~𝑶𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒀𝒐𝒖!~

~2~

The next morning, Lily stepped into the office, the sun streaming through the tall glass windows and casting a warm glow on the sleek furniture. Despite the brightness, she felt a nagging weight in her chest from the conversation she had with Ethan the night before. The moment she walked in, her heart raced as she thought about him, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them.

As she settled into her desk, she glanced at the clock—8:58 a.m. Ethan was always punctual. It was one of the many things she found both admirable and intimidating about him. Sure enough, at 9:00 a.m. sharp, he strode in, exuding that effortless confidence of someone who was used to being in charge. He wore a perfectly tailored suit that made him look even more handsome than usual, and his dark hair was styled just right. His blue eyes scanned the room until they locked onto her, and for a second, everything else faded away.

"Good morning, Lily," he said, his voice smooth but with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.

"Good morning, Ethan," she replied, forcing a smile, even though her stomach was doing flips.

The morning passed in a blur of emails and phone calls. Lily was busy organizing meetings and preparing reports, but it was hard to focus when she felt Ethan's gaze lingering on her more than usual. Every time their eyes met, a spark ignited, sending shivers down her spine. She couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. Did he really want to get to know her, or was it just another game for him?

"Lily, could you come into my office for a minute?" he called, breaking her concentration.

"Sure!" she said, quickly standing and smoothing her skirt before making her way to his office, feeling both excited and nervous.

Once inside, she noticed the tension in the air. Ethan stood by the window, staring out at the busy city below, his brow furrowed as if he were deep in thought.

"Everything okay?" she asked, crossing her arms defensively.

"I just want to make sure we're on the same page about the presentation for the board meeting next week," he said, turning to face her, a hint of frustration on his face.

"Of course. I thought we covered everything yesterday," Lily replied, trying to read his mood.

"I want it to be perfect," he insisted, his intensity rising. "We can't afford to mess this up. Our reputations are on the line."

The way he said "our" made her heart race. It felt personal, like he was including her in something bigger. "I know how important this is to you. I'll do whatever it takes to make it right," she said, her determination rising.

Ethan stepped closer, the heat radiating from him making her feel both anxious and exhilarated. "I trust you, Lily. Just don't let anyone else influence your decisions. You know what you're capable of."

"Absolutely," she replied, trying to maintain her composure.

But as Ethan leaned back against his desk, the tension shifted again. There was a moment of silence that felt electric. Lily's heart pounded as she fought the urge to close the distance between them. She reminded herself that she had to keep things professional, but it was getting harder by the minute.

"Do you have any plans for the weekend?" he asked suddenly, breaking the tension.

"Not really. Just some errands and catching up on laundry," she said, trying to sound casual.

Ethan smirked, a playful glint in his eyes. "You should let me take you out. We could grab dinner or something."

The invitation caught her off guard. "Dinner? With you?"

"Why not?" he said, leaning in closer. "I know a great place. Besides, it'll give us a chance to discuss the presentation in a more relaxed setting."

Lily felt her heart race as she considered his offer. Part of her was intrigued by the idea of spending more time with him outside the office, but another part warned her against crossing that line. "I appreciate it, Ethan, but I'm not sure that's a good idea."

He frowned, his expression darkening slightly. "Why not? We can't let our working relationship hold us back from building something more."

"More?" she echoed, her stomach twisting in knots.

He stepped back, frustration evident in his posture. "Lily, I just want to get to know you better. I see potential in you—both as an employee and as a person."

The way he said "person" made her heart flutter, but she shook her head, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I think it's best if we keep things professional. We have a job to do."

Ethan sighed, his expression softening. "I understand. But just know that the offer stands. I want you to feel comfortable around me."

Lily nodded, taking his words to heart. "Thanks, Ethan. I'll keep that in mind."

As she left his office, her mind was racing. She needed to focus on her work, but the tension between them lingered, blurring the lines of their professional relationship.

Later that afternoon, she sat at her desk, reviewing the presentation slides again. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Ethan's piercing gaze and the way he had leaned in closer. Just as she was getting lost in her thoughts, Victoria walked by, giving her a knowing smile.

"You seem distracted today," Victoria said, leaning against the cubicle wall.

"Just trying to finalize the presentation," Lily replied, attempting to keep her tone light.

Victoria raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Right. Or is it because of Mr. Caldwell?"

Lily's cheeks flushed. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on. It's pretty obvious he has his eyes on you," Victoria teased. "There's definitely some chemistry there."

"It's not like that," Lily protested, but her heart was racing, and she could feel her cheeks growing hotter.

"Sure it's not," Victoria said, rolling her eyes. "Just be careful. The last thing you want is to get involved with someone like him. I've heard things."

"Like what?" Lily asked, curiosity piqued despite her better judgment.

"Just that he can be... intense," Victoria replied, her tone dropping. "He's got a reputation for being hard to deal with. Just don't lose yourself in all of this."

Lily nodded, taking her words to heart. She knew she had to be cautious around Ethan, no matter how captivating he might be.

As the day wound down, she couldn't shake the feeling of being drawn into a web of emotions she wasn't ready to confront. With every glance exchanged and every word spoken, the lines of their relationship blurred further, leaving her wondering what would happen next.

When the clock hit 5:00 p.m., Lily gathered her things to leave for the day, a sense of relief washing over her. But just as she stood up, Ethan appeared at her desk. "Ready to call it a night?" he asked, his expression unreadable.

"Yeah, I just need to finish up a few things," Lily replied, trying to keep her composure.

"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow," he said, his voice low as he turned to leave.

"See you," she murmured, feeling a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

But as she watched him walk away, her heart raced. The more she tried to deny her feelings, the stronger they seemed to grow. Was it really possible that she was falling for someone like him? Someone with a reputation for being toxic and manipulative? She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

As she stepped out into the cool evening air, she couldn't help but replay the day in her mind. The way Ethan looked at her, the tension in his voice—it all made her stomach flutter. But she knew she had to stay focused on her work, not let her emotions get the best of her.