Chapter 15 Proximity
Monday Morning
Alexander arrived at seven-fifteen, earlier than necessary but unable to stay away.
The fifty-third floor was quiet. Jenna's desk sat empty. Victoria's office was dark.
But Elena was there.
She stood at the coffee station, back to him, pouring water into the machine. Her movements were efficient, practiced—someone who'd done this a thousand times.
He should have walked past. Gone to his office. Maintained the professional distance Victoria had demanded.
Instead, he cleared his throat.
She turned, startled. "Oh. Good morning."
"Morning." He moved closer, watching her expression for any sign of recognition. Nothing. Just polite professionalism. "You're here early."
"Victoria has an eight o'clock call with Singapore. I wanted to be ready."
"Dedicated."
"Just doing my job." She pressed the start button on the coffee maker. The machine hummed to life.
Silence stretched between them, awkward and charged.
Say something, he told himself. Anything.
"I think we went to the same university," he said finally.
Her hands stilled on the counter. "What?"
"I saw your diploma in HR files when I was reviewing personnel records. You graduated from State, right? Class of 2022?"
"Yes." Her voice was careful, guarded.
"I was class of 2022 too. Different major, but same year."
Elena's brow furrowed slightly, like she was searching her memory for his face and coming up empty. "Small world."
"Very small." He leaned against the counter, trying to appear casual when his heart was hammering. "I don't remember seeing you around campus, though."
"I mostly kept to myself. Worked a lot."
"Still, you'd think we would've crossed paths. Big campus, but not that big."
She poured coffee into Victoria's blue mug, movements precise. "Maybe we did and just don't remember."
The words hit harder than she could know.
"Maybe," he said quietly.
She glanced at him then—really looked at him—and something flickered across her face. Confusion? Recognition? Gone before he could identify it.
"I should—" She gestured toward Victoria's office.
"Of course. I won't keep you."
She walked past him, close enough that he caught her scent—something clean and simple, no expensive perfume. Just her.
The memory slammed into him. That night. Waking up alone but surrounded by that same scent on the sheets.
It was her. He was certain.
But she showed no sign of remembering him.
Elena set Victoria's coffee down with shaking hands.
Same university. Same year.
Why did that information make her pulse race?
She'd been so isolated during college—working three jobs, barely socializing, invisible to everyone around her. The idea that Alexander Thorne had been there, walking the same campus, breathing the same air...
And that night.
No.
She pushed the thought away violently.
That stranger had been nobody. Some guy whose face she'd been too drunk to remember. It couldn't be—
"Elena."
She jumped. Victoria stood in her office doorway, briefcase in hand, expression sharp.
"Yes?"
"Conference room. Five minutes. I need to brief you and Alexander."
Her stomach dropped. "Both of us?"
"Both of you."
Victoria disappeared back into her office.
Elena sat at her desk, trying to calm her breathing.
This was work. Professional. Nothing more.
So why did her hands keep trembling?
The conference room felt smaller than usual with just the three of them.
Victoria sat at the head of the table. Alexander took the seat across from Elena, his presence somehow filling the entire space.
"I'm leaving for Tokyo tomorrow," Victoria said without preamble. "Meetings with potential investors. I'll be gone for a week, possibly longer if negotiations extend."
Elena nodded, already mentally reorganizing schedules.
"While I'm gone, Alexander will handle any urgent decisions that can't wait for my return. Elena, you'll report to him for that week."
The words hung in the air.
Report to him.
Work with him.
"Understood," Alexander said, voice neutral.
Elena forced herself to speak. "What about your standing meetings? The board update on Thursday?"
"Alexander will cover it. You'll provide him with all necessary materials." Victoria's gaze moved between them. "I need you both to work together seamlessly. No drama, no complications. Can you manage that?"
"Of course," Alexander said.
Elena nodded, not trusting her voice.
"Good." Victoria stood. "Elena, I need the Tokyo files compiled by end of day. Alexander, review the quarterly projections—you'll be presenting them in my absence. Questions?"
"No," they said in unison.
Victoria left, heels clicking down the hallway.
Silence filled the conference room.
Elena stared at her tablet, hyperaware of Alexander sitting across from her. She could feel his gaze, heavy and assessing.
"So," he said finally. "Are you ready to work together."
"Yes."
"We'll need to coordinate. Go over Victoria's calendar, active projects, anything that might need immediate attention."
"I have everything organized. I can send you—"
"I'd prefer to go through it together. Make sure I'm not missing anything."
She looked up. Met his eyes.
Dark. Intense. Focused entirely on her.
That feeling washed over her again—familiar, unsettling, like standing on the edge of something she didn't understand.
"When?" she managed.
"Tonight? After hours? We can stay late, go through everything without interruptions."
Alone. In the office. Just the two of them.
Her mind raced through excuses. She had to pick up—no, she couldn't say that. Mrs. Chen could keep him later if needed. She always did when Elena asked.
"I can't stay too late," she said carefully. "I have... obligations."
"Seven? Would that work?"
Seven meant she'd miss bedtime. Leo would be asleep when she got home. The thought made her chest ache, but she couldn't explain that to Alexander Thorne.
"Seven works."
"Good." He stood, and she noticed his hands were gripping the edge of the table. Tense. "I'll see you then."
He left before she could respond.
Elena sat alone in the conference room, heart racing.
One week. Working closely with him. No Victoria as buffer.
Why did that terrify her?
And why, beneath the terror, was there something else?
Something that felt dangerously close to anticipation.
The day passed in a blur of preparation.
Elena compiled files, organized briefings, answered emails. Victoria was in back-to-back meetings, preparation for Tokyo consuming her attention.
At lunch, Elena texted Mrs. Chen: Can you keep Leo tonight until 8? Work emergency.
The response came immediately: Of course. Don't worry about him.
Guilt twisted in her stomach, but she had no choice.
Natalie appeared at her desk around two. "Lunch?"
"Can't. Too much to do."
"You've been saying that all week. When's the last time you ate?"
"This morning."
Natalie set a wrapped sandwich on her desk. "Eat. That's an order."
"I don't take orders from analysts."
"You take orders from friends. Eat."
Elena unwrapped the sandwich, grateful despite herself. "Thank you."
"You're working late tonight?"
"How did you—"
"Because you always work late when you're stressed. And you've been stress-typing for the past hour." Natalie leaned against the desk. "What's going on?"
"Victoria's leaving for Tokyo. I need to prep Alexander on everything."
"Alexander.?" Natalie's eyebrow raised. "Wow Interesting."
"It's work."
"Is it?"
"What else would it be?"
"I don't know. But.. maybe the way he looks at you—"
"He doesn't look at me any particular way."
"Elena. I have eyes. So does everyone on this floor." Natalie's voice softened. "Just... be careful, okay?"
"There's nothing to be careful about."
"If you say so." Natalie squeezed her shoulder and left.
Elena stared at the sandwich, appetite gone.
The way he looks at you.
No. Natalie was imagining things. Alexander Thorne was dating Felicia Moreno. He was rich, powerful, completely out of her league.
He didn't look at her any particular way.
He couldn't.