Chapter Four - The Difference Between Attention and Intent
1109 Words
Elena woke up with one thought.
Nathan.
She groaned and pulled the duvet over her face.
“No.”
Her brain, apparently, had other plans.
It replayed the previous evening in embarrassing detail.
The rain.
His jacket over her head.
The quiet drive.
His voice when he'd said she was interesting.
And that stupid message.
Did you get inside safely?
It had been a perfectly normal question.
So why had she read it at least six times before going to sleep?
Elena reached for her phone.
7:12 a.m.
No new messages.
She sighed with relief.
Then immediately wondered why she was relieved.
“This is exactly why I don't do this.”
She got out of bed.
Today, she was going to behave normally.
Nathan was her colleague.
Nothing more.
That was all.
---
By the time Elena reached the office, she had successfully convinced herself she was completely unaffected.
Then she saw Nathan.
He was standing near the reception desk, speaking to someone from finance.
He looked up.
Their eyes met.
And Nathan smiled.
Not the polite smile he gave everyone.
A small, private smile.
Like they shared a secret.
Elena's resolve lasted approximately three seconds.
She looked away.
“Morning.”
She walked past him.
“Good morning.”
His voice followed her.
She kept walking.
Then she heard footsteps behind her.
“Are you avoiding me?”
She stopped.
Slowly turned.
“No.”
“You didn't say hello.”
“I did.”
“You said good morning without looking at me.”
Elena stared at him.
“Is there a rule that says I have to make eye contact?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She turned around again.
Nathan caught up easily.
“You're acting strange.”
“I'm tired.”
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“Good.”
She glanced at him.
There was something amused in his expression.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Then stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you know something I don't.”
Nathan smiled.
“Maybe I do.”
Before she could respond, he walked away.
Elena stood there.
She hated him.
She absolutely did.
Probably.
---
The morning became busy quickly.
Elena buried herself in work, grateful for the distraction.
By noon, she had finished the first set of campaign designs and was reviewing them when her colleague, Maya, dropped into the chair beside her.
“You're smiling.”
Elena looked up.
“No, I'm not.”
“You are.”
“I'm looking at my design.”
“Your design isn't that funny.”
Elena looked back at the screen.
“Maybe I'm happy with it.”
Maya leaned closer.
“Or maybe someone made you happy.”
Elena's eyes narrowed.
“Don't start.”
“Start what?”
“You know exactly what.”
Maya grinned.
“I'm just saying.”
“Don't.”
“Is it Nathan?”
Elena nearly choked on her coffee.
“What?”
Maya laughed.
“Oh, it definitely is Nathan.”
“There's nothing going on.”
“I didn't say there was.”
“Your face did.”
Maya leaned back.
“Fine. I'll stop.”
Elena relaxed.
“For now.”
Maya's grin returned.
“But I will say one thing.”
“What?”
“Be careful.”
Elena's smile disappeared.
“Why?”
Maya shrugged.
“Nathan isn't the kind of man who gives people attention for fun.”
Elena looked toward the other side of the office.
Nathan was standing near the conference room, speaking with his manager.
“What does that mean?”
“It means if he's interested, he's probably serious.”
Elena's stomach tightened.
She looked back at her screen.
“I don't think he's interested.”
Maya gave her a knowing look.
“Okay.”
That single word somehow sounded like a challenge.
---
Later that afternoon, Elena received an email from Nathan.
Subject: Meeting — 4:00 p.m.
She stared at it.
A meeting?
Why?
She opened the email.
Come to the conference room at four. I'd like to discuss the campaign.
Professional.
Completely normal.
Nothing suspicious.
Elena exhaled.
“See? Work.”
At four, she walked into the conference room with her laptop.
Nathan was already there.
Alone.
He looked up.
“Sit.”
She took the chair opposite him.
He opened the campaign documents.
For the next twenty minutes, they discussed colors, layouts, messaging and deadlines.
It was entirely professional.
Elena relaxed.
Maybe Maya had been imagining things.
Then Nathan closed the laptop.
“That's everything for the campaign.”
“Okay.”
He didn't move.
Elena waited.
“So... are we done?”
“Yes.”
She stood.
Nathan looked at her.
“Can I ask you something?”
Her heart immediately betrayed her.
“Sure.”
“Why are you uncomfortable around me?”
She froze.
“I'm not.”
“You are.”
“No, I'm not.”
“You've been avoiding eye contact all day.”
She looked down.
“That's not true.”
“It is.”
Silence.
Nathan leaned back in his chair.
“You don't have to be nervous around me.”
“I'm not nervous.”
“Then what are you?”
Elena didn't know.
That was the problem.
She looked at him.
“Confused.”
Nathan's expression softened.
“About what?”
“You.”
He was quiet.
She hadn't intended to say that.
“I don't understand you,” she continued. “One minute you're my colleague, the next you're driving me home in the rain and bringing me lunch like...” She stopped.
“Like what?”
“Like you care.”
Nathan held her gaze.
“I do care.”
Elena's breath caught.
He continued before she could respond.
“But I'm not asking you for anything.”
She stared at him.
“What do you want, then?”
Nathan smiled faintly.
“To get to know you.”
Her heart beat harder.
“Why?”
“Because I like talking to you.”
He paused.
“And because I like being around you.”
There was no teasing in his voice.
No game.
Just honesty.
Elena didn't know what to say.
Nathan stood.
“You don't have to decide anything.”
He walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
“Take your time.”
He left.
Elena remained alone in the conference room.
For the first time, she understood the difference.
Nathan wasn't simply giving her attention.
He was giving her intention.
And somehow, that scared her far more.
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