COLLISION COURSE
1200 Words
CHAPTER THREE
“You brought the wrong file,” Lucas said without looking up.
“I… I thought this was it,” Leana said, placing the folder on his desk.
“I meant the revised version.”
“You didn’t say revised,” she shot back, tone steady.
He finally looked up, slow, deliberate. His eyes pinned her like he could see every thought she hadn’t said aloud. “Do I need to explain everything?”
“Considering how easily confusion could be avoided… yes,” she said.
The air thickened. Tension hummed, electric. Beneath it, she sensed curiosity.
“Miss Carter,” he said calmly, “are you arguing with me?”
“I’m clarifying,” she replied. “It’s called communication.”
His lips twitched in a faint flicker of amusement. “Interesting.”
The office door swung open.
A tall figure stepped in sharp suit, unreadable expression.
“Ah, so this is the new assistant,” the voice said, smooth but edged with something dangerous.
Leana looked up. The stranger’s eyes lingered on her, assessing.
“Hi,” she said cautiously.
The stranger smirked. “I hope you know, Lucas doesn’t tolerate mistakes."
Lucas ignored them, eyes on his tablet.
Leana stiffened. Whoever this was, she wasn’t sure if they were friend, rival, or something else entirely.
“Just so you know,” the stranger added, voice low, deliberate, “I’ll be keeping an eye on things… and on you.”
Her pulse quickened. This wasn’t personal yet, but it felt like a test she hadn’t agreed to.
Lucas finally looked up. Calm. “Observant. Curious. Let’s see if you can keep up.”
Leana nodded, stomach twisting. She had survived the interview. She could survive this… she hoped.
“Carter,” Lucas murmured, voice low, “you’re not like the others. You notice. You react. You survive.”
“I… I can handle it,” she said, heart racing.
“Yes?” he asked, sharp.
“Yes,” she said, forcing confidence.
“We’ll see. You’re bold, persistent… maybe too bold. But tomorrow… tomorrow will test everything.”
Her stomach twisted. “Test? What… what do you mean?”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” he said. “But one thing is certain you’ll want to be standing right next to me when it happens.”
“Noted,” she muttered.
“And Carter?”
“Yes?”
“Stop correcting me.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Stop needing correction.”
The tension between them hummed. Electric. Infuriating. And, somehow, magnetic.
“So… you’re always this intimidating?” she asked, leaning slightly back in her chair.
“Depends on the person,” he said, not looking up.
“Lucky me,” she muttered.
“I could ask the same,” he said slowly. “You think you’re ready for this job? For me?”
“I know how to survive,” she said, heart pounding.
“Survive… or impress?” His eyes lifted, dark and teasing.
“Survive,” she said, though her stomach twisted. Maybe a little impress, too.
He smirked faintly. “We’ll see.”
Another pause. Silence stretched, broken only by the soft hum of his office.
“You think this is easy?” he asked suddenly, leaning forward slightly.
“No,” she replied quickly. “I never said it was easy.”
“Good. I don’t want easy.”
“Neither do I,” she said, voice low, steady. “I like a challenge.”
“Bold,” he murmured, eyes narrowing slightly. “Curious. Dangerous.”
“Dangerous?” she whispered, pulse racing.
“Dangerous can be… fun,” he said, smirk still faint.
The door opened again. This time a junior assistant peeked in nervously, clearly aware of the tension. Lucas ignored them, eyes still on Leana.
“So, you’re new,” he said finally. “Tell me, Carter. Are you always this… persistent?”
“I’m persistent when it matters,” she said.
“And when it do free isn’t?” he asked, voice low.
“I’m quiet. Observant. Not easily intimidated,” she said, meeting his gaze head-on.
“Good,” he murmured. “I like observant.”
“You mean… you watch people like that all the time?” she asked, leaning forward slightly.
“Only the ones who interest me,” he said, eyes dark and unreadable.
Her pulse quickened. “Interesting… why me?”
“Because,” he said softly, leaning closer, “you’re not like the others. You see. You notice. You react. You… fight back.”
Leana swallowed. She wanted to look away. Should I?
“Exactly why I’m keeping you around,” he said, voice dropping lower. “But careful. Not everyone survives my attention.”
“I… I can handle it,” she said, heart racing.
“Do you really think you can?” he asked, gaze sharp, piercing.
“Yes,” she said, trying to sound confident. “I’ve handled worse.”
He leaned back slightly, expression unreadable, eyes still locked on hers. “We’ll see. You’re bold, persistent… maybe too bold.”
“And what happens if I fail?” she asked, voice steady, hiding the nervousness clawing at her chest.
“Failure isn’t an option,” he said simply.
“Good to know,” she whispered.
Another silence. Her pulse thumped in her ears. Something in the air had shifted, heavier now.
“Carter,” he said finally, voice low. “I’ve warned others… but you…”
“Yes?” she asked, leaning forward.
“I think you’re different,” he said, almost a whisper. “But tomorrow… tomorrow will test that. And I don’t know if you’re ready.”
Her stomach twisted. “Test? What… what do you mean?”
He didn’t answer immediately. Just leaned back, dark eyes glinting. “You’ll find out soon enough. But I promise… you’ll want to be standing right next to me when it happens.”
Her pulse raced. Standing next to him… she felt a thrill, a mix of fear and something else she couldn’t name.
She swallowed hard, heart hammering. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes,” he said quietly. “Everything changes tomorrow, Carter. And I don’t just mean work.”
The office door closed softly behind her when she finally left. Her thoughts tumbled: Change everything? Who’s coming? What could happen? And why do I feel like I’m already in way over my head?
Her last thought as she walked back to her desk.
Tomorrow I’m not sure I’ll survive this… or want to.
Her pulse raced. Standing next to him… she felt a thrill, a mix of fear and something else she couldn’t name.
She swallowed hard, heart hammering. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes,” he said quietly. “Everything changes tomorrow, Carter. And I don’t just mean work.”
The office door closed softly behind her when she finally left. Her thoughts tumbled: Change everything? Who’s coming? What could happen? And why do I feel like I’m already in way over my head?
Her last thought as she walked back to her desk.
Tomorrow I’m not sure I’ll survive this… or want to.
- Writer
