Chapter 15 The Lingering Gaze
Elliot arrived at the office earlier than usual. He sat at his desk with a serious expression, occasionally glancing at the door, unable to shake the restlessness from the night before.
He hadn’t slept well. Every time he closed his eyes, images of Audrey’s face and the incident replayed in his mind. Worse, her text message that came in near midnight only added to the unease.
\[Audrey : Thank you, Mr. Harrington. But I will still come in tomorrow.\]
The fact that she refused to take the time to rest bothered him more than it should have. And yet, what unsettled him even more was how much he was thinking about her.
Several minutes passed, and Elliot finally tried to focus on his work. Just as he began to immerse himself in the report on his laptop, he heard footsteps approaching. It was too early for the other staff.
A soft knock came before the door creaked open.
Audrey stood there, looking paler than usual, but still managing to offer a small, professional smile. She wore a simple cream blouse and black slacks—neat, as always.
“Good morning, Sir,” Audrey greeted, her voice friendly but slightly hoarse.
Elliot stood up and gave her a once-over. “You’re early,” he noted flatly, though there was no coldness in his tone this time.
Audrey offered a faint smile, walking in and setting down a stack of documents. “I thought there might be urgent work since I was out yesterday, Sir.”
Elliot sighed briefly, staring at her with a sharp gaze. “Audrey, I gave you three days off. Why are you here?”
Audrey stopped in front of his desk, still looking professional. “Thank you for the leave, Sir. But I feel better working. At home, my mind just wanders.”
Elliot studied her in silence for a few seconds, trying to decipher the emotion behind her smile. Finally, he let out a longer sigh.
“In that case, you promise me one thing,” Elliot said, his voice a bit firmer now, yet there was something more than authority behind it.
Audrey met his gaze, her heart starting to race. “What is it, Sir?”
“If you feel like you can’t manage, even a little, you need to tell me. Don’t push yourself, understood?”
Audrey was taken aback by his firm tone, but there was something almost caring underneath it. She nodded slowly. “Yes, Sir. I understand.”
Elliot sat back down and picked up the documents she handed him. He opened the first page, but his attention kept drifting. Audrey stood quietly in front of him, her posture stiff and controlled. No sign of emotion on her face, but Elliot could see the slight shadow beneath her eyes—the remnants of what happened yesterday.
“The clause on page five,” Elliot said, his voice cutting through the silence. “Why was that section revised?”
Audrey responded instantly, without hesitation. “The legal team advised the revision, Sir. They felt the terminology needed adjustment to strengthen our position in case
of a sudden cancellation.”
Elliot glanced at her for a second, then went back to the document. “And this, the budget adjustment in Appendix B. Why the increase?”
“Additional specifications agreed upon by the client, Sir,” Audrey replied, her tone calm. “I’ve included the cost breakdown and justification from the operational team on the next page.”
Elliot nodded slightly, signaling his approval. Yet, instead of returning to the document, his gaze once again landed on Audrey.
She looked fine. She looked perfect. Professional, poised, composed. Yet something about her—something behind those eyes—caught his attention.
“You must have reviewed this all yourself,” Elliot said, his voice softer than before.
“Yes, Sir. I always ensure everything aligns with your direction before submitting it,” Audrey said with another small smile.
Elliot sighed again, then returned to the document, signing the last page with a steady hand.
“Alright, this is done,” Elliot said, closing the folder. “Make sure the operational team starts the next process immediately.”
“Understood, Sir,” Audrey replied, taking the signed documents. Her movements were confident and graceful.
“Is there anything else I need to do, Sir?” Audrey asked, prompting Elliot to glance at her one more time.
How does she do it? Elliot thought, noticing the composure she wore so effortlessly.
“No. You may return,” he replied, though there was a slight hesitation in his voice.
Audrey nodded, offering a small bow. “Thank you for your time, Sir.” She turned and walked out of the office.
Elliot watched her leave, the smile still lingering on her face. When the door clicked shut behind her, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. His gaze remained fixed on the door for a moment longer, then he muttered softly, “Why do I find it so hard to ignore you now...?”
Outside, Audrey paused briefly in front of Elliot’s office door. She let out a long sigh, relief flooding her as she finally allowed herself to relax. She had been so tense, wondering if Elliot would scold her for coming in despite taking the day off.
But he didn’t. In fact, his tone was almost... caring?
Audrey shook her head slowly, trying to shake off the confusion. She wasn’t going to think too much about it.
Still, his gaze lingered in her mind. It wasn’t pity, like she’d feared, but it wasn’t quite the usual professional indifference either. It was something else—something warmer, but also firm. Concerned, but with an underlying intensity that made her heart race.
What was that? Audrey whispered to herself, staring at the closed door behind her.
She shook her head again, trying to focus. "Focus, Audrey! There’s still work to do."
She walked toward her desk, trying to bury her thoughts in the mountain of paperwork that awaited her. But Elliot’s gaze refused to leave her mind. It kept circling around, like an unanswered question.
Sitting at her desk, Audrey was determined to stay focused, to push everything else aside. But that moment with Elliot kept tugging at her thoughts, like a small but persistent distraction.
Before long, the sound of approaching footsteps made her look up. Liam, along with Gus and Stu—Elliot's other assistants, arrived with another stack of documents for review.
“Audrey?” Liam’s voice was surprised. His eyes widened when he saw her sitting at her desk. “You’re back? I thought you were taking a few more days off.”
Audrey offered him a faint smile, trying to seem relaxed. “I’m fine, really. Besides, the work doesn’t wait for anyone, does it?” She laughed lightly, returning to her laptop screen.
Gus and Stu exchanged glances before approaching her. “Are you sure you’re okay? Liam said you weren’t feeling well yesterday,” Gus asked, clearly concerned.
“I’m fine, really,” Audrey replied, her smile widening. “Thanks for worrying. But honestly, I just didn’t want to fall behind.”
Liam placed the documents on her desk. “If you need anything, just say so. Don’t push yourself,” he said seriously.
Audrey gave a mock salute. “Noted, Mr. Liam,” she joked, causing Liam to roll his eyes while Gus and Stu hid their smiles.
“If you’re sure,” Liam said, still unconvinced, but he didn’t press her.
As Liam and the others moved back to their desks, Audrey was about to go back to her work when she stopped him.
“Liam, wait,” she called out, making him turn back.
“What’s up?”
“I just wanted to thank you... for the dinner last night,” she said quietly, stepping closer to him.
Liam frowned. “Dinner? Oh, that. Mr. Harrington bought it—wait!”
Audrey’s eyes widened. The realization hit her like a wave.
“Wait, what?” she whispered, the question barely escaping her lips.