Cronus Romano
Fire smelled like flowers and vanilla—sweet, intoxicating, and utterly addicting. Her scent filled my office, transforming it by her mere presence, as if she had imprinted herself on every corner of my space without even being there.
Earlier today, she surprised me yet again. During lunch, Jack timidly approached my desk, a tray in his hands and an anxious look on his face. I had always made it clear to him: when I'm working, interruptions are not tolerated, not even for meals. But today was different.
Jack's voice trembled as he explained that Fire had insisted I eat, her tone leaving little room for argument. He even added, almost as an afterthought, that she had been 'scary' a word I never thought I'd hear him use to describe anyone. The image of Fire being 'scary' amused me more than I cared to admit, and I couldn't help but laugh at the thought of her intimidating my usually unshakable assistant.
But I wasn't about to let her get away with it that easily. I ordered Jack to return the lunch to Fire with a message: if she was so determined to see me eat, she should bring the meal to me herself. It was a challenge, one I knew she wouldn't back down from. Fire didn't shy away from anything, and I was curious to see how she'd respond.
Five minutes after that, the loud thud of the door as Fire barged in caught me off guard. I'm used to the sound of gunshots, but not aggressive door openings—in my office. It made me flinch for a split second, and I almost found the whole situation funny.
Fire stormed in, hands on her hips, looking every bit as scary as Jack had described. But instead of being intimidated, I couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. There was something captivating about the way she stomped across the room, her heels clicking sharply against the floor, looking like could definitely kill me when she decide to stomp on me if I anger her even more.
She slammed the food down on my desk, her eyes blazing with frustration. "You're not the only one who's busy, you know," she snapped, her tone cutting through the silence like a knife. "If I'm kind enough to think of you when I order lunch, the least you can do is eat it without making me bring it to you myself."
There was no denying the irritation in her voice, but beneath it, I could sense something else—something almost protective, as if she was scolding me for not taking care of myself.
I leaned back in my chair, still grinning, watching her every move. Fire was unlike any woman I'd ever met. I knew she was demanding, but it wasn't just for her own sake—it was for the good of others. Strangely enough, I found myself wanting to comply with her demands, just to see that spark in her eyes again.
Fire didn't even give me a chance to argue. She just said she had a meeting at the museum site and couldn't waste any more time on me—which, I'll admit, hit harder than I expected. Then she turned and left, her words still stinging as I stood there, blinking like an idiot. I couldn't help but laugh at myself.
Now, as I finish the last stack of paperwork on my desk, I can't stop thinking about her. The moment Fire walked out, I made a promise to myself—I'd finish early and head down to the museum site. I need to see her again. Our brief interaction wasn't enough—it only left me wanting more.
I finished quicker than I thought, and the anticipation of seeing her again had my blood pumping. I decided to bring coffee for everyone, so I called Jack and set up a coffee truck at the site. Then, with my phone in hand, I called Gerald. When he picked up, he was with Seth. Perfect. I told them to meet me at the museum. Fire might need a little distraction—and honestly, so do I. Consider this a payback for the way she managed to throw me off balance earlier.
When I arrived at the museum site, I saw Gerald and Seth already deep in conversation with Fire. She looked serious, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. I walked into the room, a cup of coffee in my hand, and immediately felt the tension in the air as all eyes turned to me.
