Davis's POV
I leaned back in my chair after Isla left the office, the door clicking shut behind her. The meeting had gone better than I expected. She was sharp asked good questions, took clear notes, and didn't waste time with small talk. Exactly the kind of assistant I needed for Tokyo.
But something else had stuck with me.
During the discussion, when I laid out my expectations firm, no room for excuses Isla had shifted in her seat. Her thighs had pressed together tightly under the desk. At first I thought it was just nerves, but the way her cheeks flushed and her breathing stayed carefully controlled… it wasn't only professional tension.
I had noticed.
I wasn't blind. The slight squeeze of her legs, the way she had hurried to keep her focus even as her body reacted. It was subtle, but unmistakable. And that soft "Sir" from yesterday still echoed in my head.
I ran a hand through my hair and stood up, walking to the window. The city stretched out below, busy and indifferent. I wasn't the type to mix business with anything personal. I kept things cold and professional for a reason emotions complicated deals, and I had built Patel Dynamics by staying focused. Yet here I was, thinking about a new hire who had fallen on her first day and volunteered faster than anyone else.
She was intelligent. That much was clear from her file and the way she spoke. Bold too she hadn't hesitated to raise her hand. And there was a quiet humor in her nervous laugh yesterday. But the reaction in my office today… it stirred something I usually kept locked down. A flicker of curiosity. Maybe even interest.
I shook it off. She was an employee. Nothing more. The trip would be strictly business. Long hours, high pressure. If she performed well, great. If not, I'd handle it.
Still, as I sat back down and opened the trip itinerary, my mind drifted. The way she had called me Sir again today, even after correcting herself the first time. The slight tremble in her voice when she answered my questions. It wasn't fear. It was something warmer.
I forced my attention back to the documents. There were contracts to review, flight details to confirm, and a list of key points for the Japanese partners. I worked steadily for the next hour, marking notes and sending quick emails.
Around eleven, my phone buzzed with a message from HR. Isla had already requested access to the shared drive and started organizing the folder I mentioned. Efficient. Good.
I stood up and walked out to the main floor to grab another coffee. The open office was humming with normal activity. Isla was at her desk, head down, typing quickly. She looked focused now, no sign of the earlier flush. Her hair was tucked behind one ear, and she bit her lip in concentration as she worked.
For a moment I watched her. She was pretty in a real way not the polished kind that tried too hard. There was strength there too, in the straight set of her shoulders.
She glanced up suddenly, catching me looking. Our eyes met across the room. She gave a small, polite smile and looked back down fast, but not before I saw a hint of color return to her cheeks.
Interesting.
I poured my coffee and headed back to my office without stopping. No need to make her nervous again. But as I closed the door, I couldn't help the small thought that slipped in:
The trip might be more complicated than I had planned.
Not because of the deal. Because of her.
I sat down and opened the next file, but the image of her pressing her legs together in my office kept coming back. She had recovered quickly and stayed professional. That took control. I respected that.
Still, I wondered what was going through her head. And why the idea of finding out felt more appealing than it should.
The rest of the day passed in the usual rhythm calls, reviews, planning. By late afternoon I sent her a short email: "Folder looks good. Add a section for cultural briefing notes if you have time."
Her reply came back in under ten minutes: "Already working on it, Mr. Patel. Will have it ready by end of day."
Professional. Quick. No extra words.
I smiled faintly at the screen.
Yes. This trip was definitely going to be interesting..