Close Quarters
816 Words
Mira told herself she wouldn’t let him get to her.
That seeing Zane Calloway again after five years wouldn’t shake her. That his deep, unreadable gaze wouldn’t linger in her thoughts, or the way his voice had wrapped around her name like a secret he still kept.
But as she sat at her new desk, her fingers curled too tightly around her coffee cup, she knew she was lying to herself.
Zane was a problem.
One she thought she’d buried years ago.
And now?
Now, he was her boss.
---
Professionalism. That’s all she needed to focus on.
Her office was a sleek, minimalist space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline. Everything was pristine, high-end, cold. A reflection of the man who owned it all.
She exhaled slowly, forcing herself to focus on the documents in front of her. Her first assignment was a high-profile media deal, one that could solidify Calloway Media’s dominance in the industry. It was a dream project—if she could keep her emotions in check.
A knock on her door made her look up.
Lauren, Zane’s assistant, peeked in. “Mr. Calloway wants you in his office.”
Mira stiffened.
Of course he does.
She pasted on a polite smile. “Did he say why?”
Lauren shook her head, lowering her voice. “Honestly, I think he just likes making people squirm. He’s… intense.”
Mira almost laughed. Intense was an understatement.
But she wasn’t about to let him see her flinch.
Gathering her tablet and notepad, she followed Lauren down the corridor. With each step, her heartbeat hammered harder, but she forced herself to breathe.
This was just work. Just another meeting.
She could handle him.
Couldn’t she?
---
Zane’s office was too much like him—dark, commanding, impossible to ignore.
He stood by the window, his back to her, his broad shoulders framed by the city skyline. He didn’t turn when she entered.
“Mira,” he said smoothly, like her name still tasted familiar on his tongue.
She squared her shoulders, keeping her voice cool. “You wanted to see me?”
Finally, he turned.
His blue eyes locked onto hers, sharp and assessing. “Shut the door.”
A flicker of warning shot through her, but she did as he asked, keeping her movements composed.
Zane leaned against his desk, arms crossed. His suit was impeccable, the crisp white shirt beneath it unbuttoned just enough to hint at the hard planes of his chest.
She hated that she noticed.
He gestured to a chair. “Sit.”
“I’d rather stand.”
His lips curled at that—not quite a smirk, but close.
“Still stubborn,” he murmured.
“Still arrogant,” she shot back.
His eyes darkened slightly. Dangerous waters.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension between them was thick, suffocating.
Then Zane exhaled, pushing off the desk. “We need to set some ground rules.”
Mira folded her arms. “Rules?”
He walked closer—too close. Close enough that she caught the faintest hint of his cologne, dark spice and something distinctly him.
Her pulse kicked up, but she stood her ground.
“You work for me now,” he said, voice low. “Whatever we had before? It stays in the past.”
Mira refused to let him see how much those words cut.
She lifted her chin. “Agreed.”
Something flickered in his gaze. “Good.”
But he didn’t step back. If anything, he leaned in just slightly, his presence towering, suffocating.
“You sure you can handle that?” he murmured.
Her stomach tightened. Damn him. He was testing her, waiting for her to crack.
She tilted her head, feigning nonchalance. “I don’t know, Zane. You’re the one who called me in here. Having second thoughts?”
His jaw ticked. She hit a nerve.
Then, slowly, he smirked. “Not at all.”
She swallowed hard.
This was a game. A power struggle.
And she refused to let him win.
She stepped back, breaking the charge between them. “Is there anything else, sir?”
His smirk faltered at the formal address.
A small victory, but she’d take it.
For a moment, Zane just studied her, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded, his voice all business.
“You’ll be working directly with me on the media merger. Expect long hours.”
Of course. Forced proximity.
She should have known.
She kept her face neutral. “Understood.”
“Good.” He walked back to his desk, already dismissing her. “That’ll be all.”
Mira turned and forced herself to walk away.
But the moment she stepped into the hallway, her breath came fast uneven.
She leaned against the wall, heart pounding.
This was going to be hell.
And worse?
She wasn’t sure she’d survive the fire.
- Writer
