All That She Needs

Part 9 : Asha

Dennis had been hovering around me all day, his concerned eyes kept wandering to me as he fluttered around me doing some kind of meaningless shit. He kept finding excuses to check in on me, bringing me files to review, asking about tasks that didn't need immediate attention, or offering to fetch me coffee even though I had just declined moments ago. Like Brody, he only needed one look at my face to know that something was deeply wrong. He didn't ask any direct questions—he rarely did—but his presence was constant, a silent reminder that he was there if I needed him. It was both comforting and exhausting. Especially exhausting, because I knew perfectly well that he could see through the cracks I was trying so hard to cover up.

I really wasn't in the mood to talk, much less explain what was weighing so heavily on my mind. But Dennis, being Dennis, wouldn't let it go.

"Are you sure there's nothing I can do?" he asked carefully, for the third time that afternoon. His eyes were soft, filled with worries that only made the knot in my chest tighten.

"For the love of God, Dennis, if you ask me that one more time, I'll –"

"Relax, geez," he said, giving me an eye roll. His hands were on his hips, and his tone dripped with sass. "I was just asking. No need to be bitchy."

I sighed as I managed a weak smile, but I knew it didn't reach my eyes. "I'm fine, Dennis. Really."

But we both knew that was a lie.

"Where's Mr. Super Hotness? He didn't come for lunch today?"

"No. I told him I'm busy." I was not in a mood to have company. I needed to be alone with my thoughts. I just couldn't think straight today. Everything felt out of focus, like I was wading through thick fog. No work had been done, not even the simplest tasks. I was tired, frustrated and utterly useless.

For the past week, Liam had been bringing lunch that he made himself, and we'd been sharing it together in my office. This had quickly turned into a routine. Each day, I found myself eagerly anticipating those lunch breaks. It was a small breather from the chaos that had been going on in my life, and I enjoyed it. Probably far too much. Liam's company was refreshing. He had a talent for making me smile and blush and laugh. I hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time. Once, he brought his friends with him. His 'little troop' as Dennis called them.

And I finally met Keith, the InfiniTech project manager and Liam's best friend who tried to steal my tiramisu. Keith looked stunned when he first saw me, his eyes widening in surprise. After a moment of weird silence, Keith extended his hand towards me. "I'm Keith. Nice to meet you, Asha. Liam told us absolutely nothing about you—actually, we only got your name from your lovely assistant. That's why we practically forced him to bring us here. We wanted to find out why he's been sneaking off with those incredible-smelling lunches and denied me my tiramisu, into your office."

"Okay now, Keith. Time to shut up," Liam grumbled.

Keith, like Liam, was tall, tattooed and muscular. His long, dark hair fell loose on his shoulders, framing a face that was marked by a scruffy jaw and chin he clearly couldn't be bothered to shave, though undeniably, giving him a nicely rugged charm. His eyes, dark as the night, glinted with a mischievous spark that suggested that he was a laid-back guy. He had an easy confidence in his demeanor that made him instantly approachable, same as Liam.

And he had been receiving moon eyes from Dennis who just couldn't stop staring at him.

There was another person with them, who Liam introduced as Theo. Liam said he was his security. I glanced at the guy with shock, because Theo was cute as a button. He had wheat blond hair, rosy cheeks, a pair of lips that was too red for a man, and green eyed like me that was framed by thick rimmed glasses. He was a tiny guy; he was even shorter than me. How the hell he was security?