🖤
Cassy stopped questioning whether something was changing. Because it already had. And Caleb Garcia… was no longer hiding it as well as he used to.
—
The next morning, Cassy arrived earlier than usual. But she wasn't the first one there. Caleb's office light was already on. That alone made her pause.
—
"Morning, Miss Williams." Adrian greeted her, sipping coffee.
Cassy blinked. "He's here early?"
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "He never left."
That made her stop. "…What?"
Adrian shrugged. "He stayed overnight. Work thing." But his tone suggested otherwise. Like it wasn't just work.
—
Cassy looked toward the CEO office. The blinds were half-open. A silhouette inside. Still. Waiting. Or thinking. Or both.
—
She stepped inside carefully. "Sir?"
Caleb didn't turn immediately. "Yes." Just that. Calm. Controlled. But different again.
—
Cassy approached his desk. "You didn't go home?"
A pause. "No." That was it. No explanation.
—
She frowned slightly. "You should've rested."
Caleb finally looked up. And this time— His gaze was sharper than usual. Not angry. Just focused. On her.
—
"I didn't need rest," he said.
Cassy hesitated. "Everyone needs rest."
A beat. Then— "Do they?" he asked. That question wasn't rhetorical. It was honest.
—
Cassy softened slightly. "…Yes," she said gently.
Silence. Then Caleb leaned back slightly. "Then I'll consider it."
That sounded like him again. But not entirely. Because he didn't sound convinced. Just… willing to listen. To her.
—
That realization unsettled her more than she expected.
—
Later that day, things felt different in the office. Not in structure. But in presence. Caleb was… closer. Not physically all the time. But aware. More present. More involved in her space than before.
—
"Bring the updated contracts," he said.
Cassy nodded. "Already prepared."
"Good." A pause. Then— "…You double-checked them?"
She blinked. "Yes."
Another pause. Then quietly— "Good." Again. But this time, it lingered.
—
Adrian noticed it too. He leaned toward Cassy during lunch. "…You know he's acting weird, right?"
Cassy blinked. "He's always like that."
Adrian shook his head. "No. This is different."
She didn't respond. Because she already knew.
—
That evening, Cassy stayed late again. Of course she did. She was reviewing final reports when she felt it. Presence. Before she even looked up.
—
Caleb stood beside her desk. Watching. Silent. As always. But tonight… something felt heavier.
—
"You're still here," he said.
Cassy didn't look up immediately. "I wanted to finish properly."
A pause. Then— "You always say that," he muttered.
Cassy smiled faintly. "Because I always mean it."
Silence.
—
Caleb stepped closer. Just slightly. Enough that she felt it. Enough that she noticed. Too aware now. Too used to him being near.
—
"You should go home," he said.
Cassy blinked. "So should you."
A pause. That wasn't the answer he expected.
—
He studied her for a moment. Then— "I will," he said. But he didn't move.
—
Cassy finally looked at him. "…Then why are you still here?" Silence. Long. Heavy. Real.
—
Caleb didn't answer immediately. Then— "I don't know," he admitted again.
And this time— It wasn't frustration. It was truth. Raw. Unfiltered. Dangerous.
—
Cassy stood slowly. Her voice softer now. "Caleb… you've been saying that a lot lately."
He didn't deny it. Because he had. Because it was true.
—
She hesitated. Then asked gently— "Does it scare you?" That question changed everything.
—
Caleb looked at her. Really looked. No walls. No filters. Just him. And her.
—
"Yes," he said quietly.
Silence.
—
Cassy didn't step back. Neither did he. Because now there was no pretending left to do. Only awareness. Only tension. Only something neither of them had given a name yet.
—
And for the first time… Caleb Garcia didn't look away first.