The Billionaire Recluse & The girl who stayed.

Inquisive boss.

~lexi~

I noticed him before Lilly did.

Standing just outside the doorway.

Watching.

He didn't move. Didn't speak. Just stood there like he was studying us—no... studying me.

Jasper Monroe.

So this was him.

I hadn't expected that either.

He was... striking.

Dark hair, perfectly styled without looking like he'd tried too hard. Sharp jawline. And his eyes—

Dark.

Not just in colour.

There was something else there.

Something guarded.

Something heavy.

I found myself staring a second too long before quickly looking back at the screen, pretending to focus on what Lilly was saying.

Attractive?

Yes.

Dangerously so.

But that meant nothing.

He was my employer.

And from what I'd heard...

Not the kind of man you blurred boundaries with.

"Come on," Lilly said after a while. "Let's get some lunch."

I nodded, grateful for the break, and followed her toward the kitchen.

I didn't expect him to be there.

But of course...

He was.

Sitting at the island like he owned the entire room without even trying—which, technically, he did.

As we stepped in, his gaze lifted.

And for a second—

It felt like we'd interrupted something.

Or maybe...

I had.

The look on his face wasn't anger.

It was something quieter.

More controlled.

Like he wasn't used to sharing space.

Like my presence...

Didn't quite belong.

He looked back down at his food without saying a word.

And just like that, the room fell into silence.

Heavy.

Awkward.

Uncomfortable.

I glanced at Lilly briefly, but she didn't react. Didn't acknowledge it. Like this was normal.

Maybe it was.

I moved quietly, taking a seat, trying not to draw attention to myself—but I could feel it.

Him.

Aware of me.

Even without looking.

The sound of cutlery against the plate felt louder than it should have.

No one spoke.

Not him.

Not Lilly.

Not me.