Emma's POV
The next few days at the office were a blur of reports, meetings, and the usual office banter that filled the halls, amid all the noise, something shifted something that threw my routine off-kilter
A new intern had joined the team
Her name was Lily Thompson, and she was impossible to ignore from the moment she walked into the office, it was clear she was the kind of person who thrived in the spotlight
Tall, with auburn hair that fell in loose waves down her back, she exuded confidence with every step, her smile was bright, her laughter easy, and she carried herself like she'd been working here for years, not days
Everyone noticed her, of course It was hard not to, but what really unsettled me was how quickly she noticed me
"Hey, Emma, right?" Lily's voice was smooth and friendly as she slid into the seat next to mine during our team meeting. "I've heard a lot about you already, looks like we're the new interns on the block."
I offered her a polite smile, trying to hide the slight discomfort I felt at her easy approach. "Yeah, I guess so. Welcome to the team i guess!"
"Thanks! So, how's it been so far? This place as intense as it looks?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with genuine curiosity
"It has its moments," I replied, keeping my tone light. "But it's a good learning experience."
Lily nodded, her gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary. "Well, I'm glad to have someone to figure it all out with, we should grab coffee sometime and exchange survival tips."
I hesitated, unsure of how to respond Lily was nice there was no doubt about that but something about her effortless charm made me feel uneasy maybe it was because I was used to flying under the radar, and she seemed determined to pull me into her
"Sure," I said finally, "That sounds nice."
Her smile widened, and she gave a small, satisfied nod before turning her attention back to the meeting as the team leader discussed upcoming projects, I tried to focus, but I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to change—again
Later that day, I found myself in the break room, staring blankly at the coffee machine as it hummed and whirred I was exhausted, mentally and emotionally drained from trying to keep up appearances at work while grappling with the ever-present tension surrounding me
Speaking of Ms. Whitmore...
"Emma."
Her voice, as smooth and commanding as ever, pulled me out of my thoughts I turned quickly, nearly spilling my half-made coffee, to see her standing in the doorway she didn't smile, but her eyes held that familiar gleam the one that sent my pulse racing and my mind spinning
"Yes, Ms. Whitmore?" I said, trying to sound composed, though I could feel my face heating up under her gaze.
"I need you to put together a presentation on our latest branding campaign by tomorrow afternoon," she said, stepping closer, her presence seemed to fill the small break room, making it feel even more claustrophobic. "It's a critical project, and I trust you'll handle it with the creativity and attention it deserves."
"Of course," I replied, my voice catching slightly. "I'll get it done."
Ms. Whitmore's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before she nodded. "Good. And remember, if you need any guidance... my office is always open."
There it was again that teasing undertone that made my thoughts scatter in a hundred different directions was she doing this on purpose, or was I reading too much into it? I couldn't tell anymore, and that was what made it so frustrating
As she turned to leave, her gaze flickered to the side, and for the briefest of moments, she noticed Lily walking past the break room there was something unreadable in Ms. Whitmore's expression as her eyes followed Lily's movements, but she quickly masked it before turning back to me
"Don't forget about that presentation, Emma," she said, her voice returning to its usual authoritative tone. "I expect nothing less than excellence."
With that, she walked out of the room, leaving me standing there with a half-made coffee and a thousand unanswered questions swirling in my mind
The rest of the day passed in a blur of work, and by the time I finally left the office, it was already dark outside I headed to the subway, my mind still replaying the events of the day the introduction of Lily, the brief but intense encounter with Ms. Whitmore, and that strange look she gave Lily
Why had she looked at her like that? Was it just professional curiosity, or something more? Was I overthinking things again?
As I sat on the train, I stared out the window at the passing lights, trying to clear my mind but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that—something is beyond my control gonna happen
Lily's arrival had disrupted the delicate balance I'd been trying to maintain at work. She was friendly, confident, and undeniably attractive, and it was only a matter of time before she started drawing attention from the rest of the office including her
And that thought... it gnawed at me in a way I couldn't quite explain
YOU ARE READING
The Space Between Us
Romance"If you wanted to feel my touch, you only had to say," her voice was a sultry whisper, her fingers brushing against my heated skin My breath hitched as her lips hovered near her ear, "All this tension, Emma don't pretend you're not drawn to me." Emm...
