Emily's POV
The elevator dinged softly, and I stepped into the bright hum of the office. My shoulders ached from yesterday's long day, but it was more than fatigue—I couldn't shake the image of Clara, shivering and soaked, clutching that book in her tiny hands.
Settling at my desk, I took a deep breath and tried to focus on the screen in front of me, but my thoughts kept drifting back. And then I remembered the company card. Julian. That little interaction yesterday—Clara's excitement about him, the way her eyes had lit up—it stirred an unease I couldn't quite name.
Nathan leaned over from his desk, noticing my distracted expression. "Rough morning, Em? Or just daydreaming about Clara again?" he teased.
I sighed, leaning back. "It's… Clara. Yesterday, she got caught in the rain, and someone—Julian, I think his name is—gave her a ride home. He was polite, well-mannered, nothing alarming. But she… she's so excited about it. About him. And it bothers me."
Nathan's brow rose. "Excited? Because a stranger gave her a ride? That's… cute. And you're worried?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "It's like—she barely knows him, but she keeps talking about him and the bookstore he mentioned. I can't stop thinking she's putting too much trust in someone she just met."
Izzy's POV
I watched Emily carefully. Her fingers drummed the edge of the desk, jaw tight, eyes flicking between the screen and Nathan.
She wants so badly to protect Clara from anything that might hurt her, I thought. But excitement isn't danger. Trust can't be forced; it has to grow.
"Emily," I said gently, leaning on the edge of her desk, "take it easy on her. She's a kid—curious, open. Let her feel safe, let her explore a little. She'll start trusting you more if you're steady and calm, not hovering and controlling."
Nathan's POV
I grinned, leaning back in my chair. She's wound up too tight, as usual. But that's what makes her so good with Clara—she cares too much.
"Exactly," I said aloud. "Relax, Em. The kid isn't going anywhere. She's excited—let her be. You'll gain her trust if you let her feel safe. Don't overthink it." I watched her take a breath, the tension easing slightly from her shoulders. A small victory.
Emily's reflection
I listened to them, and slowly, I let the tension release just a little. Nathan's teasing, Izzy's gentle reasoning—they reminded me that being patient was part of being protective. Clara's excitement over meeting Julian didn't have to bother me. It was natural curiosity, not recklessness.
I leaned back, fingers tapping lightly on my desk. I had to balance vigilance with letting her grow, letting her explore, letting her feel the joy she deserved—even if part of me wanted to shield her from everything.
The office buzzed around us—phones ringing, keyboards tapping, colleagues chatting—but for a moment, our little bubble of conversation felt like its own safe space. Nathan joked about deadlines, Izzy teased Emily about overthinking, and I let myself smile despite the lingering worry.
Even in this professional chaos, I felt grounded. Work was work, but Clara—her safety, her happiness—was never far from my mind..
Emily's POV
I glanced at the clock and organized my desk for the next meeting, still mulling over Clara's excitement. I had to let her explore, to trust and learn—but Julian's name would stick in my mind. For now, though, I reminded myself: patience. Consistency. Warmth. That's what she needed most.
And when I left the office later, I'd carry that thought home with me, ready to offer Clara the safe space she deserved, while quietly monitoring her little adventures from a distance.