PART 6 — Losing Control
781 Words
The project started the next day.
Faster than expected.
And just like I planned…
They were forced to work together.
Every day.
From my office, I could see everything.
Every movement.
Every interaction.
Every moment.
At first…
It was normal.
Professional.
Cold.
Too cold.
“She’s doing well,” the woman said, standing in front of my desk.
Her tone casual.
But her eyes…
Were watching me.
“She has to,” I replied shortly.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
“You’ve changed.”
“I have work,” I said.
Ending the conversation.
But she didn’t leave.
Instead…
She leaned slightly closer.
“You used to hate people being this close to you,” she whispered.
I looked up at her.
Cold.
Sharp.
“And you used to know your boundaries.”
Silence.
For a second…
The air turned heavy.
Then she laughed.
Softly.
“Relax,” she said, stepping back.
“But I’m curious…”
Her eyes shifted.
Toward the glass wall.
Toward her.
“Why her?” she asked.
I didn’t answer.
Because I already knew…
This wasn’t just a question.
It was a test.
“She’s different,” I finally said.
“Different?” she repeated.
There was a hint of something in her voice.
Something sharp.
Jealousy.
Before I could say anything else…
A knock came from the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
And she walked in.
Holding a file.
Professional.
Calm.
But the moment she saw us…
Something changed.
Just for a second.
Then she hid it.
“Here’s the updated report,” she said.
I nodded.
Taking the file.
But my attention…
Wasn’t on the paper.
It was on her.
And the way her eyes…
Avoided looking at us together.
Interesting.
“She works fast,” the woman beside me said.
Her tone light.
But her eyes…
Were watching her closely.
“Of course,” I replied.
Silence.
The kind of silence…
That says more than words.
“You can go,” I said.
She nodded.
Turning around.
But before she could leave…
The woman spoke again.
“Wait.”
She stopped.
Slowly turning back.
“Yes?”
A small smile appeared on the woman’s lips.
“You’re doing a great job,” she said.
A compliment.
Simple.
But it didn’t feel simple.
“Thank you,” she replied politely.
“But,” the woman continued,
“I hope you know your position.”
The room went silent.
Completely silent.
Her expression changed.
Not shocked.
Not angry.
But something else.
Hurt.
“I do,” she said quietly.
“Good,” the woman smiled.
That was enough.
“Out.”
My voice cut through the air.
Sharp.
Cold.
Both of them froze.
“I didn’t ask for a conversation,” I continued.
The woman beside me raised an eyebrow.
But she didn’t argue.
Instead…
She smiled again.
“Alright,” she said.
Then she walked out.
Leaving the room…
Heavy.
Now it was just the two of us.
Silence.
She was still standing there.
Not moving.
Not speaking.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I asked.
She looked at me.
Confused.
“She was crossing the line.”
“I’m just an assistant,” she said.
That word again.
Assistant.
Like she was trying to remind herself.
Or maybe…
Remind me.
“That doesn’t mean you stay quiet,” I said.
She shook her head slightly.
“It’s fine.”
No.
It wasn’t.
I stood up.
Walking toward her.
Step by step.
Until we were close again.
Too close.
“Look at me,” I said.
She hesitated.
Then slowly…
She did.
Her eyes…
Were different now.
Not cold.
Not distant.
But emotional.
“I don’t like it,” I said.
“Don’t like what?”
“The way she talks to you.”
Silence.
Her eyes widened slightly.
“…Why?” she asked.
A simple question.
But the answer…
Wasn’t simple at all.
Because I didn’t know
if I should say it.
Or keep it buried.
But before I could answer…
She spoke again.
“It’s okay,” she said softly.
That tone…
That calmness…
It irritated me.
“Stop saying that.”
She froze.
“Not everything is ‘okay’,” I continued.
Now my voice…
Wasn’t calm anymore.
It was real.
And she could feel it.
“Then what do you want me to say?” she asked.
I stepped closer.
Closer than before.
Close enough…
To hear her breathing.
“To stop pretending,” I said quietly.
Silence.
Her breath hitched slightly.
Because she knew.
I wasn’t talking about work anymore
Because if she keeps pretending…
I might be the one who breaks first.
- Writer
