🖤
Cassy noticed it first in the small things. The way Caleb started opening his office door earlier than usual. The way he no longer dismissed her decisions immediately. The way he said her name… just slightly softer each time. It should've stayed professional. It didn't.
—
"Cancel my evening schedule," Caleb said without looking up.
Cassy paused. "All of it?"
"Yes."
She checked his calendar. "You have no appointments after 6 p.m."
"I know."
That made her hesitate. "…Then why cancel it?"
A beat of silence. Caleb finally looked up. Cold eyes. But not as cold as before. "I don't want interruptions."
Cassy blinked. "For what?"
His gaze held hers for a second longer than necessary. "Work." But neither of them believed that.
—
By 6:30 p.m., the office was almost empty again. Except for them. Cassy was finishing reports at her desk.
Caleb was inside his office. Quiet. Still. But aware. Always aware.
—
"Cassy."
She looked up. He was standing at the door. She stood immediately. "Yes, sir?"
A pause. Then— "Bring the files."
She nodded. "Right away."
—
Inside his office, the atmosphere felt different tonight. Not heavy. Not cold. Just… quiet. Caleb took the files from her without a word. But instead of sitting down immediately, he stayed standing. So did she. Too close again. Too aware.
—
"You make mistakes less often now," he said.
Cassy smiled lightly. "That's good, right?"
"It is," he replied. Then added, almost reluctantly— "For the company."
Cassy nodded. "Of course."
But there was something in her expression now. A question she didn't ask. A silence she didn't break.
—
Caleb noticed it. Of course he did. "You want to say something," he said.
Cassy hesitated. "I don't want to overstep."
"You already are," he said flatly.
That should've scared her. It didn't. Instead, she took a small breath. "…Do you ever take breaks?" she asked softly.
Caleb frowned slightly. "Why?"
"Because you look like you don't."
Silence. The air tightened again. But not in anger. In something else.
—
"I don't need breaks," he said.
Cassy tilted her head slightly. "That's not healthy."
His eyes narrowed. "You're not my doctor."
"No," she agreed gently. "I'm your secretary." A pause. Then softer— "But even secretaries can notice things."
That line lingered. Caleb didn't respond immediately. Because she was right. And he hated that she was right.
—
He turned away first. "Finish the files," he said. But his voice lacked its usual edge again.
Cassy nodded. "Yes, sir."
She turned to leave— But stopped when he spoke again. "Cassy." She turned back. He wasn't looking at her.
But his voice was quieter now. "…Don't stay too late."
A beat. Then she smiled softly. "I won't."
And for once— He believed her.
—
But after she left, Caleb didn't go back to work immediately. He stayed still. Thinking. About how easily she stayed in his space. About how she didn't flinch at his silence anymore. About how her presence no longer felt like disturbance— But something closer to… calm.
And that scared him more than anything else. Because calm… Was how people got attached. And attachment… Was dangerous.
Especially for someone like him.