The city lights reflected in the glossy floors of the club, music thumping like a heartbeat as Damien and his best friend slid into a secluded booth. The scent of expensive liquor and polished wood filled the air, a sharp contrast to the sterile office environment.
"Finally some peace," his friend said, waving over the bartender. "How's the empire today, oh mighty Blackwood?"
Damien smirked slightly, taking a sip of his whiskey. "The usual. People scrambling, reports off by fractions, deadlines looming. I live for this."
"You thrive on tormenting people," his friend teased, raising an eyebrow.
"It's not torment," Damien said dryly. "It's motivation. And control. You can't manage anything without it."
The friend leaned back, swirling his glass. "So... Vivian?"
Damien's gaze hardened for a moment, then softened with a touch of pride. "Vivian's... complicated. She's ambitious, knows what she wants, and she's demanding. Keeps me on my toes, which I suppose is necessary."
His friend grinned knowingly. "Complicated, huh? Sounds like someone else caught your attention too."
Damien stiffened, a flicker of irritation flashing across his features, though he masked it immediately. "Interesting... what makes you say that?"
"Just observing," his friend said, smirking. "You've been... distracted lately. Checking on people, watching them... a little more than usual."
Damien took another sip, keeping his voice calm. "I notice details. That's all. It's part of the job. Nothing more."
"Uh-huh," his friend said, eyes glinting with amusement. "Details, right. So... how's that new guy, the one you told me about, You've been... noticing him, haven't you?"
Damien's jaw tightened imperceptibly. "He's competent, yes. Attentive. I've taken note of his work ethic."
The friend leaned closer, teasing. "Competent? Attentive? You're being diplomatic, but it's obvious you can't decide if you want to fire him or... something else."
Damien's hand tightened around his glass for a fraction of a second before he set it down smoothly. "Keep your speculations to yourself. He's... nothing beyond an employee. That's all."
His friend chuckled, sensing the tension. "Sure, sure. Employee. Whatever you say, Damien."
They continued to talk, laughter mixing with the low thrum of the club, Damien mentioning Vivian occasionally, carefully framing everything around control and business. Yet, beneath his words, a small part of him couldn't stop replaying the image of Elias at the office, the way he moved, laughed, and interacted with others.
He pushed it down, focusing on the music, the whiskey, and his friend's teasing chatter. Control was everything. Desire... wasn't part of the equation. Not yet.
The bass of the music pulsed through the club, vibrating against the walls and floor. Damien's friend, ever the extrovert, leaned over to a group of women dancing nearby, offering sly smiles and playful words. Laughter and light touches accompanied his effortless charm.
Damien watched silently from their booth, swirling his whiskey. He said nothing, but his eyes followed every movement, noting the casual confidence his friend exuded. A tiny part of him... wondered how easily some people gave themselves to attention.
"Careful, you might get yourself into trouble," Damien's friend said, noticing Damien's quiet observation.
"I don't do trouble," Damien replied smoothly, tone flat. "I observe. It's more... effective that way."
The friend laughed, waving at the women again. "You're no fun. Lighten up, man. Life's not all spreadsheets and scrutiny."
Damien smirked faintly, lips pressing into a thin line. "Someone has to ensure the world doesn't collapse because people can't do their jobs properly."
Elias's image flickered in Damien's mind, unbidden, as he watched his friend joke and flirt. The thought was fleeting, uncomfortable but he quickly dismissed it. He didn't feel anything... at least, nothing he was willing to admit.
Meanwhile, his friend continued to charm and flirt, moving gracefully through the crowd. Every laugh and smile only made Damien's focus sharper, his attention to detail unrelenting. The contrast between his friend's casual ease and Damien's rigid control was glaring, and it made him think—subtly, quietly about the office, about the people he scrutinized, and about that one employee who had somehow caught his notice without him realizing it.
"Still nothing?" the friend asked after a while, sliding back into the booth.
"Nothing," Damien said, tone clipped. But his eyes lingered longer than necessary on the crowd, as if searching for something or someone.
The night went on, the music thumping, the lights flashing, laughter mingling with the bass. Damien remained calm, composed, yet beneath that perfect exterior, a small spark of something unfamiliar had begun to stir a curiosity he was determined to ignore.