Day 1
On Monday, the office buzzed with its usual start-of-the-week energy — coffee cups clinking, printers humming, keyboards tapping in fast rhythms. But Pete moved through it all like a calm in a storm.Pete wore a soft navy shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, glasses perched neatly on his nose. No dramatic changes — but there was a subtle shift in how he carried himself. He walked with purpose, his eyes steady. Calm. Present.
Sky noticed it first. "Whoa," he whispered as Pete passed by his desk. "Who upgraded your aura this morning?"
Pete smiled faintly. "Just focused."
And he was. During the morning briefing, Pete spoke clearly and confidently, presenting two design updates with steady hands and thoughtful precision. He didn't glance at Vegas once.
But Vegas? Vegas's gaze was on him from the moment Pete stood up.From his seat, Vegas didn't blink much. His fingers were laced together, his expression unreadable — but the faint tension in his jaw betrayed him. Kinn, seated beside him, caught it immediately.
After the meeting, Mr. Day approached Pete casually at his desk. "That was a solid presentation," he said. "You've tightened the interface well. Great improvement."
Pete turned toward him, relaxed. "Thank you. I spent the weekend reviewing alignment flows."
Mr. Day smiled, genuinely impressed. "It shows. If you're free sometime, I'd like to go over some client feedback together. Just a short sync."
"Sure," Pete replied, tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear.
"Let me know when."Just a normal exchange. Polite. Professional.
But Vegas, standing near the back of the room, talking to Kinn, caught the whole thing. His eyes followed the tilt of Pete's head. The soft way Pete smiled when he spoke. His brow twitched — barely. But Kinn saw it.
"Don't break a pen," Kinn muttered, handing him a file.
"I'm not," Vegas said flatly, though he hadn't looked away from Pete.
"Mm-hmm," Kinn replied, but said no more.
Pete didn't even glance at Vegas. He was already turning back to his screen, posture relaxed, fingers flying over his keyboard.
Vegas walked off eventually. But his steps were just a bit too firm, too focused — like he needed to remind himself how to keep walking when something inside him had already started to turn back.
Lunch Break
The office had thinned out by midday. Most people had slipped off for lunch, their laughter trailing down the corridor toward the elevators.
Pete stayed behind at his desk, eyes focused on his screen, earbuds in. He hadn't noticed Mr. Day walking over until a coffee cup appeared on his desk.
"Thought you could use a break," Mr. Day said with a quiet smile, setting the drink down beside Pete's mousepad.
Pete blinked, tugging one earbud free. "Oh, thank you. That's really kind."
Mr. Day pulled the chair beside Pete's desk and sat, holding his own cup.
"Your attention to detail earlier—that was impressive. You've sharpened since last month."Pete chuckled softly, pushing his glasses up. "It's mostly the caffeine."
"I doubt that," Mr. Day said warmly. "There's a steadiness in the way you work. It's rare."
Pete looked down at his cup, a bit flustered. "I'm just trying to do it right."
Unseen to them, down the hallway, Vegas passed by the glass panels just as Mr. Day leaned in slightly, saying something Pete responded to with a quiet smile.
Vegas stopped mid-step.
He didn't mean to—his feet just... paused. Eyes narrowing, he watched for half a second too long.
Mr. Day laughed at something Pete said. It wasn't flirty—it was calm, sincere, two professionals sharing a coffee. But Vegas's expression darkened, just a shade.
He turned quickly, pretending to glance at his phone, jaw tight.
Kinn, who happened to be walking behind him with a folder, caught the energy shift.
"You need something?" he asked lightly.Vegas didn't look at him. "No."
"You sure? You look like someone just spilled coffee on your ego."
Vegas shot him a look. Kinn raised his hands. "Just saying."
Back at the desk, Pete hadn't noticed the stare. He was sipping the warm drink, smiling at something Mr. Day said about design trends.
But a part of him, quiet and low in his chest, felt the shift in air like something had passed behind him. A flicker. A heat.
He didn't turn.
Not yet.
The other day, the office buzzed with routine Tuesday energy — quieter than Monday, but steady. Pete had been focused all morning, typing notes and running final design comparisons. By noon, most of the team had left for lunch, but Pete stayed back to finish one more revision.
Mr. Day passed by and paused. "Join me for lunch?" he asked, holding up his takeaway bag. "I was going to eat in the courtyard."
Pete hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, sure. I could use a break."
They sat outside, sunlight slipping through the canopy. Mr. Day talked about industry trends and project growth while Pete listened with interest, smiling occasionally and tossing in a few thoughts of his own.
From the second-floor window above the courtyard, Vegas leaned against the railing, coffee in hand.
Watching.
He hadn't meant to. He just stepped out for a break, and there Pete was. Laughing softly at something Mr. Day said, casually tucking his hair behind one ear, completely unaware.
"Stalking's a bad look," Kinn's voice broke through, appearing beside him with a smirk.
Vegas didn't reply. Just sipped his coffee, eyes fixed.
Kinn leaned on the rail. "You could join them. Sit on the other side. Say something cryptic. You're good at that."
Vegas stared forward, jaw tight. "It's just lunch."
"Sure it is," Kinn said, grinning as he walked away. "Keep telling yourself that."

YOU ARE READING
From Frost to Flame
RomanceVegas Theerapanyakul is wealthy, powerful, cold as ice, and haunted by a past betrayal that left him wary of love. When Pete Phongsakorn, a hopeful and warm-hearted architecture student, steps into his world, sparks fly-but not the kind that ignites...