Evaline:
The large glass wall beside my desk reflected the afternoon sky outside, filling the office with sunlight. My monitor glowed softly in front of , spreadsheets and reports covering the screen while several docunts lay scattered across the desk.
Across the room, Elion sat behind his massive desk.
His office was large enough that the distance between us almost made it feel like we were in separate rooms.
Which was exactly why I had ssaged him instead of saying it out loud.
A small notification ping sounded from his computer.
I watched from the corner of my eye as he opened the ssage I had just sent.
For a few seconds, he read silently. Then... his head snapped up and our eyes t across the room.
One of his eyebrows arched so high it nearly disappeared into his hairline.
I could practically see the disbelief written all over his face. Apparently, he hadn’t expected to actually do it.
Ignoring the almost horrified look on his face, I spoke calmly.
"Be on ti."
His expression didn’t change.
"And don’t make my friend wait."
Still no response.
Satisfied, I returned my attention to my monitor and resud typing exactly where I had stopped monts ago.
Barely a mont later,I heard his chair creak. Then...
"Wait."
I didn’t look at him.
"Eva."
I kept typing.
"Are you actually going through with this?"
I humd quietly. "Yes."
There was a brief pause.
"You an the blind date?"
I stopped typing for a mont and leaned back slightly in my chair, glancing at him.
"That’s usually how blind dates work."
Elion looked like soone had just inford him that he had been drafted into a war.
"You were actually... actually serious?"
I blinked at him.
"Did you think I was joking?"
"Well... yes."
I turned back to my screen.
"You shouldn’t assu things."
Behind , I heard him mutter sothing under his breath. Then he spoke again. "Is she... good?"
My fingers paused above the keyboard. Slowly, I turned my chair slightly to face him.
"What does that even an?"
Elion gestured vaguely.
"You know... good."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"My friend is amazing." I said it calmly. Very calmly. Then I added, "What I’m worried about is whether you are good enough for her."
Elion stared at like I had just insulted his entire bloodline.
"What?"
"And behave yourself."
He blinked again.
"What?"
"I an it."
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration before suddenly standing up from his desk.
I returned to typing.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him walk around the large desk and grab one of the chairs sitting on the opposite side.
Then he dragged it across the floor.
The legs scraped loudly against the tiles as he pulled it all the way to my desk. Then he dropped into the chair beside .
"What do you an I’m not good enough?"
I didn’t look away from my monitor.
"I said I’m worried you might not be."
"That’s the sa thing."
"Not really."
He exhaled sharply. "You are being completely unfair right now."
My fingers kept moving across the keyboard.
"Am I?"
"Yes."
He leaned closer.
"I’m your friend too."
"No, you are not."
The words left my mouth so casually that he froze.
"...What?"
"You are my boss."
Elion stared at in disbelief.
"Since when?"
I glanced at him briefly.
"Since the day you hired ."
"That’s not what I ant."
"Well, that’s the truth."
He crossed his arms.
"Exactly when have you ever treated like a boss?"
I raised an eyebrow at the screen.
"I always treat you like a boss."
He leaned forward imdiately.
"Oh really?"
"Yes."
He gestured dramatically.
"When have you ever seen an employee argue with their boss like this?"
I paused. Then slowly turned to look at him. "When have I argued with you?"
The silence that followed was... impressive. His mouth opened. Then closed.
He stared at , and I stared back calmly.
Finally, after several seconds of visible internal struggle, he slumped back in the chair and let out a long sigh.
"You are impossible sotis."
I didn’t respond. Because right at that mont, I reached forward and shut down my monitor.
The screen went black.
Elion blinked. Then watched in confusion as I grabbed my bag from the side of the desk and slipped my phone inside.
I stood up.
He glanced at his wristwatch. "You still have thirty minutes left in your shift."
But I was already walking toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
I slung the strap of my bag over my shoulder.
"To see River."
He frowned.
"For what?"
I opened the office door.
"To ask for his help with work."
Behind , he quickly spoke. "You could ask him at ho."
My steps stopped instantly. Slowly... I turned around, and glared at him - a very long, very unimpressed glare.
"Why," I asked slowly, "should I ruin my personal ti with work?"
He opened his mouth. Then closed it again before silently looking away.
Exactly.
I gave him one last sharp look before turning back toward the hallway.
The door closed behind with a soft click as I made my way to River’s office at the very end of the hallway.
My footsteps echoed softly against the floor.
When I reached the door, the bond let know he’s still inside.
Good.
I raised my hand and knocked twice.
"Co in."
River’s calm voice reached through the door.
I pushed it open and stepped inside. Then stopped.
Because River wasn’t alone.
Soone stood in front of his desk.
A woman.
Tall.
Elegant.
Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, and the sharp scent of expensive perfu lingered faintly in the air.
She turned slightly when I entered.
And the mont her voice eyes landed on ... a frown took over her beautiful face, freezing her dazzling smile.
For a mont, my mind completely blanked.
Because she was the last person I expected to see here.
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