CHAPTER 6: AVOIDANCE
1222 Words
POV: d**k Hawthorne
Dick avoided Grey for three days.
Not obviously.
Dick Hawthorne did nothing obviously.
Meetings involving Grey were delegated through department heads. Emails received brief, cold replies written so formally they bordered on hostile. Whenever Grey entered a room, d**k suddenly found somewhere else to be.
It was strategic.
Necessary.
And completely ineffective.
Because now he noticed Grey constantly.
The sound of his voice down the hallway. His laugh during executive meetings. The way people naturally gravitated toward him without effort.
Worst of all—
Grey noticed the avoidance immediately.
Of course he did.
By Thursday evening, d**k sat alone in his office reviewing acquisition reports for the third time without absorbing a single word.
His attention kept drifting.
Back to Grey. Again.
Dick swore quietly under his breath before grabbing his phone.
Mel answered on the second ring.
“Hi.”
“Come over.”
A slight pause.
“You’re working late again.”
“Yes.”
“I can come by in thirty minutes.”
“Good.”
Her voice softened slightly. “Rough week?”
Dick loosened his tie impatiently. “Something like that.”
“I’ll bring dinner.”
He almost told her not to bother.
Instead he said, “Fine.”
Because despite everything, Mel always made things quieter somehow.
Predictable. Easy. Controlled.
Exactly what he needed.
—
An hour later, Mel sat on the kitchen counter inside his penthouse while d**k poured her a glass of wine.
“You look exhausted,” she observed gently.
“I’m fine.”
“You say that like a threat.”
Dick handed her the glass without answering.
She watched him carefully over the rim. “Bad meetings?”
“You have no idea.”
“That sounds promising.”
“It isn’t.”
Mel smiled faintly.
She looked elegant even in simplicity—soft cream sweater, dark jeans, minimal makeup. Comfortable in his space. Familiar.
Safe.
Dick moved toward her slowly, settling between her knees almost automatically. His hands rested on her waist while she touched his jaw lightly.
“Tense,” she murmured.
“Mm.”
“You should sleep more.”
“You sound like my assistant.”
“She’s probably right too.”
Dick kissed her before she could continue.
Immediate. Hungry.
Mel responded without hesitation, fingers sliding into his hair while his grip tightened instinctively at her waist.
For a few moments, it worked.
The noise in his head quieted.
No sharp grey eyes dissecting him. No smirking observations. No dangerous tension sitting just beneath his skin.
Just warmth. Control. Relief.
Then—
Grey’s voice slipped into his thoughts anyway.
You looked more comfortable threatening me than wanting me.
Dick pulled back abruptly.
Mel blinked softly, slightly breathless. “What happened?”
“Nothing.”
But his jaw had tightened again.
She noticed immediately.
Her fingers brushed lightly against his wrist. “Dick.”
“I said nothing.”
She studied him quietly for a second too long.
Not accusing. Not suspicious.
Just observant.
That somehow felt worse.
“You’ve been somewhere else all week,” she said gently.
Dick exhaled slowly through his nose. “Work’s complicated right now.”
“Work usually doesn’t follow you home like this.”
His silence answered for him.
Mel looked down briefly before speaking again.
“Is someone making your life difficult?”
Grey’s face flashed through his mind instantly.
Infuriating. Amused. Too perceptive.
“Yes,” d**k muttered before he could stop himself.
Mel gave a small hum. “Someone at the company?”
Dick realized the trap too late.
Her expression shifted almost imperceptibly when he didn’t answer immediately.
Not jealousy.
Understanding.
And that was somehow far more uncomfortable.
“You don’t have to tell me,” she said softly.
Dick stepped away from her, frustrated suddenly.
“I’m not having this conversation.”
“I know.”
That stopped him.
Mel set her wine glass aside before sliding off the counter slowly.
“You call me whenever things get too loud in your head,” she said quietly. “I don’t mind.”
Dick looked at her sharply.
She held his gaze calmly.
“But this feels different.”
The air in the penthouse turned unbearably still.
Dick hated how accurately she’d seen through him.
Not fully. Not enough to name it.
But enough.
Mel stepped closer carefully, touching his chest lightly.
“Do you even know what you want right now?”
No.
That was the problem.
Dick captured her wrist gently before lowering it.
“I’m tired.”
It wasn’t really an answer.
Mel seemed to understand that too.
“Okay,” she said softly.
No anger. No demands. No scene.
She never pushed him past what he was willing to give.
Part of him was grateful for that.
Another part suddenly wondered why it felt so empty tonight.
—
The next morning, d**k arrived at Hawthorne Industries earlier than usual.
He intended to avoid everyone for at least an hour.
Naturally, Grey was already there.
Dick stopped short upon entering the executive lounge.
Grey sat alone on the leather sofa, sleeves rolled to his forearms, coffee balanced loosely in one hand while reading through financial projections on a tablet.
He looked up immediately.
Their eyes locked.
There was no teasing smile this time.
That unsettled d**k more than usual.
“Morning,” Grey said calmly.
Dick walked toward the espresso machine instead. “You’re here early.”
“So are you.”
Silence settled between them.
Heavy. Aware.
Dick focused aggressively on making coffee.
He could feel Grey watching him.
Not casually.
Intently.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” Grey said at last.
Dick kept his attention on the machine. “I’ve been busy.”
“No.” Grey’s voice remained frustratingly calm. “Busy looks different.”
Dick grabbed the coffee cup harder than necessary.
“I’m not doing this at eight in the morning.”
Grey stood slowly.
Dick immediately became aware of every movement.
The sound of approaching footsteps. The tension tightening low in his spine. The dangerous awareness that arrived anytime Grey got too close.
Grey stopped beside him near the counter.
Close enough that d**k caught the scent of cedar and coffee.
“You know what’s interesting?” Grey asked quietly.
“I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”
“You only disappear after moments where things get too real.”
Dick finally looked at him.
Big mistake.
Grey’s expression was unreadable now. No amusement. No mockery.
Just sharp observation.
As if he’d finally solved something.
“You’re afraid of yourself around me,” Grey said softly.
Dick’s pulse kicked once.
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
Grey stepped closer.
Not touching.
Worse.
“Then look me in the eye and tell me I’m wrong.”
Dick opened his mouth immediately.
Nothing came out.
For the first time since they’d met, Grey looked genuinely caught off guard.
Not by attraction.
By the silence.
Dick saw the exact second realization settled fully into him.
And suddenly the room felt too small for both of them.
Grey’s gaze dropped briefly to d**k’s mouth before lifting again.
Slowly.
Carefully.
“Jesus Christ,” Grey murmured under his breath.
Dick should’ve stepped away.
Instead, he stayed perfectly still.
Which might’ve been the most dangerous thing he’d done yet.
- Writer
