🖤
The next morning felt wrong. Not loud. Not chaotic. Just… quiet.
—
Cassy arrived on time. Like always. Dressed perfectly. Composed. Professional.
—
But something was missing.
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"Good morning, Miss Williams," Adrian said, watching her carefully.
"Good morning," she replied with a small, polite smile. Too polite. Too distant.
—
Adrian frowned slightly. "…You okay?"
"I'm fine." There it was again. That word. But this time— It sounded colder. More final.
—
She sat at her desk. Opened her files. Started working. No hesitation. No distraction. No lingering thoughts.
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At least— That's what she tried to do.
—
Inside his office— Caleb noticed immediately. Of course he did.
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The way she didn't look at him. The way she didn't pause. The way she didn't react.
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It was different. Completely different.
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"Miss Williams." Her name echoed through the space.
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Cassy looked up. "Yes, Mr. Garcia?" There it was.
—
Mr. Garcia.
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That one word— That distance— Hit harder than anything she said yesterday.
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Caleb's jaw tightened slightly. "Come in."
—
Inside the office, the air felt colder. Not because of the temperature. But because something had changed.
—
Cassy stood in front of his desk. Hands neatly clasped. Eyes calm. Expression controlled.
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"Yes, sir?" she asked. Perfect. Too perfect.
—
Caleb stared at her. Longer than usual. Trying to find something. Anything.
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But she gave him nothing.
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"Schedule," he said. Short. Direct. Safe.
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Cassy handed him the tablet. "Everything is updated." No extra words. No softness. No hesitation.
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Silence.
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"You're early," he said.
She nodded. "I wanted to finish reports." A pause. Then— "I'll be leaving on time today." That line wasn't random. It was intentional.
—
Caleb noticed. Of course he did.
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"Why?" he asked.
Cassy blinked slightly. "Because I should." Simple. Clean. Detached.
—
Silence stretched between them. But this silence wasn't like before. It wasn't full. It wasn't heavy.
—
It was empty.
—
Caleb set the tablet down slowly. "You're different," he said.
Cassy didn't react. "I'm doing my job." A pause. Then— "Properly." That word again. But now— It sounded like a wall.
—
Caleb stood up. Slow. Controlled. But something underneath wasn't.
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"That's not what I meant," he said.
Cassy met his gaze. "Then what did you mean?"
Silence.
—
Because now— He had to say it. Or lose it.
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"You're avoiding me," he said quietly. There it was.
—
Cassy didn't deny it. "…No," she said. A pause. Then softer— "I'm just keeping things clear." That hurt more. Because it wasn't rejection. It was distance. Chosen distance.
—
Caleb stepped closer. She didn't step back. But she didn't step forward either.
—
"That's not what we were doing before," he said.
Cassy's expression didn't change. "That's exactly why I'm doing it now."
Silence.
—
That line landed. Hard. Final.
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Caleb's voice lowered. "…Because of her?"
Cassy hesitated. Just for a second.
—
Then— "No." A pause. Then— "Because of me."
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That answer changed everything. Because it wasn't about Veronica. It wasn't about jealousy.
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It was about choice.
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Cassy took a small step back. Creating space again.
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"I think this is better," she said softly. Professional. Calm. Controlled.
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But her eyes— For just a second— Showed something else. Something he caught. Something she tried to hide.
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And that— That was what made it worse.
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Because she still felt it. She was just choosing not to act on it.
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Caleb didn't move. Didn't speak. Didn't stop her.
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Because for the first time— He realized something he didn't like.
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Distance wasn't something he could control.
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And Cassy Williams— Was choosing it.
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On purpose.