Chapter 8
1016 Words
The moment I stepped into the office, I knew people were noticing. It was subtle at first – a double take here, a lingering glance there – but the shift in energy was undeniable. I had put in the effort this morning, choosing my outfit and styling my hair with a level of attention I usually reserved for special occasions. And now, I was reaping the effects.
I walked with confidence toward my desk, my heels clicking against the polished floor. A couple of coworkers exchanged looks as I passed, their eyes flickering with curiosity. I smirked inwardly. Good. I wanted to be noticed.
“Eloise?” A familiar voice called from behind me. I turned to find Mia, one of my colleagues, standing with her hands on her hips, eyeing me up and down.
“Morning, Mia,” I greeted, feigning innocence.
“Don’t ‘morning’ me. You look… different today. New outfit? New perfume? What is it?” Her eyes narrowed in playful suspicion.
I chuckled, adjusting my purse on my shoulder. “Maybe I just felt like dressing up.”
“Mm-hmm.” She wasn’t convinced, but she let it slide. “Well, whatever it is, you look amazing.”
“Thanks, Mia.”
As I made my way to my desk, I caught sight of Lucas stepping into the office. He was mid-conversation with another colleague, but the second his eyes landed on me, his words stalled. His sharp gray eyes roamed over me, slow and deliberate, before flicking back up to meet mine. Heat curled low in my stomach at the way he looked at me, like he was seeing me in an entirely new light.
“Eloise,” he greeted, his voice smoother than usual.
“Lucas.” I nodded, settling into my chair as he walked over. “Everything ok?”
He leaned against my desk, arms crossed, his eyes still running over me like he was memorizing every detail. “You’re glowing today. Something I should know about?”
I shrugged. “Just a good morning, I guess.”
His lips curled in amusement, but there was something else behind his gaze – something possessive. He was affected, just as I had hoped. His eyes dipped to the curve of my throat before flicking back up to my lips. The way he looked at me made my breath catch.
Before either of us could say anything more, an email notification popped up on my screen.
**Reminder: Department Meeting – 10 AM with Mr. Cassian Moreau**
The moment I saw his name; my heart made an erratic little flip. My body still remembered our last encounter in his office – the way he had looked at me. And now I’d be seeing him again, this time in front of everyone.
Lucas followed my gaze to the screen, his jaw tightening. “Guess today’s going to be interesting.”
“Seems like it,” I replied, my voice steadier than I felt.
The meeting room buzzed with hushed conversation as my department settled in. I took a seat near the middle, my pulse thrumming with anticipation. Lucas sat a few chairs away, his gaze flicking toward me every so often, unreadable. I straightened my posture as the door opened and Cassian strode in.
Every time I saw him, he managed to look more impossibly striking than before. His dark, tailored suit molded to his lean, powerful frame, and his long black hair, smooth and inky, contrasted sharply with the golden intensity of his eyes. He didn’t just enter a room – he commanded it.
As he walked toward the front, his gaze skimmed the room, assessing. Then, his eyes landed on me, and the rest of the room might as well have disappeared.
His lips curved, subtle but knowing. I felt it like a caress. My skin heated under his stare, my body betraying me with a slow, delicious ache. He knew exactly how much I wanted him to keep doing it.
“Good morning, everyone,” Cassian’s voice was smooth, authoritative. “Let’s get started.”
The meeting commenced, but I barely heard a word... again. I was hyper-aware of Cassian, of the weight of his gaze whenever it drifted to me. He wasn’t just looking at me – he was watching me. Studying me. It was as if he was waiting for me to react, to slip up, to reveal just how much I was unraveling under his attention. God, he is so distracting!
At one point, Lucas leaned in slightly from his seat. “Are you even listening?” he murmured, amusement lacing his tone.
I blinked, snapping out of my trance. “Of course I am.”
He smirked, unconvinced. “Right. Then tell me what he just said.”
I opened my mouth, grasping for words, but Cassian’s voice cut through the room. “Miss Delacroix.”
My stomach dropped. Slowly, I turned to face him, aware of every pair of eyes now locked onto me.
“Would you care to share your thoughts?” Cassian asked smoothly, one dark brow arched in amusement.
Shit. I had no idea what he had been talking about. But I refused to let him see me flustered.
I cleared my throat. “Could you repeat the last part? I want to make sure I respond appropriately.”
A slow smile spread across his lips, something dark and knowing flickering in his gaze. “Of course.”
He repeated his question – something about upcoming projects and how my team could improve efficiency. I latched onto it, formulating a quick but intelligent response. When I finished, Cassian held my gaze a beat longer than necessary, then gave a satisfied nod.
“Good,” he murmured. “Very good.”
I exhaled, tension loosening slightly. But as the meeting continued, I couldn’t shake the feeling that both men – the charming, teasing Lucas and the enigmatic, dangerous Cassian – were circling me like predators closing in on their prey. And God help me, I wasn’t sure I wanted to run.
- Writer
