I bristle, covering the reaction with a curt shake of my head. “Not at all,” I say, but my voice betrays me with its slight hitch. I feel exposed, like he’s stripped away more than just the formal barriers between new colleagues.
“We’ll see,” Lucas murmurs, and his smile is almost predatory, illuminated strangely by the intermittent light.
I turn my attention back to the files, willing myself to ignore the flutter of uncertainty he’s unleashed. We finish our review, and I keep my focus on the paperwork, the numbers and clauses, the details I usually find comfort in.
“Looks like everything’s in order,” Lucas says as he stands, gathering the documents into a neat pile. He waits, watching, letting the silence spool out until I meet his gaze again. “I appreciate the thorough introduction.
