CHAPTER 4. AFTER HOURS
608 Words
The office was supposed to be empty.
It wasn’t.
Elena should’ve gone home an hour ago.
But Alessandro Moretti’s world didn’t care what she “should” do.
And neither did he.
He stepped out of his office, tie loose, sleeves rolled up.
“Still here?” he asked.
Elena didn’t look up. “You had unfinished work.”
“I didn’t ask you to stay.”
“You didn’t tell me to leave either.”
That made his jaw tick.
He walked closer.
Slow.
Deliberate.
“Do you ever stop?” he asked.
“Do you?”
A beat.
Then a low, humorless laugh left him.
“Fair.”
Silence stretched.
Heavy.
Too familiar now.
He stopped beside her desk.
Too close again.
“You’re starting to make a habit out of disobeying me,” he said quietly.
“I’m doing my job.”
“Same thing,” he muttered.
Elena finally looked at him.
That steady gaze again.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Just her.
And it was starting to get under his skin in a way he couldn’t explain.
His phone buzzed.
Once.
Twice.
He ignored it.
“Go home,” he said suddenly.
“I’m not finished.”
“You are for today.”
She held his gaze. “Since when do you decide that?”
Silence.
Then his smile came—slow, dangerous.
“Since I own this building.”
“That doesn’t mean you own my time.”
That hit something sharp.
He stepped closer.
Again.
“Elena,” he said lower, “you push me too much.”
“Then stop reacting.”
A pause.
Something flickered in his eyes.
Dark. Unstable.
Like he was fighting himself.
Then—
The door opened.
A wave of noise, laughter, and expensive perfume spilled into the hallway.
A group had arrived.
Clients.
Or worse.
Friends.
And right in the middle—
A woman wrapped around Alessandro’s world like she belonged there.
Tall. Beautiful. Confident.
She smiled when she saw him.
“Alessandro,” she purred, walking straight in like she owned him.
Elena stood still.
Just watching.
The woman didn’t even acknowledge her.
“Missed you,” she said, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
Alessandro didn’t stop her.
Didn’t move away either.
Elena felt it before she fully understood it.
That tightening in her chest.
Ridiculous.
Unwelcome.
But real.
“Still working late?” the woman asked, glancing around.
Her eyes finally landed on Elena.
A quick scan.
Dismissive.
“Oh,” she said lightly. “You brought company home.”
Alessandro didn’t correct her.
Didn’t explain.
That alone said enough.
Something inside Elena shifted.
Not jealousy.
Not exactly.
Something colder.
She grabbed her files.
“I’m done here,” she said calmly.
Alessandro’s eyes snapped to her.
“Stay.”
It came out sharp.
Instant.
She paused.
Looked at him.
Then at the woman.
Then back at him.
“No need,” she said quietly.
And walked out.
The second the door closed—
Silence hit harder than before.
Alessandro’s expression changed.
Just slightly.
The woman laughed softly. “Relax. She’s just an assistant.”
But he wasn’t looking at her anymore.
He was staring at the door Elena walked through.
Like something important had just slipped out of reach.
Later that night—
Alone in his office—
He replayed it.
The way she looked at him.
The way she left.
No anger.
No drama.
Just distance.
And it pissed him off more than anything else.
Because for the first time—
He didn’t feel in control of the situation.
He felt like he’d lost something he hadn’t even admitted he wanted.
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