Karen barely slept. She told herself it was because of the long hours, or the pressure of adjusting to the new department.
But in truth, it was Alex.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him leaning in with that cold, unreadable expression. Heard the words he spoke in that dangerously calm tone:
"Too close."
What did that even mean?
The next morning, she was headed to the boardroom with printed notes in her hand when Dami, one of the senior HR officers, stopped her.
"Karen," she said, lowering her voice. "You might want to be careful."
Karen blinked. "Careful with what?"
Dami hesitated. "You've caught someone's attention and that's not always a good thing in this company."
Karen's stomach twisted. "Who?"
But Dami just smiled tightly and walked away.
She found Luca already seated at the boardroom table, flipping through the slides like he wasn't wearing a suit worth someone's rent.
"You alright?" he asked, not looking up. "You look like someone dropped a ghost in your cereal."
Karen sat. "Do you ever talk normal?"
"Not if I can help it."
She smiled in spite of herself, but when her eyes wandered to the glass doors and caught sight of Alex walking past without even a glance the smile died.
"You two always like that?" Luca asked casually.
Karen blinked. "Like what?"
"Strained, icy, quiet...but loud." He leaned back in his chair.
"He doesn't talk about you, but he notices you. A lot."
Karen tried to laugh it off, but Luca didn't smile.
"Look," he said, voice dropping, "he's not easy.
If you plan to stay here long you'll have to learn how not to drown in him."
She stared at him. "And what if I already am?"
Luca gave her a strange look, something between respect and pity.
"Then hold your breath, sweetheart."
Later that day, Alex finally spoke to her.
He caught her in the elevator. Alone.
"You're staying late tonight," he said. It wasn't a question.
Karen raised a brow. "And if I had other plans?"
He looked down at her, quiet for a second. Then, voice low:
"Cancel them."
The doors opened.
He walked out and just like that, she was drowning again.