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Cassy didn't expect to be called into his office twice in one morning. Especially not with that tone.
"Now."
That was all Adrian said when he approached her desk. No explanation. Just urgency.
Cassy stood immediately. "What happened?"
Adrian hesitated. "Just… go." That alone made her heart tighten slightly.
—
She knocked once. No response. "Sir?" Still nothing. Her fingers curled slightly around the handle. Then she opened the door.
—
Caleb was standing by the window. Back turned. The city stretched endlessly behind him. He didn't move when she entered.
"Close the door," he said.
Cassy obeyed. Silence followed. He still didn't turn around. That alone felt heavier than usual. "Is something wrong?" she asked gently.
A pause. Then— "No." But it didn't sound like "no." It sounded like avoidance.
—
Cassy stepped closer slowly. "You seemed… different today," she said carefully.
That made him turn. Finally. His expression was controlled, but there was something underneath it now. Something tighter. Contained.
"You're observing me again," he said.
"I always do," she replied softly. That made him pause. Just slightly.
—
Cassy stopped a few steps away. The space between them felt different today. Smaller. Sharper. More aware.
"Then you should stop," he said.
"Stop what?"
"Noticing things that don't concern you."
Cassy tilted her head slightly. "But they do concern me," she said gently. "If I work for you."
Silence. Longer this time.
—
Caleb stepped forward. One step. Then another. Until the distance between them was no longer safe. "You don't understand what you're doing," he said lowly.
Cassy didn't move back. "I'm just talking."
"That's the problem." A beat. Then softer—almost controlled: "You talk like you're not afraid of me."
Cassy blinked.
Then answered honestly. "I'm not." That was it. That was the moment everything shifted.
—
Caleb stopped completely. For a second— Just a second— Something broke through his expression. Not anger. Not coldness. Something far more dangerous. Surprise. And something underneath it. Something he didn't want to name.
—
"Everyone is afraid," he said quietly.
Cassy shook her head slightly. "I think they're afraid of how you make them feel," she said.
Silence. His jaw tightened slightly. "And how do I make you feel?" he asked. The question landed differently this time. Not like a challenge. Like something closer to truth.
Cassy hesitated. For the first time. Just for a second too long. "…I don't know," she admitted softly. That honesty changed everything.
—
Caleb looked away first. A rare break in control. "Go back to your desk," he said. But his voice wasn't firm anymore.
Cassy nodded slowly. "Yes, sir."
She turned to leave. But before she reached the door— "Cassy."
She stopped again. He didn't look at her. But his voice lowered. "…Don't misunderstand things."
A pause. Then she answered softly. "I'm not." And she left.
—
Caleb stayed where he was. Silent. Still. But not calm. Because the problem wasn't that she wasn't afraid of him.
The problem was— He was starting to notice her too much.
And worse… He didn't want her to stop.