
She blinked, still staring at him.
Alexander paused, then glanced sideways at her.
"Don't look at me like that," he said coolly.
Isabella quickly looked down. "I'm just surprised."
"I'm helping because I don't want you using this as an excuse for not coming to work early," he added, his tone firm.
But there was something else there.
Something softer.
Something… unspoken.
They worked in silence after that, their shoulders occasionally brushing as they reached for the same files. The tension between them was thick—no longer just irritation or authority… but something deeper.
Something neither of them fully understood.
Isabella's heart beat faster than it should.
And Alexander—
Though his expression remained unreadable—
Didn't move away.