Love Without Measure

28. Between Deadlines and Daydreams

The office buzzed with the usual hum of computers, ringing phones, and the low murmur of colleagues in conversation. Yet for Lily Chen, none of it registered. She was too busy stealing glances at the new hire, Harper Nguyen, who had joined the marketing team two weeks ago. Harper had an easy confidence, the kind that drew people in without trying. And the way she smiled at Lily across the open-plan office? Dangerous.

Lily shook her head, trying to refocus on the spreadsheet in front of her. Don't even think about it, she chastised herself. You're here to work, not... whatever this is.

Harper, sensing she was being watched, looked up from her desk and caught Lily's gaze. She smirked, a tiny, mischievous curl of her lips that made Lily's stomach flutter.

"Busy with the quarterly report?" Harper asked, her voice smooth, teasing.

Lily nearly jumped. "Uh... yeah. Just... crunching some numbers." Her fingers fumbled over the keyboard. Why do I sound like a complete idiot every time she talks to me?

Harper leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms above her head. "Don't tell me you actually enjoy spreadsheets. I'll lose all respect for you."

Lily laughed, the sound a little too breathless. "It's... productive." She hated how weak her voice sounded under Harper's gaze.

From that moment on, the days became a series of small, electric interactions. A lingering glance by the coffee machine. A shared laugh in the break room. Notes left on sticky pads with playful jokes, unsigned, until Lily realized they were all from Harper.

It wasn't just fun and games, though. There was an undeniable tension, a pull neither of them could ignore. During late-night projects, they found themselves alone in the office more often than not. The hum of fluorescent lights became a soundtrack to whispered conversations, shared snacks, and accidental touches—hands brushing while reaching for the same document, shoulders colliding as they leaned over a presentation.

Lily hated how much she wanted Harper's attention. She hated how Harper's smirk could unbalance her for an entire day. And she hated that it was impossible to ignore.

It's just office flirting, Lily told herself one night as they stayed late to finish a campaign proposal. Nothing more. Nothing serious.

But Harper's laughter, the warmth of her hand when it lingered on Lily's for just a second, said otherwise.

One evening, as the office emptied, Harper stayed behind, sipping coffee while scrolling through her tablet. Lily hesitated at the doorway, pretending she had work to finish. Harper's eyes lifted, meeting hers.

"You still here?" Harper asked, arching an eyebrow.

Lily swallowed. "Uh... yeah. Just... finishing a few things."

Harper's smirk softened, a rare, almost vulnerable expression. "I like that you stay late. Makes me feel less guilty about not leaving."

She notices me. Lily's heart hammered. She actually notices me.

"I... guess we both have our reasons," Lily said softly, inching closer under the guise of collecting some papers. Their shoulders brushed, sending a spark up Lily's spine.

Harper leaned slightly closer, her voice dropping. "Lily... do you ever feel like maybe we... work too well together?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and loaded. Lily's breath caught. She looked at Harper, seeing the same flicker of longing in her eyes that mirrored her own.

"I... maybe," Lily admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

Harper's smile was slow, knowing, teasing. "Good. Because I was hoping we could... explore that."