CHAPTER 14: SECOND LOOKS
MARYANN'S POV
I didn't sleep much the night before.
Even after I got home, took a long shower, and wrapped myself in my coziest blanket, my thoughts refused to settle.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him, Henry, my new boss. The man whose name now hovered at the top of my email inbox. The man who, less than 24 hours ago, looked at me like I was just another staff member.
And that was the problem.
Because I knew he remembered me.
From the party. The stolen glance. The awkward stare we held too long.
But he was pretending.
Pretending so well that I almost doubted myself.
Almost.
Still, I had a job to do, and one thing was clear: if I was going to survive
this, I had to match his energy. Stay professional. No emotion. No hints. Just pure, polished efficiency.
And so I got up before my alarm, dressed in a crisp white blouse, tucked into a navy pencil skirt, pulled my hair back into a smooth low bun, and wore the smallest smile I could manage. One that said, "I'm confident, but I'm not trying to impress you."
I arrived at the office ten minutes early. The receptionist greeted me with a cheerful "Morning, Miss Maryann!" which helped calm my nerves.
By 9:00 AM, I was already logged in, sorting through Henry's schedule for the day and drafting a response to an investor inquiry. At 9:15, I sent it tohim for approval.
He responded at 9:16.
"Approved. Good tone. Keep it that way."
A small smile slipped out before I could stop it.
This was going to be a good day.
Or so I thought
Around 10:30, Henry stepped out of his office and walked past my desk. He didn't say a word. Just a short nod, eyes fixed ahead like I wasn't even there.
I watched his back disappear down the hall.
So we're doing the cold game again today, I thought. Fine by me.
But what I didn't expect was for him to message me ten minutes later.
"I'll be in the conference room with legal until noon. Schedule a
15-minute buffer afterward for coffee."
Coffee?
I blinked at the screen. Was that for him or for us?
But I didn't ask. I just replied with a formal:
"Noted. Blocked it out."
When noon came, he returned to his office. I stood, unsure whether he expected me to bring the coffee or just be around.
Before I could decide, he opened the door.
"Come in."
I followed him into the room and found two cups of coffee already on the table. He'd brought them himself. My confusion must've shown because he smirked
slightly.
"I figured you'd want one. You've been up since six, judging by the email timestamp." He said.
Caught.
I tilted my head. "That obvious?" I said.
"You're efficient. I notice things." He took a sip from his mug. "Sit." He said.
I obeyed.
We sat across from each other, the silence in the room hovering like static.
He leaned back. "You're adjusting fast." He said.
"I try to stay useful." I said
"You are." He replied back.
Another silence.
I stared at my coffee. I couldn't read him, and it was driving me insane.
His eyes dropped to my hands. "You fidget when you're uncomfortable." He
said.
I froze.
"I'm not uncomfortable," I said, a little too quickly.
He raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. I looked up and that's when it happened.
His eyes lingered on mine. And they stayed.
Too long.
The second stretched.
And I saw it. That flash. That tension. That flicker of something he'd buried deep under CEO layers and boardroom detachment.
Then, just like that, it was gone.
He stood. "Meeting in fifteen. Check if the projector's working. And update the file name on the presentation." He said.
Back to business.
Back to walls.
Back to pretending.
I nodded, my voice neutral. "On it."
---------------------------------
The rest of the day went by in a blur of files, messages, and walking
carefully around the line between too warm and too cold.
But just before closing time, something unexpected happened.
I was walking past his door on my way to the printer when I heard my name.
"Maryann."
I paused. Took a breath. Turned back.
Henry stood in the doorway, one hand resting casually on the frame.
"Tomorrow," he said, "there's a client dinner. You'll need to come." He said.
"Me?" I asked.
"You're my assistant," he said, as if that explained everything.
"It's just dinner?"
He nodded once. "Just dinner. Don't read into it." He said.
I narrowed my eyes slightly. "Should I bring a notepad?" I asked.
He smirked. "Only if you plan to take notes on wine pairings." He replied.
I smiled in spite of myself. "Noted." I said.
Then the smirk faded. "Black dress. Nothing too loud." He explained.
And then he was gone.
---------------------------------
That night, I stood in front of my mirror, holding up three different blackdresses and trying to figure out which one said: I'm here to work, not flirt… but I can still look unforgettable.
It was ridiculous.
I shouldn't be thinking this hard about it. I shouldn't be feeling this
pulled toward a man who clearly didn't want to feel anything for me.
But as I slipped into my chosen dress, I knew one thing for sure:
Henry might be pretending not to feel anything.
But if he wasn't careful, he was going to slip.
And when he did…
I wasn't sure which one of us would be more shaken.