Don't You Dare

Chapter 7: Networking

 November 20, 2023

Andrea sat at her desk, the soft murmur of the office blending with the faint clacking of keyboards and the occasional ring of a phone. Outside the windows, the trees lining the street were nearly bare, the last few leaves clinging stubbornly to their branches as the wind swirled them in a dance of reds and browns. The calendar on her desk read Monday, November 20, 2023—just a few days before Thanksgiving.

It had been over a month since that night in October, since the moment she'd let herself get too close to Gabe. Since then, they had both been strictly professional, exchanging only what was necessary for work, avoiding each other's gazes, keeping a careful distance. She buried herself in her cases, telling herself it was for the best, but there were moments—fleeting, almost imperceptible—where she caught him looking at her with an expression she couldn't quite read. Moments that left her breathless and aching.

She shook her head, refocusing on the brief in front of her. The document was filled with annotations, her notes scrawled in the margins, highlighting key points for the upcoming case. She was so engrossed in her work that she didn't notice someone approaching until she heard her name.

"Hey, Andrea. How's it going?"

She looked up, surprised to see Ethan standing by her desk, his usual easy smile in place.

"Oh, hey, Ethan," she said, forcing a smile and setting her pen down. "Just trying to get through this brief before the afternoon meeting."

"Yeah, it's been a crazy few weeks," he said, leaning casually against her desk. "I was thinking we could all use a break. A few of us are heading out for lunch. You should join us."

Andrea hesitated, glancing at the stack of files beside her. "I don't know. I've got a lot to finish."

"Come on," Ethan urged, his tone light and persuasive. "You've been working non-stop. You deserve a break. Plus, it'll be good to get to know everyone outside the office."

Andrea bit her lip, considering. She glanced toward Gabe's office door, which was closed. The professional distance they'd been keeping was taking its toll, and she was tired of pretending everything was fine when it clearly wasn't.

"Okay, fine," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You've convinced me."

"Great!" Ethan said, his grin widening. "We'll head out in a bit."

Just as she was about to return to her work, she sensed someone approaching. She looked up and saw Gabe walking over, carrying a stack of papers. His expression was neutral, but there was something tense about the way he moved.

"Don't forget we have a meeting at two, Andrea," he said, his voice steady but with an edge she hadn't heard before. "Try not to be late."

Andrea blinked, caught off guard by his sudden interruption and the condescending tone he used. "I'm not going to be late, Gabe. It's just lunch."

Ethan, clearly sensing the tension, leaned in with a smirk. "Don't worry, Gabe. I'll make sure she's back in time. You can count on me."

Gabe's jaw tightened, and he gave Ethan a hard look before turning his gaze back to Andrea. "I'm not worried about you, Ethan," he said, his tone clipped. "I just want to make sure we're all focused on what's important."

Andrea felt her temper flare. The way he spoke to her—as if she couldn't manage her own time—was infuriating. After weeks of trying to keep things professional, of pretending everything was normal, this was too much.

"I am focused," she snapped, standing up from her chair, anger sharpening her words. "And I don't appreciate you implying that I'm not."

Gabe's eyes widened slightly, surprised by the force of her reaction. "That's not what I'm saying."