Chapter 2
1004 Words
The conference room buzzed with quiet anticipation as employees filtered in, each casting wary glances at the imposing man seating at the head of the long mahogany table. The seat that belonged to our new CEO – a very attractive one I might even say... Not the usual fifty-year old, with receding hairline. I clutched my notepad a little tighter, trying to focus on anything other than the way my pulse had inexplicably quickened.
Lucas slid into the seat beside me, draping an arm over the back of my chair like he had no concept of personal space. “Feeling nervous?”
“Why would I be nervous?” I scoffed, pretending the slight tremor in my fingers was from caffein and not an unshakable feeling of unease.
His gray eyes gleamed with amusement. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because you’ve been fidgeting since we got here.”
I rolled my eyes and turned my attention to my notes, determined to ignore the way his presence always made my skin tingle in a way I refused to analyze. I heard some movement coming from the end of the table, and silence swept over the space like a physical force.
I looked up, and for the first time, I really saw him.
Cassian Moreau.
He moved with the kind of effortless grace that demanded attention. Tall and imposing, with dark hair that fell well below his shoulders, framing sharp features that seemed too flawless to belong to a real person. But it was his eyes that held me captive – golden, piercing, as if they could strip away every layer of pretense and see directly into my soul.
A strange sensation fluttered in my chest. A whisper of familiarity. A feeling that I knew him, had met him before, even though logic screamed otherwise.
“Ms. Delacroix.” His voice was deep, smooth, with an edge of something I couldn’t quite define. And worse, he said my name like he’d said it a thousand times before.
I stiffened. “Yes, sir?”
“I assume you’ll be taking notes.” It wasn’t a question.
I nodded, forcing my fingers to grip the pen in my hand instead of smoothing my suddenly damp palms over my skirt. “Of course.”
Cassian’s gaze lingered a moment longer before he shifted his attention to the rest of the room. He spoke, his tone measured, confident, as he laid out his vision for the company, but I barely processed the words. My mind was still reeling from that look, from the way my stomach twisted into knots I didn’t understand.
Beside me, Lucas was unusually silent, his expression unreadable. He didn’t lean back in his usual relaxed manner but sat straight, tension evident in the set of his jaw.
The meeting dragged on, and despite my best efforts, I found my focus slipping. Each time Cassian’s gaze swept the room, I felt it linger on me, even when I wasn’t looking. I wasn’t imagining it. Was I?
When the meeting finally ended, I exhaled slowly, realizing I’d been holding my breath. Employees shuffled out, some whispering amongst themselves about their mysterious new boss. I was gathering my things when Lucas placed a hand on my arm, his grip firmer than necessary.
“Hey, you okay?” His voice was lower now, concerned.
I swallowed hard, nodding. “Yeah, just… tired.”
His eyes flickered toward the front of the room where Cassian stood, speaking with another department head. “Be careful with him.”
I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Lucas hesitated before shaking his head. “Just… don’t get too close.”
A humorless laugh escaped me. “Are you jealous or something?”
Something flashed in his eyes, something unreadable before he smirked, his usual teasing mask slipping back into place. “Jealous? Please. I just don’t want to deal with you turning into a lovesick mess over some brooding CEO.”
I shoved his shoulder. “As if.”
He chuckled, but the earlier tension between us hadn’t fully dissipated.
As we left the conference room, I felt Cassian’s eyes on me once more, heavy and unreadable. And for reasons I couldn’t explain, I didn’t dare look back.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. I buried myself in work, hoping numbers and reports would drown out the lingering unease that had settled deep in my bones. But no matter how hard I tried, my mind kept replaying the meeting – Cassian’s intense gaze, the strange pull I felt toward him, and Lucas’s uncharacteristic warning.
By the time the clock neared lunch time, I was ready to go stuff my face and pretend the morning events never happened. Just as I was shutting down my computer, my inbox pinged with a new email.
** From: Executive Assistant to Mr. Cassian Moreau **
Subject: Meeting Request
Eloise Delacroix, Mr. Moreau requests your presence in his office before you leave for your lunch break.
I stared at the screen, my heart stuttering in my chest.
Lucas’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. “You ready to - ?” He stopped mid-sentence as he glanced at my monitor. His expression darkened. “What does he want with you?”
I shook my head. “I have no idea.”
Lucas looked like he wanted to say something, but after a moment, he exhaled sharply. “Do you want me to wait for you?”
The offer was tempting, but something told me I needed to face this alone. “No, it’s fine. I’ll text you when I’m done.”
His jaw tightened, but he nodded. “Alright. Just… don’t let him get under your skin.”
Easier said than done.
I grabbed my notepad and took a steadying breath before heading toward the elevators to the executive offices, where Cassian Moreau was waiting for me.
And for reasons I still didn’t understand, the thought sent a shiver down my spine.
- Writer
