The Weight of Eyes
1361 Words
Scott Ellington hated distractions.
They came in many forms—meetings that ran too long, employees who asked questions they should have already known the answers to, journalists digging for personal details he had no interest in sharing. For years, he had perfected the art of keeping them out. His calendar was a fortress of efficiency, every moment accounted for, every decision weighed in the currency of return on investment.
And yet, as he sat in his office overlooking the glittering sprawl of the city, he found his mind circling back to the new interns. Not all of them—he had long since learned that most interns blurred together, temporary fixtures who came eager and left forgotten.
But two had stood out.
The Delgado girl—Rose. He had seen her type before. Confident, ambitious, the kind who mistook charm for strategy. Her smile lingered too long, her eyes too sharp when they met his. She was already playing a game, and Scott had little patience for players.
The other, though… Britney Shaw.
Scott leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. She hadn’t sought his gaze. If anything, she had seemed determined not to. While the others shifted in their seats, eager for acknowledgment, Britney had sat perfectly still, listening as though every word mattered. There had been no posturing, no attempt to impress him with feigned confidence.
That kind of restraint was rare.
He shook the thought from his mind. It was irrelevant. What mattered was whether she produced results. Attraction—if that was even the word—had no place here.
A chime at his door pulled him from his thoughts. His assistant, Evelyn, appeared with her usual precision. “Mr. Ellington, your meeting with the R&D division is ready.”
Scott rose without a word, smoothing his suit jacket. Whatever distraction Britney Shaw represented, he would not allow it to take root.
⸻
Down on the twentieth floor, Britney was still adjusting to the rhythm of Novatek. The office thrummed with energy—an endless hum of typing, phone calls, and brisk footsteps. Each department was a hive, everyone working with a focus that left her both impressed and slightly breathless.
Her first assignment had come quickly: research background data for a logistics project Novatek was pitching to a major international client. It wasn’t glamorous work, but it was crucial, and she had thrown herself into it.
Across from her, Rose leaned back in her chair, scrolling casually through her phone before typing a few lines into her report. Every so often, she glanced toward the glass walls of the corridor, as if hoping to catch sight of Scott.
“You’re taking this awfully seriously,” Rose said at last, her voice teasing.
Britney didn’t look up from her screen. “Because it is serious. This data has to be flawless before it goes into the proposal.”
Rose smirked. “Relax. It’s not like Scott Ellington himself is going to read it.”
Britney’s fingers paused on the keyboard. “He built this company from nothing. Do you really think he doesn’t read everything?”
That earned a laugh. “Sweetheart, men like him don’t have time for details. He has entire armies for that. No, if he’s paying attention to anyone, it’ll be the ones who make themselves impossible to ignore.”
Britney finally looked at her. “And that’s your plan?”
Rose’s eyes glinted. “I plan to make sure Scott Ellington remembers my name long after this internship is over.”
Britney’s stomach tightened. She wanted to believe she didn’t care what Rose did—but she also knew Rose well enough to realize that if her schemes came at Britney’s expense, she wouldn’t hesitate.
⸻
The interns’ first real test came the following week: a group presentation in front of senior staff. Britney spent nights combing through research, refining data sets, and rehearsing her portion of the slides. When the day arrived, she stood in the glass-walled conference room with her heart pounding, but her notes steady in her hands.
The presentation began smoothly. Each intern spoke in turn, offering ideas on how Novatek could optimize supply chain efficiency using predictive algorithms. Rose delivered her section with confidence, flashing smiles at the executives, her voice rising and falling like a performer on stage.
Then it was Britney’s turn.
She stepped forward, palms damp but voice clear. She spoke about overlooked variables in the data—factors others had missed. As she explained her approach, she noticed several executives leaning forward, nodding. For the first time since she arrived, she felt the current shift in her favor.
When she finished, the room was quiet for a beat before one executive murmured, “That’s a strong angle.” Another began scribbling notes.
But then Rose’s voice cut in smoothly. “I’d just like to add,” she said, stepping forward uninvited, “that some of those variables Britney mentioned were ideas we discussed together. Collaboration is key at Novatek, after all.”
Britney froze. They had never discussed those points together. Rose was taking credit for her work—subtly, cleverly, in a way that sounded collaborative rather than deceitful.
The executives nodded, murmuring approval of teamwork. Britney swallowed her protest. Arguing would only make her look defensive.
From the corner of her eye, she caught movement near the back of the room. Scott Ellington had entered silently, standing with arms crossed as he listened. His gaze flicked briefly to Britney, unreadable.
Her throat tightened. Did he believe Rose? Did he even care?
The presentation ended, and the executives filed out with brisk nods of approval. Rose glowed with satisfaction, her smile triumphant.
Britney gathered her notes with trembling fingers, her chest heavy with frustration. She had worked for that recognition, and it had slipped through her hands in an instant.
As the others left, she lingered, taking a deep breath to steady herself.
“Shaw.”
The voice was low, measured. She turned. Scott Ellington stood a few feet away, his gaze fixed on her.
“You analyzed the logistics data?” he asked.
Her pulse quickened. “Yes, sir. I—yes, I did.”
He studied her for a long moment, as though weighing the truth in her eyes. “Good work.”
Two words. That was all. But to Britney, they landed with the weight of an entire world.
Before she could respond, he turned and left, his stride unbroken.
Britney stood rooted to the spot, her heart racing. Rose might play her games, but Scott Ellington had seen her. Really saw her.
⸻
Later that night, Rose confronted her outside the building, her tone sugary sweet but her eyes sharp as knives.
“Congratulations,” she said, slipping on her sunglasses though the sun had long since set. “Looks like you’ve caught his attention.”
Britney frowned. “It wasn’t like that. He just—”
“Oh, don’t bother pretending.” Rose stepped closer, lowering her voice. “I know what I saw. And so do you. But just remember, Brit—men like Scott Ellington don’t notice girls like you without a reason. Sooner or later, you’ll owe him something. And when that happens…” She let the words dangle, her smile curling. “Let’s just hope you’re ready to pay.”
She walked away, her heels clicking against the pavement, leaving Britney shivering in the warm night air.
For the first time since arriving at Novatek, Britney realized her battle wasn’t just against the company’s impossible standards. It was against Rose. Against Scott’s unreadable interest. Against the dangerous pull of something she swore she didn’t want.
And deep in the glass tower above them, Scott Ellington stood at his window, watching the city lights flare against the night. He told himself he didn’t care about the interns. He told himself emotions were distractions.
But when his mind strayed, it was not to Rose Delgado’s bright smiles.
It was to Britney Shaw’s steady voice, her quiet defiance, and the way she looked at him like he was a man—not a myth.
- Writer
