Professional Pretenses
976 Words
The morning after their almost-too-close moment in the elevator, the atmosphere between Aiden and Zara at Wolfe Enterprises could only be described as a delicate truce wrapped in denial. Whatever was brewing between them had been sealed away behind unspoken agreements and professional courtesies—but the tension clung to the air like static, crackling quietly every time their eyes met.
Zara sat at her desk, staring at the blinking cursor on her laptop screen, her fingers hovering above the keys without typing a word. She had reread the same client brief three times and still couldn’t recall a single sentence. All she could think about was the way Aiden’s voice had dropped in the elevator, soft and unsure, like he was just as shaken by their closeness as she was. The way he’d looked at her, his usual steel gaze flickering into something far more human. Something far more dangerous.
No, she scolded herself. Focus.
She straightened in her chair and forced her attention back to the screen, muttering under her breath, “It’s just a job. He’s just a boss.”
“Talking to yourself already?” came a familiar, amused voice.
Zara looked up and found Emma standing beside her desk, a takeaway coffee in hand and an arched brow. “You’ve officially crossed over. Welcome to Wolfe Enterprises madness.”
Zara chuckled lightly, grateful for the interruption. “It’s either talk to myself or scream. This project is a mess.”
Emma handed her the coffee. “I figured you might need this. Also, heads-up: There’s going to be a full department review this afternoon. Aiden wants everyone’s strategy outlines for the quarter.”
“Of course he does,” Zara muttered, the tension returning to her shoulders. “Does he ever take a break?”
Emma laughed. “He’s a Wolfe. They don’t sleep. They just stare at their bank accounts until another million appears.”
Zara smiled faintly, but her thoughts drifted again. Ever since she started here, her perception of Aiden had been shifting. He wasn’t just the arrogant man who’d spilled coffee on her and ruined her blouse. He was intense, yes. Demanding. But there was something beneath the surface—something almost… lonely.
Not that it mattered.
This was work. And whatever simmered between them in stolen glances and interrupted silences had no place here.
**
Later that afternoon, the conference room was a battleground of ideas, charts, and strong personalities. Zara sat toward the end of the long table, her posture composed, her notes neatly organized. She had spent hours preparing her strategy, determined to prove herself with competence—not charm, not emotion.
Aiden sat at the head of the table, suit crisp, expression unreadable as he flipped through slides presented by another department head. Zara avoided looking at him directly, but she could feel his presence like gravity itself—pulling at her attention whether she wanted it to or not.
When her turn came, she stood and moved to the front, nerves simmering beneath her confidence. “I’ll be presenting the brand revamp strategy for our mid-tier partnerships,” she said, clearing her throat softly.
Aiden’s gaze lifted to hers.
Focused. Cool. Professional.
So she matched it.
Zara walked them through her pitch with clarity and purpose. Her voice didn’t waver. The boardroom filled with nods of approval, and even Aiden leaned back, his expression unreadable but his eyes locked on her like she was the only thing in the room.
When she finished, silence hung for a moment. Then Aiden nodded once, and said simply, “Strong direction. Move forward with the first stage.”
It wasn’t praise. Not directly. But it was approval. And for a moment, Zara allowed herself to feel proud.
She returned to her seat, heart pounding not from nerves—but from the way his words made her feel like she’d won something far more personal.
**
By the end of the day, Zara was exhausted. She stayed later than most, finalizing some action points before the weekend. She didn’t expect anyone else to still be in the office—so when she stepped into the elevator and found Aiden already inside, tie loosened, jacket gone, she froze for half a second.
He met her gaze and stepped to the side. “Going down?”
She stepped in without a word. The doors slid shut.
For a moment, silence reigned. Then Aiden said quietly, “You were impressive today.”
Zara blinked, caught off guard. “Thank you. I—didn’t think you noticed.”
“I notice more than you realize.” His voice was low, thoughtful. “You’re sharp. Composed. You don’t let people rattle you.”
She gave a soft laugh. “You rattled me. On my first day.”
“You threw coffee at me,” he said, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I’d say we’re even.”
Zara bit back a smile. The elevator dinged softly, but neither moved.
“I meant what I said,” he added, turning slightly toward her. “I respect how you’ve handled yourself here. It’s not easy, stepping into this world.”
There it was again. That pull. That quiet acknowledgment of something between them that neither was ready to say aloud.
But Zara shook her head gently. “This is work, Aiden.”
“I know.”
“We can’t—”
“I know,” he repeated, voice tight.
The elevator doors opened.
He stepped out first, then turned back, voice quieter this time. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel it.”
And with that, he walked away.
Leaving Zara standing in the elevator, heart thudding in her chest, wondering just how much longer they could pretend the lines they drew were enough to keep them apart.
- Writer
