The BOSS'S ASSISTANT

CHAPTER 13. WATCH ME

The office felt different that morning.

Not calm.

Tense.

Like something had already broken and nobody knew it yet.

Elena noticed it the second she stepped in.

Whispers.

Eyes.

Phones slightly lowered when she passed.

And then she saw why.

Alessandro was already there.

Leaning against her desk.

Waiting.

Like he owned the entire floor.

No tie. Sleeves rolled. Hair slightly messy.

And he looked pissed.

“You’re late,” he said.

Elena didn’t stop walking. “I’m on time.”

“For you, that’s late.”

She dropped her bag. “What do you want?”

That made him smirk slightly.

“I like that,” he said.

“What?”

“You don’t even bother pretending anymore.”

She stared at him. “I don’t have time for your mood swings.”

A few people nearby went quiet instantly.

Alessandro pushed off the desk and stepped closer.

Too close again.

“You ignored me last night,” he said low.

“I was off the clock.”

“I don’t care.”

“That’s your problem.”

That line hit harder than expected.

His jaw tightened.

Before he could respond—

The elevator opened.

A man stepped out.

Confident. Smiling.

Adrian Keller.

Again.

“Morning,” Adrian said casually. “Didn’t expect to see you two so… intense.”

His eyes landed on Elena.

And stayed.

Alessandro noticed instantly.

Of course he did.

“Morning,” Elena replied politely.

Adrian smiled. “I was actually hoping to take you out for lunch today.”

Silence dropped.

Fast.

Alessandro laughed once.

Cold.

Sharp.

“No,” he said.

Adrian raised a brow. “Excuse me?”

“I said no.”

“That wasn’t your invitation,” Adrian replied, amused.

Alessandro stepped forward instantly.

“You don’t ask her anything,” he said low. “Not in my office.”

Adrian glanced at Elena. “Is he always like this?”

Elena opened her mouth—

But Alessandro cut in.

“Yes.”

Beat.

Then colder:

“And today I’m in a bad mood.”

The air in the office shifted.

People were watching now.

Too openly.

Too carefully.

Adrian smiled. “Relax. It’s just lunch.”

Alessandro stepped closer.

“Try again and I’ll make sure it’s your last meal anywhere near her.”

Silence.

Sharp.

Heavy.

Elena finally stepped between them.

“Both of you, stop.”

They both looked at her.

At the same time.

That alone felt dangerous.

She turned to Adrian. “Thank you, but no.”

Then back to Alessandro.

“And you—stop acting like I need protection.”

His eyes darkened slightly. “You’re not listening.”

“I am,” she snapped. “You’re just not saying anything reasonable.”

That made a few employees gasp quietly.

Nobody spoke to him like that.

Nobody.

Alessandro stared at her.

Then said quietly:

“You think I’m doing this for fun?”

Elena froze slightly.

A pause.

Then softer—but darker:

“I don’t like watching people touch what I can’t stop thinking about.”

Silence dropped instantly.

Dead.

The office went completely still.

Even Adrian stopped smiling.

Elena’s breath caught slightly.

Then she recovered fast.

“That’s not my problem,” she said.

Alessandro’s jaw tightened.

“It is when it’s me.”

Adrian cleared his throat awkwardly. “Right… I’ll come back later.”

He left quickly.

Smart choice.

The second he was gone—

Elena turned on Alessandro.

“You’re humiliating me.”

He frowned. “No.”

“Yes,” she said sharply. “You’re making this personal in front of everyone.”

“I am being honest,” he snapped back.

“Then stop being honest like that.”

Silence.

Heavy again.

He stepped closer.

Voice lower.

“I don’t like him looking at you.”

“That’s not my problem.”

“It becomes my problem when I can’t stop it.”

That hit harder than either of them expected.

Elena shook her head slightly.

“You’re losing control.”

Alessandro smirked faintly.

“Yeah,” he said. “Because of you.”

For a second—

Neither moved.

The entire office still watching.

Breathing held.

Waiting.

Then Elena grabbed her files.

“This is insane,” she muttered.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “It is.”

She looked at him one last time.

“You need help.”

His smile turned darker.

“Or I need you to stop pretending you don’t feel it too.”

And she walked out.

Again.

But this time—

Everyone in that office knew something had changed.

And Alessandro?

He didn’t even try to deny it anymore.