It’s Lucien.
I frown slightly. How did he even get my number? Then I answer my own question. He’s the owner of the company. Of course he has access to everyone’s information.
Still…
I lock my phone and ignore the message. I settle into my desk and start the morning routine. Checking incoming invoices, updating financial spreadsheets, reviewing expense reports from the previous week, forwarding budget approvals to accounting. Scheduling Andrew’s meetings and preparing the files he’ll need for the afternoon. Normal, routine. Exactly what I need. Eventually I grab a folder and head toward Andrew’s office.
But before I get there, someone stops me.
“Hey.”I turn.
James.
“I was actually just heading to your cubicle,” he says.
“For what?”
“So we can switch seats.”
I blink. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” he says casually, “since I’ll be supporting Andrew now, I need to be closer to his office.” He gestures down the hallway. “And you’ll need to be closer to Lucien’s.”
A small knot twists inside me.
“Is he here?” I ask.
James shakes his head. “I don’t think so. I heard he’s supposed to start the whole transition process next week.” Relief washes over me. The last thing I need right now is to deal with whatever complicated feelings Lucien stirred up in me.
“Okay,” I say.
James adds, “Also, I’m sorry for—” Before he can finish, Andrew’s voice cuts across the office. He’s on the phone, waving James over impatiently.
“James! I need last week’s report. Now!”
James sighs and gives me an apologetic look.
“Sorry,” he says quickly. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
I watch him hurry toward Andrew’s office, already knowing what he was trying to say. He’s apologizing for trading bosses like I’m some file being moved across desks. And honestly… he’s not wrong. This whole thing feels messy. I head back to my desk, gather my things, and walk toward James’s old cubicle. But as I approach the corner office next to it…
I stop. Lucien is standing there, leaning against the doorway of his office. Waiting. He’s looking directly at me. We lock eyes, and I turn away, pushing down whatever I’m feeling.
“Sera—wait.” Lucien’s voice stops me before I can walk away.
I freeze.
“Please,” he says quietly. “Just… come inside. I need to talk to you.”
For a moment I hesitate. My hand grips around the folder I’m holding. I should keep walking, I know I should but my feet move anyway. I step into his office and close the door behind me. Lucien runs a handthrough his hair, like he’s been waiting for this moment all morning and still doesn’t know how to start.
For a second neither of us speaks. The silence stretches between us until it feels fragile enough to shatter. Then he looks at me, really looks at me and something in my chest flutters under the weight of it.
“Sera, I—,” he says quietly, his voice rough, “tell me that what happened between us meant nothing to you.”
My breath catches. His eyes don’t leave mine. “Tell me you don’t feel anything,” he continues. “Tell me there’s nothing here… and I’ll walk away. I won’t bother you again.”
The silence cracks open between us. My heart beating harder than it should, the way he looks at me brings everything rushing back.
