The Late Night
387 Words
9:47PM.
The 40th floor was empty except for two offices with lights on. Mine. And his.
The “door stays open” rule.
I was supposed to be reviewing the Q3 forecast. Instead I was staring at his door across the hall.
He hadn’t moved in 3 hours.
At 10:02PM, my phone buzzed.
*Victor: _You’re still here.*_
*Me: _You’re watching me?*_
*Victor: _I’m across the hall, Lexa. Hard not to.*_
I didn’t reply.
10:19PM. A knock.
Victor. Sleeves rolled. Tie gone. Coffee in one hand, file in the other.
“You missed dinner,” he said.
“You’re not my keeper, COO.”
“No,” he said. “I’m your partner. Partners eat.”
He set the coffee on my desk. Black. No sugar. Exactly how I drink it.
“You remembered,” I said.
“I remember everything you don’t say,” he said.
We worked. Side by side. No talking. Just papers, clicks, and the city below us.
At 11:34PM, he dropped his pen.
“Lexa,” he said. “Look at me.”
I did.
He was tired. Not CEO-tired. Human-tired.
“Why did you sign?” he asked. “Really.”
“Because you gave me an out,” I said. “And I didn’t take it.”
“Why?”
“Because for 18 years I was the girl no one stayed for,” I said. “You stayed.”
The room got too quiet.
He took one step closer. Then stopped.
“I won’t cross that line,” he said. “Not unless you say so.”
I stood too. We were a desk apart.
“Victor,” I said. “If you kiss me right now, it can’t be because of the deal.”
“It’s not,” he said. “It’s because you signed your name next to mine and didn’t flinch.”
My phone buzzed. Loud.
*Mara: _Emergency. The three firms are filing together. 7AM.*_
The moment broke.
Victor exhaled. Stepped back. “Work first.”
He walked to the door. Stopped.
“Lexa,” he said without turning. “For what it’s worth… I would’ve.”
He left. Door open.
I sat down. Hands shaking. Not from fear.
From wanting.
And for the first time since Bench Four…
I hated that we had to fight tomorrow.
- Writer
