AFTERGLOW

OUTSIDE

*CHAPTER 6 — OUTSIDE*

Her desk was outside.

For real. 10 feet from his glass walls. Normal assistant spot. Plants. Other people walking by.

She should have felt relieved.

She felt... cold.

8:15 AM. She had her coffee. Normal clothes — jeans and a sweater from her OWN closet, not the one he filled.

Jax walked in at 8:30. Suit. No glance at her. Just: "Lena. My 9 AM deck."

"Yes, sir."

Sir. She'd never called him sir before.

He paused at his door. Looked at her desk outside. At her.

"Isn't this what you wanted? Distance?"

"Yes," she said too fast.

He went inside and left his blinds OPEN. So she could see him. So everyone could see him. He took a call, loud, laughing with a client. Leaned back in his chair, easy.

At 10 AM, she got up to bring him files. He didn't buzz her. She just... went.

He was on his laptop. She set them down.

"Anything else?"

"No," he said, not looking up. "You can go back to your desk. Outside."

That stung more than the archive room.

Back outside, her old bully friend from high school — Maya — walked by with HR. Maya saw Lena at the assistant desk.

"Oh my god Lena? You work here now? For Jax? Wow, full circle huh? You were so mean to him!"

Lena froze.

Inside the office, Jax stood up. Slow.

He opened his door.

"Maya," he said, smile sharp. "Can I steal you for a second?"

Maya laughed, "Sure!"

He led her into his office, closed the door. Blinds still open. Lena could see everything.

He said something. Maya's face went white. Then red. Then she left, fast, almost running.

He opened the door again and looked right at Lena outside.

"Anyone who talks about high school like it's funny doesn't work in my building," he said loud enough for the whole floor to hear. "You good out there, Reyes?"

She nodded.

"You sure? You look like you miss inside."

"I don't," she lied.

He stared at her for 3 seconds. Then: "Come here."

She got up. Walked inside.

He closed the door. Locked it. Click — same as interview day.

"Say it," he said.

"Say what?"

"That you miss being in here where I can see you."

"I don't—"

He stepped closer. Not touching. "Lena. Don't lie to me. You spent all night organizing my mother's photos and you think I want you out there with everyone else looking at you in that sweater?"

"I thought that was my reward."

"Your reward is you get to choose. Inside or outside. But if you stay outside, you work for the company. If you stay inside..." his voice dropped, "...you work for me."

Her heart hammered.

Inside meant his cologne, his voice, his eyes on her all day. Inside meant no escape.

Outside meant safe.

"I want—" she started, then stopped.

He waited.

"Inside," she whispered. "I want inside."

His whole body relaxed.

"Good girl."

He unlocked the door, dragged her old desk from outside back inside himself while the whole office stared.

"She's more efficient in here," he told no one in particular.

At 5 PM, only they were left.

"You never apologized to my face," he said quietly.

She turned. Looked at him. Really looked at this boy she called Ghost who now owned the skyline.

"I'm sorry, Jax. For everything. For your mom. For being cruel when you were just... hurting."

He walked to her, cupped her face — first real touch since high school.

"Thank you," he said, and his voice finally broke. "Now sit down. We have work."

And she did. Inside. Where he could see her. Where she wanted to be.