Older || 18+

27. Emma 🌶️

The rest of the day goes by quickly, and before I know it, it's time for lunch. Most of the team has ordered food, but I wasn't here when they made the lunch order. Beth apologizes profusely, but I tell her it's okay and I don't care to grab something. But as I head to the elevator, Shane calls for me.

"Hey, Emma!"

I turn to see him holding a food container.

"I ordered an extra, in case you needed it. I wasn't sure if you'd have time to grab anything. You're welcome to it if you want."

I smile, my stomach growling at the sight of the food. "Thank you. That's really nice of you."

"No problem," he says, handing the food to me. "Enjoy."

"Thanks again," I say, taking the food.

As I turn to join the others, Shane's next invitation pauses my steps. "Would you want to come eat with me? We can talk about how your day is going," he says, a hopeful look in his eyes.

"Um, yeah, sure," I say, not wanting to turn him down.

We walk to his office and he closes the door behind us instead of leaving it open. The space is large and well lit, with a big window overlooking the city. There's a couch in the corner and a small table.

"Have a seat," he says, gesturing to the couch.

I sit down and open the container of food. It's a chicken Caesar salad, and my stomach growls at the sight of it.

"So how's your first day?" Shane asks, his sandwich in hand, his attention fully on me. It's a simple question, but the way he looks at me, with a focus that feels both intense and gentle.

"It's going really well," I say, smiling. "Everyone's been really nice."

"That's good to hear," he says, returning my smile. "I hope you stick around. We could use a smart, hardworking girl like you around here."

The compliment, coming from Shane, holds a weight that feels significant. It's more than just a welcome; it's an acknowledgment, a recognition of my potential contribution to the team. Yet, there's an undercurrent of something personal in his words, a hint of something beyond professional admiration. It's subtle, but it's there—a slight shift in his tone, a lingering look.

Shane's eyes meet mine, the look in them sending a shiver down my spine. It's intense, almost too much, and for a moment, I wonder if I imagined it.

I finish my food and stand up, my heart pounding. "Well, I should get back. I don't want to keep Beth waiting," I say, my voice wavering.

Shane stands with me. "Of course," he says, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

I walk out of his office, my mind racing. What was that? Why did he look at me like that? Am I imagining things?

The rest of the day passes by in a blur, and before I know it, it's time to leave.

I walk to the elevator, my mind still reeling. As the doors close, I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. What happened earlier, the look that Shane gave me, the way he was acting. It didn't feel professional at all. But then again, I could just be imaging things.

As I walk out of the building, I decide that I'm not going to read too much into it. He's just a guy who's being nice. Besides, I'm here to learn and to get experience. That's all that matters.

The drive home is quiet, giving me time to decompress. I learned a lot today from Beth and I'm excited to come back.

The house is quiet when I get home. My mom and Archer are out, probably still at work. I text Ares to see what he's up to.