🖤
Cassy tried to act like nothing happened. That was becoming a habit now. Pretend. Smile. Work. Repeat.
But every time she looked up from her desk— She remembered the rooftop.
Like you matter when you're not speaking. And it refused to leave her mind.
—
Caleb Garcia, on the other hand, didn't pretend. He simply… avoided. Not her. Never directly. But the silence between them had changed shape. It wasn't empty anymore. It was aware.
—
"Morning, Miss Williams." Adrian's voice pulled her back.
Cassy blinked. "Good morning."
He tilted his head slightly. "You look worse than yesterday."
"I slept fine," she lied automatically.
Adrian sighed. "That's becoming your favorite lie."
She didn't respond. Because she didn't know how to explain that she did sleep— Just not peacefully.
—
Inside the office, Caleb was already working. But his eyes kept drifting. Not to documents. Not to his screen. To her. Every few minutes. Like it was involuntary. Like something in him had stopped asking permission.
—
"Bring the updated report," he said when she passed his office.
Cassy stopped. "It's already on your desk."
A pause. "…Good."
That was it. But he still watched her walk away. Longer than necessary. Again.
—
Later that afternoon, something unusual happened. Cassy didn't come back from lunch on time. At first, no one noticed. Except him.
—
Caleb checked the clock once. Then again. His pen stopped moving. "Where is she?" he asked sharply.
Adrian looked up. "She went out for lunch with one of the HR staff." That answer should've been enough. But it wasn't.
—
Caleb stood up. Immediately. "Cancel my next meeting," he said.
Adrian blinked. "Why—"
"Cancel it." No explanation. Just final.
—
He didn't even realize he was walking until he was already at the lobby. Waiting. Watching the entrance. Like he had no choice. Like something in him was pulling him there.
—
When Cassy finally returned, she froze slightly. Because he was there. Standing. Waiting. For her.
—
"…Sir?" she said softly.
Caleb looked at her immediately. No relief on his face. No expression at all at first. Then— "You're late," he said.
Cassy blinked. "I told HR I'd be—"
"I didn't ask."
Silence. But it wasn't cold. It was tight. Controlled. Too controlled.
—
Cassy studied him for a second. "…Is everything okay?" she asked again.
A question she kept asking more often now. Because his reactions didn't make sense anymore.
—
Caleb didn't answer immediately. Then— "Yes." But his eyes said something else.
—
He turned slightly. "Come to my office." Again. No explanation. Just him.
—
Inside, the door closed behind them. And the silence that followed felt heavier than usual.
Cassy stood near the center of the room. Waiting. As always.
—
Caleb didn't sit. He stayed standing. Too still. Too focused. On her.
—
"You went out with HR," he said.
Cassy nodded. "Yes."
A pause. "…Why?" That question wasn't professional. Not even close.
—
Cassy hesitated. "It was just lunch," she said softly.
Caleb's jaw tightened slightly. "I didn't ask what it was."
Silence.
—
Cassy frowned slightly. "…Then why are you asking?"
That made him stop. Because she was right. He didn't know why he asked. Only that he did.
—
Caleb looked away briefly. Then back at her. "Don't do that again," he said quietly.
Cassy blinked. "Have lunch?"
A beat. "Yes," he said. Then corrected— "With them."
Silence.
—
Cassy tilted her head slightly. "…Why?"
Caleb didn't answer immediately. Because the truth didn't sound like something he should say. Not to an employee. Not to anyone. Especially not her.
—
But finally— "Because I don't like not knowing where you are," he admitted.
The room went still. Completely still. Even Cassy froze.
—
That wasn't control. That wasn't authority. That was something else. Something closer to honesty than either of them were ready for.
—
Cassy's voice softened. "Caleb…"
He looked at her immediately. At his name again. This time differently.
—
She hesitated. Then said gently— "That's not very like you."
A pause. Then Caleb replied quietly: "I've noticed."
—
Silence fell again. But it wasn't empty. It was full. Of everything they weren't saying. Of everything they were starting to feel.
—
And for the first time… Neither of them rushed to fill it.