Ava didn't go back to his office.
Not that day.
She stayed at her desk.
Worked.
Focused.
Or at least—
pretended to.
Because her mind wasn't there.
It kept replaying everything.
His words.
His tone.
The way he said—
You're a distraction.
Ava exhaled slowly.
"…Then maybe I should be."
But even as she said it—
something in her chest tightened.
Because it wasn't that simple.
"Still coming for that coffee?"
She looked up.
Daniel.
And for a second—
she hesitated.
Not because she didn't want to go.
But because—
she knew someone was watching.
She didn't look.
She didn't have to.
"…Yeah," she said finally.
Daniel smiled.
"Good. You look like you need it."
She grabbed her bag.
Stood.
And this time—
she didn't hesitate.
She walked away with him.
From behind the glass—
he watched her leave.
Didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Just watched.
The way she didn't look back.
The way she walked beside someone else—
like it was easy.
Like it was natural.
Like it wasn't supposed to affect him.
But it did.
More than he expected.
More than he wanted.
His hand tightened slightly against the desk.
"…Cancel everything for the rest of the day."
"Sir?"
"I said cancel it."
The café was quiet.
Warm.
Soft in a way the office never was.
Ava sat across from Daniel, her hands wrapped loosely around a cup.
"You're thinking too much," he said casually.
She huffed lightly.
"Is it that obvious?"
"A little."
A pause.
"Work?" he asked.
"…Something like that."
Daniel studied her for a moment.
"Or someone?"
Ava stilled slightly.
"…You're very observant."
He smiled faintly.
"I have to be."
Silence settled between them.
But unlike the silence in the office—
this one was easy.
"You don't have to tell me," he added. "But… whoever it is—"
He leaned back slightly.
"They're making you overthink."
Ava looked down at her cup.
"…He doesn't make sense."
Daniel didn't interrupt.
"He pushes me away…" she continued quietly,
"…and then pulls me back like nothing happened."
A pause.
"And the worst part is…"
She hesitated.
"…I let him."
Silence.
Then Daniel spoke.
"That's not the worst part."
She looked up.
"The worst part," he said calmly,
"…is that you're starting to care."
That landed.
Because it was true.
Ava didn't deny it.
Back at the office—
he couldn't focus.
Files sat untouched.
Meetings ignored.
His mind—
somewhere else.
With her.
The way she looked when she was frustrated.
The way she stood her ground.
The way she didn't fear him.
And most of all—
the way she walked away.
"…This is ridiculous."
He stood abruptly.
Ran a hand through his hair.
He didn't do this.
He didn't lose control.
He didn't let people affect him.
So why—
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Sir, the revised contract—"
"Leave it."
The assistant froze slightly.
"…Sir?"
"I said leave it."
Hours later—
Ava returned.
The office felt colder.
Quieter.
Different.
She stepped inside—
and immediately felt it.
That shift.
Her eyes moved instinctively toward his office.
The lights were still on.
Of course they were.
She sat down.
Tried to focus.
But it didn't last.
"Miss Ava."
Her heart reacted before she could stop it.
She looked up.
He was standing there.
Closer than expected.
"…You're back," he said.
She nodded slightly.
"…I am."
A pause.
"You left."
Ava blinked.
"…Yes?"
His jaw tightened slightly.
"With him."
There it was.
Ava leaned back slightly.
"It was coffee."
Silence.
Then—
"I know."
But he didn't sound like he was okay with it.
"Why does it matter?" she asked quietly.
The question again.
The same one he couldn't answer.
"It doesn't," he said.
Ava held his gaze.
"…You're lying again."
That hit.
But this time—
he didn't warn her.
He didn't deflect.
He just looked at her.
And for a moment—
something real surfaced.
"…I don't like it."
Her breath caught.
"…You don't like what?"
A pause.
Then—
"…seeing you with someone else."
Silence.
Everything stilled.
Because that—
was the closest thing to honesty he had ever given her.
Ava's heart started beating faster.
"…Why?"
A dangerous question.
Because now—
he had nowhere to hide.
He stepped closer.
Not stopping this time.
"Because," he said quietly,
"…I notice you."
Her breath slowed.
"And I don't like the idea of someone else doing the same."
Too close now.
The space between them—
almost gone.
Ava could feel it.
That pull.
Stronger than ever.
"…That sounds like jealousy," she whispered.
A pause.
Then—
"…Maybe it is."
That was it.
The line—
crossed.
For a moment—
it felt like everything was about to change.
Like he might finally say it.
Like he might finally admit everything he'd been holding back.
But then—
his phone rang.
Sharp.
Loud.
Interrupting everything.
He stepped back immediately.
The moment—
gone.
Again.
Ava looked at him.
Something in her chest tightening.
"…You always do that."
He didn't respond.
"You get close…"
A pause.
"…and then you leave."
Silence.
But this time—
he didn't deny it.
"…Go home, Ava."
Her expression shifted.
"…What?"
"It's late."
"That's not—"
"Go home."
His tone—
final.
Walls back up.
Ava stared at him for a second longer.
Then nodded slowly.
"…Goodnight."
She turned.
Walked away.
But this time—
it felt different.
Not just confusing.
Painful.
And as she left—
he stood there.
Silent.
Because he knew something now.
Something he couldn't ignore anymore.
He wasn't just noticing her.
He wasn't just watching her.
He was falling.
And he had no idea how to stop.