Amara's first week at the firm was a blur of new names, endless files, and late nights spent learning systems she had never seen before. She tried her best to keep her head down, to prove she belonged. But it was impossible to ignore Daniel.
He wasn't just another face in the office. He was the senior associate everyone seemed to admire — sharp-minded, intimidating, yet strangely approachable. Whenever he walked into a room, conversations shifted, attention followed.
On the third day, their paths crossed again. Amara was juggling a stack of reports when one slipped from her grasp, scattering across the polished floor. Heat flushed her cheeks as she bent to gather them. Then a hand appeared, steady and sure, offering her the last page.
"You should pace yourself," Daniel said, voice calm but edged with a hint of amusement. "No one survives this place by trying to do everything in one day."
Amara straightened, clutching the papers. "I… I just want to do well."
His gaze softened, lingering on her determined eyes. "You will. But don't burn yourself out before you even begin."
The unexpected kindness disarmed her. She nodded quickly, unsure of what else to say, but her heart thudded against her ribs long after he walked away.
That night, lying in her small apartment, Amara replayed the encounter over and over. The way his voice wrapped around her name when he had asked for it formally later. The way his eyes seemed to linger a heartbeat longer than necessary.
She reminded herself he was her superior. Untouchable. Dangerous to think about. Yet, deep in her chest, a spark had been lit — small, fragile, but impossible to ignore.