“I’m done with the booking. Everything’s all set,” Julie said, placing a folder on Tyler’s desk with an indifferent expression.
Her tone was casual, professional even, but Tyler could sense the tension lingering between them, as thick and heavy as the silence in the room. He glanced at her briefly, his eyes flicking over the folder before returning to his computer screen, trying to keep the conversation strictly business.
The flight to London for the presentation and charity event was critical, and Julie had handled the logistics seamlessly, as always. He needed her expertise, and that was the only reason she was still around. Nothing more.
Tyler kept his face impassive, refusing to let any flicker of emotion slip through, even as the memory of their past tugged at him from the back of his mind. They had once been more than just boss and secretary, but now, all of that was behind him. Or so he told himself.
Julie stood there, her hands clasped in front of her, her face as unreadable as ever. She, too, seemed determined to act like nothing had ever happened between them, but Tyler caught the faint hint of tension in her posture, the way her fingers curled slightly into her palms. She was trying hard to be indifferent, but he could still see the cracks in her armor.
“We’ll be traveling together then,” Tyler said, his voice cool, keeping things formal. “Make sure everything is prepared. I don’t want any last-minute surprises.”
Julie nodded, her eyes flicking up to meet his for a brief moment before looking away again. “Of course. I’ve already made all the arrangements.”
He kept his focus on his work, typing a few notes into his system, trying to ignore the awkwardness hanging in the air. But it was impossible to ignore the nagging thought at the back of his mind.. the picture. The one Julie had sent him, the one that had blindsided him completely.
As she turned to leave, Tyler’s resolve cracked.
“Wait.”
Julie froze, her hand on the door handle, but she didn’t turn around immediately. Her shoulders stiffened, and he saw her take a small, controlled breath before she finally turned to face him.
With a steely gaze, Tyler leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Where did you get the picture you sent me?”
Her expression didn’t change at first.. cool, collected.. but there was a flicker of something in her eyes. She feigned ignorance, tilting her head slightly. “What picture?”
Tyler’s jaw clenched, his patience wearing thin. “Don’t play games with me, Julie. You know exactly what picture I’m talking about.” His voice was sharp, cutting through the tension in the room. “The one you sent last night. Who gave it to you?”
For a moment, Julie didn’t respond, her eyes shifting slightly as if she was searching for an excuse, something to say that would get her out of this. But no words came.
“Oh, that,” she finally muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked away, clearly flustered, but unable to come up with a reasonable explanation.
Tyler’s gaze darkened, and he could feel the anger bubbling up inside him. “You disgust me.” The words were cold, harsh, and they cut through the air like a blade. “Get out.”
Julie’s eyes widened, but she said nothing, her face pale. She turned toward the door, but before she could take another step, Tyler’s voice stopped her again.
“And Julie,” he added, his tone dripping with venom. “The next time you send me any of your pathetic, desperate nonsense, I’ll make sure you’re arrested. Is that clear?”
She nodded, her face pale, her lips pressed into a thin line as she quickly exited the room without another word.
Tyler sighed, the anger still simmering inside him. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to push the irritation away. “Make sure all the trip’s needs are well sorted,” he called out just before the door clicked shut. “We leave early tomorrow.”
**********
I stood awkwardly in front of Caleb’s desk, my stomach twisting into knots as I watched him type something on his computer. He hadn’t said a word to me since I walked into his office, and the silence was thick, almost suffocating.
For two long minutes, he didn’t even look up. Just focused on the screen in front of him, his fingers moving quickly over the keyboard. I shifted my weight, trying to steady my breathing, wondering why he’d called me in.
Finally, he gestured for me to sit, his eyes still not meeting mine.
I hesitated, offering a weak excuse. “I have something I need to deal with…”
But he wasn’t having it. “Sit.”
Reluctantly, I sank into the chair, my heart thudding in my chest. There was something about his tone that made it impossible to argue.
When Caleb finally spoke, his voice was calm, but there was an underlying edge that made me tense.
“Why did you leave the office without telling me last night?”
I blinked, caught off guard by the question.
My mind raced, trying to process his words. Why would he care about that? Wasn’t he the same man who walked in this morning with a cold, distant demeanor?
“I-I didn’t think I needed to,” I stammered, the confusion evident in my voice.
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze finally lifting to meet mine. “Haven’t I told you not to walk that lonely path alone?” His tone was soft, almost scolding, but there was a warmth to it that threw me off completely.
The contradiction of his coldness earlier and the concern in his voice now made my mind spin.
I couldn’t make sense of it.. couldn’t make sense of him.
Was this the same man who had barely acknowledged me when he walked into the office this morning? He called me in here to ask me this?
“Samantha, are you here?” His voice cut through my thoughts.
I snapped back to the moment, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “I’m here,” I said, my voice just above a whisper.
Caleb held my gaze for a long moment, his eyes steady, as if searching for something in my expression. I could feel my heartbeat quicken under his intense stare, the air between us thick with unspoken tension. Then, just as suddenly, he sighed and resigned with a brief smile, almost like a silent truce, and reached across his desk.
“Here,” he said, handing me a sleek, silver laptop.
I frowned, curiosity tugging at me as I slowly took it from him. The weight of it felt strange in my hands, like something out of place. My fingers hovered over the trackpad, and with a deep breath, I opened the screen.
And there it was.
My design.
Exactly the way I’d left it.
My heart skipped a beat as I stared at the screen, wide-eyed and frozen. It was flawless, untouched, just how it was supposed to be. Every line, every color, every detail meticulously in place.. my design, restored.
“H-how?” I breathed, my voice barely audible, filled with disbelief and confusion.