🖤
Cassy stopped pretending she didn't notice it. She couldn't anymore. The way Caleb Garcia's eyes followed her for half a second longer than necessary.
The way his voice softened—just barely—when he said her name. The way he lingered near her desk without reason. None of it was normal.
And yet… it kept happening.
—
"Miss Williams."
Cassy looked up from her screen. "Yes, sir?"
Caleb stood in front of her desk, holding a thin file. "Come with me."
She blinked. "Right now?"
"Yes." No explanation. No hesitation. Just command.
Cassy stood quickly. "Understood."
—
The elevator ride to the private floor was silent. Too silent. Cassy kept her hands clasped in front of her, trying not to think about how small the space felt.
Caleb stood beside her, unmoving. Expression unreadable. But something about him felt different today. Less distant. More present. Which was somehow worse.
—
The doors opened to a glass-walled executive lounge overlooking the entire city.
Cassy stepped in slowly. "This isn't your office," she said quietly.
"No," Caleb replied.
"Then why—"
He placed the file on the table. "Read it."
Cassy hesitated, then opened it. Her eyes scanned the pages. Then stopped. "This… is my employment review?"
"Yes."
Her brows furrowed slightly. "It's too early for that."
"I decide timing," he said.
Cassy looked up. Caleb was watching her. Closely. Not like before. Not cold. Not distant. But focused. Like she mattered more than she should.
She swallowed lightly and continued reading.
Her performance: Exceeded expectations. Zero errors. High efficiency. Strong adaptability.
"…This is good," she said softly.
"It's accurate," he replied.
Cassy blinked. "Then why does it feel like a test?" Silence.
Caleb stepped closer. One step. Then another. Until the space between them tightened again. "You question everything," he said.
"I observe," she corrected gently. A pause.
Then— "I don't like unpredictability," he added.
Cassy met his gaze. "And yet I'm still here."
That hit something. She saw it. A flicker. Gone in a second. But real.
—
Caleb looked away first. "Leave the file," he said.
Cassy nodded. But she didn't move immediately. "…Is there something else?" she asked softly.
That made him pause again. Longer this time. Something unreadable passed through his expression.
Then— "You should stop staying late," he said.
Cassy blinked. "That's twice this week you've said that."
"I'm aware."
"Why?"
Caleb's jaw tightened slightly. A beat of silence.
Then— "Because you don't take care of yourself."
The words landed heavier than intended. Cassy froze slightly. Even Caleb seemed to realize it. The air shifted again.
He turned away quickly. "That's all. You can go."
But Cassy didn't move right away. Because her heart had already reacted. And she didn't understand why. "…Okay," she finally said softly.
She walked toward the elevator. But halfway there—
"Cassy."
She stopped again. He didn't turn around. Didn't face her. But he said her name anyway. And that alone felt different.
"…Eat dinner," he said quietly.
No command this time. Just… something else. Cassy stared at his back for a moment. Then smiled faintly. "I will."
The doors closed.
—
Caleb stood still long after she left. His hand tightened slightly at his side. He shouldn't care. He knew that.
But the problem was— He already did.
And it was getting harder to stop.