OFFICE LINES AND DANGEROUS GAMES
756 Words
The Vance Corporation headquarters was like something ripped straight from a luxury magazine — glass walls, marble floors, and a reception desk that looked like it cost more than my entire tuition.
I wasn’t supposed to be here.
But Daniella had begged me to come with her after school so she wouldn’t be “bored out of her mind” waiting for their dad to finish a meeting.
She failed to mention that Daniel practically lived here.
We stepped out of the private elevator, and there he was — leaning against the reception desk, talking to a group of interns who looked like they’d just stepped out of a fashion shoot. He glanced up, spotted us, and his expression shifted instantly.
“Didn’t know you were coming,” he said, eyes flicking to me.
“I wasn’t planning to,” I replied, matching his casual tone.
“Well, since you’re here, try not to distract my staff.”
I smirked. “Don’t worry, Daniel. I’m not here to cause chaos — unless you annoy me first.”
Daniella groaned. “Can you two not start here? My dad’s office is down the hall.”
We followed her, but of course, five minutes later she got dragged into a meeting herself. Which left me in the lobby… and Daniel watching me like I’d just wandered into enemy territory.
---
“Come with me,” he said suddenly.
I hesitated. “Why?”
“Because I don’t trust you not to break something.”
I rolled my eyes but followed him into his office. It was big — floor-to-ceiling windows, a sleek black desk, and shelves full of things I was 90% sure he’d never actually read.
He sat behind the desk and gestured to the chair opposite. “Sit.”
I didn’t. I wandered instead, running my fingers along the spines of the books. “What is this? Your interrogation room?”
“More like my observation room,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I’m still trying to figure you out.”
I glanced over my shoulder. “Good luck with that.”
---
I was halfway through pretending to be interested in a random globe on his shelf when the door burst open.
Scarlett.
She stopped short when she saw me, her perfect smile faltering. “Oh… I didn’t realize you had company.”
Daniel’s eyes flicked between us. “What do you want, Scarlett?”
“I just wanted to bring you the files you asked for.” She placed them on his desk, leaning forward far enough to make her intentions obvious. “We could go over them together later…?”
“Not necessary,” he said flatly.
Her eyes narrowed just slightly before she turned to me. “Funny seeing you here.”
I smiled sweetly. “I could say the same.”
Scarlett glanced back at Daniel, clearly expecting him to say something that would put me in my place. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.
“She’s here because I invited her.”
That made Scarlett blink — just for a second — before her mask slipped back into place. “Well. I won’t disturb you.”
When the door shut, I turned to him. “You really enjoy making enemies, don’t you?”
He smirked. “Only when they deserve it.”
---
I should’ve left right after that. But when I stepped toward the door, he moved.
Fast.
One hand braced on the wall beside my head, his body close enough that the air between us seemed to shrink. “You really don’t see it, do you?”
I swallowed. “See what?”
“The way they look at you. The way they want to pull you into their little games.” His eyes locked on mine, something dark and unreadable in them. “Scarlett’s not your biggest problem here. I am.”
I forced a smirk even as my pulse spiked. “You’re not a problem, Daniel. You’re a minor inconvenience at best.”
His lips curved — but slower this time, like he was tasting the moment. “Keep telling yourself that.”
And then, just like that, he stepped back, the tension snapping like a stretched wire.
---
When Daniella returned ten minutes later, I was sitting in the lobby pretending to scroll my phone, my heart still pounding.
I didn’t know what game Daniel was playing.
But I had the sinking feeling… I was already in it.
- Writer
