Don't You Dare

Chapter 1: Crowe & Lancaster

Monday, October 16, 2023

The gleaming white walls and polished floors of Crowe & Lancaster reflected power and wealth in every detail. The kind of wealth that didn't need to be flaunted—it was deeply embedded in every corner of this firm. From the sleek glass partitions to the soft leather chairs, even the sound of expensive heels clicking across the marble floors had a kind of authority to it.

I'd earned my place here, and I wouldn't let myself forget that. This firm may have been built for the privileged elite, but I'd clawed my way to this moment through sheer determination and hard work. This was my stage now, too.

I straightened my shoulders, smoothing down my suit. It didn't matter that my Ann Taylor blazer was a fraction of the cost of the couture walking past me. I knew I belonged.

A soft knock pulled me out of my thoughts. I turned to see a tall, sharp-featured blonde woman standing at the door. She exuded the kind of effortless confidence that came with years of power and respect in this world.

"I'm Marcia, the office manager here at Crowe & Lancaster," she said with a bright smile, offering her hand.

"Andrea Blanco." I shook her hand, meeting her confidence with my own. I wasn't about to show any hint of nerves, even if they were there, buried under the surface. Today was about control.

"It's good to finally meet you," Marcia said, giving me a once-over with an approving nod. "I've heard good things. First day as an associate at twenty-four. That's impressive."

"Thank you," I replied smoothly. "I'm ready to get started."

Marcia's smile widened as if satisfied with my response. "Good. That's the attitude we like to see around here." She motioned for me to follow her. "Let's get you settled. You've got a full day ahead of you."

We moved down the sleek corridor, passing rows of glass-walled offices. Everything here was immaculate, almost intimidating in its precision. People worked quietly behind closed doors, their focus sharp, their movements efficient.

"Your schedule is packed today," Marcia continued as we walked. "We've got an office tour, software training, and this afternoon, you'll be sitting in on an ethics seminar with our managing partner. You'll also meet a few of the senior associates and partners you'll be working with."

I nodded. "Sounds good."

As we approached the far end of the hall, Marcia glanced at her tablet and smiled. "Before the tour, your partner wants to meet you. Let's stop by his office first."

I straightened my posture. This was the moment I'd been anticipating. The partner who would be in charge of shaping my early career at Lancaster & Crowe. This meeting was crucial. I couldn't afford to slip up.

Marcia stopped outside a sleek black door with a brass nameplate. Gabriel Bauer, Partner.

I froze. My heart stuttered in my chest.

No. It couldn't be.

Marcia knocked lightly on the door. "Gabriel, we're coming in."

I barely had time to register her words before she pushed the door open, stepping aside to let me through.

And then I saw him.

Gabriel Bauer.

The air left my lungs in a rush as I stood there, staring at the man who had once meant everything to me. He looked different now—taller, broader, his features more chiseled, more defined. His dark hair was neatly combed back, his suit tailored to perfection, and the boyish charm I once knew had been replaced with something harder. Something darker.

But those eyes—those deep, piercing green eyes—were the same.

He froze, his gaze locking onto mine, surprise flashing across his face for a split second. He hadn't been expecting this. I could see it in the way his jaw tightened, the way his eyes widened ever so slightly before he regained his composure.

Marcia, blissfully unaware of the tension between us, smiled brightly. "Gabriel, this is Andrea Blanco, your new associate."

Gabriel's eyes stayed locked on mine, the weight of our past hanging between us like a storm cloud. But before either of us could say a word, the tension wrapped tighter around us, suffocating.

He stepped forward, extending his hand as if this were any other introduction. "Andrea."

I took his hand, the touch sending a jolt through me. His grip was firm, but I could feel the tension coiled beneath the surface. His thumb brushed lightly against my skin, and for just a second, the years melted away, and I was back in high school, back in the moments before everything between us shattered.

I forced myself to pull away, keeping my expression neutral. "Mr. Bauer," I said, my voice steady.

He studied me, his eyes scanning my face as if searching for something. The surprise was still there, lurking beneath the surface, but he was too controlled to let it show. "I wasn't expecting you."

The words hit harder than they should have, even though I knew he wasn't talking about me specifically. He hadn't expected me to be the associate assigned to him.

I lifted my chin, refusing to let the moment overwhelm me. "Neither was I."

The tension between us hung in the air like a drawn breath, heavy and thick.

"You two know each other?" Marcia's voice suddenly broke the moment, bright and curious.

I stiffened, the polite smile still on my face. "We went to high school together."

Gabriel's jaw tightened, his eyes flicking to Marcia before returning to me. "It's been a while."

Marcia raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing the tension but interpreting it as nostalgia. "Small world, isn't it?" She let out a soft laugh. "Well, that should make things easier working together, right?"

Her words hung in the air, as disconnected from reality as they could be. If only she knew.

Marcia, still standing in the doorway, gave me a warm smile. "I'll leave you two to get acquainted. Andrea, I'll be right outside when you're ready for the tour."

And with that, she was gone, closing the door softly behind her, leaving Gabriel and me alone in the sudden, thick silence.

He exhaled slowly, his shoulders tightening as he turned away from me, walking back around to his desk. I watched him, trying to reconcile the man standing in front of me with the boy I once knew. The boy who'd broken my heart.

"It's been a long time," Gabriel said, his back to me, his voice quieter now. Almost vulnerable.

I stayed silent, crossing my arms to keep from fidgeting. I wasn't ready to acknowledge what his presence did to me. Not after everything.

He turned then, his green eyes meeting mine again, and I saw the same flicker of something raw behind them. Pain. Regret. But I couldn't let myself feel it. Not here. Not now.

"We'll keep things professional," Gabriel said, his voice tightening into something colder. He leaned against his desk, arms folded across his chest. "There's a lot of work ahead of us. I expect you to be ready."

I nodded, my throat tight. "Of course."

The room felt too small, the air too thick with everything we weren't saying. But I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing just how much seeing him again affected me. I wouldn't let him see how much he had hurt me.

Gabriel's eyes lingered on mine for a beat longer than necessary before he pushed off the desk and walked back toward the door, opening it for me. "I'll see you in the conference room this afternoon," he said, his tone final.

I walked past him, my heart still racing, but my face remained composed. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing how rattled I was. I wouldn't let him in. Not again.

But as I stepped into the hallway, the door closing softly behind me, I couldn't shake the feeling that everything had just changed. Again.