The office buzzed louder than usual that morning, fueled not by deadlines or meetings but by an unstoppable force: gossip. And the subject of everyone's whispers?
Raven Hale and Lila Moreno.
"She actually went to coffee with him!" whispered a junior assistant to the girl next to her, peeking over her monitor like she feared someone might overhear.
"And they didn't kill each other? Or throw the coffee?" the second girl gasped, eyes wide.
"Apparently not. They laughed," said the first girl, her voice lowering to a reverent whisper. "They laughed together."
Across the office, Lila sat at her desk, pretending to focus on a spreadsheet. Inside, her mind was a whirlwind of panic and excitement. Laughed together? Oh my god, we… we actually laughed. How… how is this happening?
Meanwhile, Raven, stationed in the so-called "heavenly" department, was aware of the whispers but paid them little mind. He was more interested in the effect of the gossip—how it amplified his curiosity about Lila. Let them talk. The more people know, the better the stage for our little… game.
---
The first real interaction of the day happened near the water cooler. Raven had deliberately chosen this spot.
"Good morning, Demoness," he said, smiling casually.
Lila froze mid-step, nearly spilling her coffee. "Don't call me that," she said sharply, though her face betrayed a slight smile.
"Too late," Raven said, leaning one shoulder against the wall. "Your reputation precedes you. The office says you could freeze a man with a glare. I'm just here to see if it's true."
Her heart thudded in her chest. I… I actually like him noticing me. Why is this happening?
"Why are you here?" she asked, attempting to sound professional but failing entirely.
"To check on my favorite little office demon," he replied smoothly, grinning. "You know, make sure you're not plotting to murder anyone before the day begins."
Lila rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh. He's ridiculous… and yet… charming. How is this happening to me?
---
Meanwhile, coworkers were observing from their desks, whispering fervently.
"Did you see them at the water cooler?" one said. "He called her 'demoness'! And she didn't slap him!"
"I know!" replied another. "She's actually… smiling at him!"
"Oh my god, this is going to be the office saga of the year," said a third, taking notes like a journalist.
---
The day continued with a series of comedic mishaps that only served to bring Raven and Lila closer:
1. The Printer Incident:
Raven tried to help Lila fix a jammed printer.
Paper flew everywhere, landing on coworkers' desks.
Instead of scolding him, Lila smirked as he tried to clean up, and the two ended up laughing so hard they nearly forgot about the printer altogether.
2. Email Mix-Up:
Raven accidentally CC'd Lila in a humorous meme intended for a friend.
Lila responded sarcastically, turning it into a playful office battle of wit.
Their coworkers watched the exchange, whispering, "They're flirting… they're definitely flirting."
---
By afternoon, the tension between them had become a subtle, electrifying dance:
Glances exchanged across the office that lasted a fraction too long.
Light teasing in emails that only the two of them understood.
Small, almost accidental touches—hand brushing against hand while passing papers, a nudge at the coffee machine.
Yet beneath the humor, there were hints of depth:
Raven's smile occasionally flickered, revealing the slightest shadow in his eyes, a trace of his darker, calculating self.
Lila's laughter sometimes faltered, replaced by nervous glances or tightly pressed lips—tiny signs of the social anxiety she fought daily.
---
The climax of the day came during the departmental meeting, where both were unexpectedly seated next to each other.
Raven leaned in, whispering just loud enough for her to hear:
"Do you always steal the spotlight in meetings, or is this just a special occasion?"
Lila's eyes widened. "Excuse me?" she whispered back, trying to maintain composure.
"You know," he said, a teasing smirk on his face, "the way everyone's looking at you… I think you're enjoying this."
She shook her head, but the blush creeping over her cheeks betrayed her. I am not enjoying this… but maybe I am.
---
By the end of the day, the office had a new story to tell:
Raven and Lila weren't just coworkers anymore.
They weren't enemies, exactly—not even really friends yet.
They were… a spectacle.
And both of them knew it.
Lila knew she was falling faster than she had anticipated.
Raven knew the "angelic" facade wouldn't last forever—but he didn't mind. In fact, he was curious to see how long it would take for her to see the real him.
---End of Chapter 3---