Twisted Veil of Devotion

Part 3

Silent echoes, faint and stark,

Paint their secrets in the dark.

Hidden truths, like midnight's art,

Lie within the shadowed heart.

Stella POV:

It had been almost a month since Ryan started with the company, and I could feel the tension building between us. It wasn't just the small, polite greetings in passing—there was something more. Whether it was a brief moment in the cafeteria, our occasional encounters in the break room, or the way my heart raced whenever we worked on a project together, I couldn't escape the constant undercurrent of something unspoken.

I was standing by my desk, trying to focus on the project in front of me, when I heard his voice—so smooth, so effortlessly commanding.

"Hey, Stella."

I hadn't expected it, and I almost choked on the coffee I was drinking. The hot liquid burned my throat, and I sputtered, coughing uncontrollably.

"Are you okay?" Ryan asked, his voice tinged with concern. His face was close now, and I could see the furrow in his brow, his dark eyes focused on me with a mix of curiosity and worry.

"I'm fine," I said, the words coming out between coughs. I tried to calm myself down, but the embarrassment was overwhelming. I couldn't help but laugh awkwardly, trying to regain my composure. "Just a little... surprise there."

He smiled, but it wasn't a teasing smile. It was more of a gentle, almost amused expression. He seemed to relax, his eyes softening as he took a step back, giving me space. "Alright, just making sure."

My heart thudded in my chest as I looked up at him. His concern felt genuine, and yet I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more behind those dark eyes. More than just a colleague, more than just the friendly banter we shared.

But I pushed those thoughts away. I had enough to deal with already. My life had already been complicated by someone who watched me from the shadows. I didn't need to add any more confusion to it, especially not with someone like Ryan—someone who was so close, yet so... unreachable.

I cleared my throat, trying to get my voice back to its normal calm state. "Thanks for checking on me." I said, trying to sound casual as I took a steadying breath.

"Of course," he replied, his voice warm but still light, before heading back to his desk.

I watched him go, the tension between us still lingering in the air, though I wasn't sure what to make of it. There was no danger, no cause for concern, but something about Ryan—his presence, his kindness—left me wondering. Was it just a coincidence, or was there something more I hadn't figured out yet?

I sighed, trying to focus back on my work. I didn't need to be distracted by Ryan. Not when there were so many other things on my mind. But, even as I tried to focus, I couldn't help but feel like I was walking a fine line—torn between wanting to ignore the pull between us and the temptation to explore it.

Ryan walked back towards me, and for a moment, I thought I had imagined it, but then his voice cut through my thoughts.

"Actually, I was going to ask if you wanted to grab something to eat after work?"

I blinked, caught off guard by the suddenness of the question. Was he asking me out? Or was this just a casual offer? My mind raced, unsure of how to respond. We'd only just begun working together, and while there had been that subtle tension between us, I didn't know if it was a good idea to mix business with anything personal.