Chapter 13
1033 Words
THE TENSION BETWEEN THEM
The office didn’t feel normal anymore. It wasn’t just the whispers. It wasn’t even the stares.
It was something deeper—something quieter but heavier. Like the air itself had shifted after everything that had happened.
Maya felt it the moment she sat down at her desk.
People were still talking about her. Still wondering why the CEO himself had stepped in for her.
She tried to ignore it. Opened her laptop.
Focused on work.
But then—She felt it. That gaze again.
Daniel.
He didn’t approach immediately. He watched first.
Leaning slightly against a desk not too far away, arms loose, posture relaxed, that usual calm smile on his face.
A few minutes later, he walked over.
Unhurried. Casual. Like this was nothing.
He stopped right beside her desk and leaned back against it slightly, close enough to feel… intentional.
“You really think you can handle all this, huh?” he said, voice light, almost teasing.
Maya looked up at him. Her heart had picked up just a little—but her face didn’t show it.
“Sir, I focus on my work.”
Daniel’s smile deepened just slightly.
That answer again. Simple and Controlled.
He tilted his head, studying her like she’d just proven a point.
“Hmm.”
Then, slowly—He reached out.
His fingers brushed against hers lightly.
“I want to see if you’re as fearless up close as you seem on paper.”
Maya stiffened. Just enough.
And she pulled her hand back politely.
“Sir… please.”
Her voice wasn’t loud. But it was firm with a clear boundary.
Daniel paused. Not offended. Just… observing.
Interesting. Very interesting.
Most people would panic at his presence.Or stammer.
But her? She stayed composed.
Even now. Even with him this close.
And that—That made something in his chest shift.
Upstairs, Alexander had already seen enough.He had been watching.
Not intentionally at first.
But the moment Daniel walked toward her, something in him sharpened.
And when he saw Daniel lean in— Too close—
When he saw his hand reach for hers— That was it.
He didn’t think. He moved.
“That’s enough, Daniel.”
The voice cut through the moment.
Calm.Controlled. But carrying authority that didn’t need to be loud.
Both of them turned.
Alexander stood there. Eyes steady. Expression unreadable.
But his presence was heavy and commanding.
Daniel straightened slightly but didn’t move away.
“I’m not hurting her,” he said calmly. “I just wanted to understand her better.”
Alexander stepped forward. Closing the distance.
His jaw tightened just a little.
“She’s with me,” he said, voice sharper now. “Keep your hands to yourself.”
That was when he reached for her. Not forcefully.But firmly.
He took Maya’s hand from Daniel’s space and stepped in between them. Just like that. A clear line drawn.
For a brief second, there was Silence. The kind that said more than words.
Daniel’s eyes met Alexander’s. Calm But curious.
Almost amused. So it’s like that.
And Alexander? His gaze didn’t waver. Stay away.
Maya didn’t say anything.
She simply stood there, steady as always, even though her pulse had picked up again.
Alexander didn’t give room for anything else.
“Come.” And he led her away. Still holding her hand.
The office had gone quiet again. People were watching.
Of course they were. But neither of them cared.
Alexander walked past the desks, past the stares, toward the corridor that led away from the main floor.
Maya followed.
After a few steps, she spoke softly. “Sir… I can manage on my own.”
Alexander didn’t stop walking immediately. Then he glanced at her.
And for a moment— There was something softer in his eyes.
“Not this time,” he said quietly. “Trust me.”
That made her pause internally.
But she didn’t argue again.
Daniel remained where he was. Leaning back against the desk again.
Same posture.Same calm look.But now there was something else mixed in.
A quiet smirk touched his lips. And under his breath, almost amused—
“She’s… something else.” Because now he knew.
Without a doubt. It wasn’t just him.
Daniel’s eyes narrowed slightly in thought.
“So… you like her too.” It wasn’t a question.
It was a conclusion.
And strangely—That didn’t make him back off.
If anything—It made things more interesting.
Down the corridor, Alexander finally slowed.Then stopped.
He still hadn’t let go of her hand. Maya noticed.
But she didn’t pull away immediately.
“Sir,” she said again, softer this time.
He looked at her.
Then finally loosened his grip.
“I appreciate it,” she said. “Truly. But I didn’t feel unsafe.”
He nodded once. “I know.”
There was a pause. Then he added, voice lower now—
“But he’s not just testing you.”
Maya frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
Alexander’s gaze hardened just a fraction.
“He’s testing me too.”
That landed. And for the first time—She actually paused.
Because that meant…This wasn’t just about her.
“You should stay focused on your work,” he said, his tone returning to something more professional.
“I always do,” she replied.
He studied her for a moment.
Then nodded. “Good.”
But even as he said it—His mind wasn’t calm.
Because now he knew something for sure.
Daniel wasn’t just being difficult. He wasn’t just being his usual scheming self.
No. He had feelings for her. And that complicated everything.
Because Daniel wasn’t just anyone. He was his rival.
His stepbrother.
And now— They were both standing on the same side of something they couldn’t ignore.
Maya, on the other hand…Walked back toward her desk like nothing had changed.
Like everything was still normal. Like she wasn’t standing right in the middle of something dangerous.
She sat down. Opened her laptop. And continued working.
Calm.Focused and Unaware.
But behind her—Two different men were thinking the same thing.
Stay away.
And neither of them planned to listen.
- Writer
