Chapter Seven : The Jealousy She Doesn't Understands
736 Words
"You're smiling."
Julian glanced up from his laptop.
"I'm sorry?"
Emily from Human Resources leaned against his desk with a knowing expression.
"You're smiling at your phone."
Julian looked down at the message on the screen.
Victoria: The Zurich reports are incorrect.
Victoria: Please fix them.
Victoria: Thank you.
Three texts.
No greeting.
No sign-off.
Yet somehow...
Julian grinned.
Emily looked horrified.
"Oh, you're gone gone."
Before Julian could deny it, the elevator doors opened.
Victoria Vence stepped onto the executive floor.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Employees straightened.
Conversations ended.
At nearly six-foot-two in her heels, Victoria commanded attention without effort. Her chestnut hair fell in sleek waves down her back, and those striking blue-green eyes surveyed the office with their usual precision.
Until they landed on Julian.
And the woman standing a little too close to him.
Victoria kept walking.
"Good morning, Ms. Vence," Emily chirped.
Victoria inclined her head.
"Emily."
Her gaze shifted to Julian.
"Mr. Hart."
Professional.
Controlled.
Untouched.
Then—
"The Zurich reports?"
Julian immediately stood.
"Already revised."
"Excellent."
Victoria turned toward her office.
Then paused.
"The board meeting has been moved to eleven."
Julian blinked.
"It has?"
"No."
Silence.
"Meet me in my office."
Without another word, Victoria disappeared behind the glass doors.
Emily stared.
"...Was that terrifying or attractive?"
Julian sighed.
"Both."
---
Victoria stood by the window when Julian entered her office.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Close the door."
Julian obeyed.
"Is something wrong?"
Victoria folded her arms.
"Who was she?"
Julian frowned.
"Emily?"
"Yes."
The question hung in the air.
Then realization dawned.
A dangerous thought followed.
Surely not.
Victoria Vence couldn't possibly be—
No.
Absolutely not.
"She works in Human Resources," Julian replied carefully.
"I know that."
Another pause.
"We're friends."
Victoria's jaw tightened.
"Friends."
"Yes."
Silence.
Then—
"Interesting."
Julian struggled to suppress a smile.
"Ms. Vence..."
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Whatever it is you're about to say."
Julian bit the inside of his cheek.
"Of course."
Victoria returned to the documents on her desk.
Conversation over.
Except...
"You smile around her."
Julian froze.
Slowly, he looked up.
Victoria wasn't meeting his gaze.
Instead, she continued reviewing the reports before her.
"You've noticed that?" he asked softly.
Victoria's pen stilled.
"I notice everything."
His heart skipped.
"And if I do?"
Blue-green eyes finally met his.
Cool.
Sharp.
Entirely unreadable.
"Then perhaps your attention should remain focused on your responsibilities."
Julian swallowed.
"Understood."
Something about the answer felt wrong.
Too easy.
Victoria looked away first.
"That will be all."
Julian hesitated.
Then nodded.
"As you wish."
As he reached the door—
"Julian."
He turned.
Victoria studied him.
For the first time since he'd met her...
she looked uncertain.
"You are... valuable to this company."
Julian smiled gently.
"Thank you."
Victoria's gaze lingered.
"You may go now."
The moment shattered.
Yet as Julian stepped back into the hallway, one thought echoed through his mind.
Victoria Vence had just gotten jealous.
And judging by the look on her face...
she hated it.
---
Victoria sat alone in her office.
Her untouched coffee cooled beside her.
Friends.
Julian and Emily were friends.
It shouldn't bother her.
It absolutely didn't bother her.
Yet...
Why had her chest tightened?
Why had the sight of another woman making Julian laugh unsettled her?
Why had she noticed?
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
Julian entered carrying a fresh cup of coffee.
"You forgot to drink this one."
Victoria accepted it automatically.
Chamomile tea.
Exactly the way she liked it.
"You remembered."
Julian's expression softened.
"Of course I did."
The answer came so easily.
So naturally.
As though caring for her wasn't a burden.
As though she mattered.
Victoria looked down at the tea in her hands.
Then quietly asked,
"Julian?"
"Yes?"
"Do you smile at everyone?"
The room fell silent.
Julian stared at her.
Then—
"No."
Victoria's pulse stumbled.
"Oh."
A faint smile tugged at Julian's lips.
"Only the people important to me."
Victoria looked away first.
"That will be all, Mr. Hart."
"Of course, Ms. Vence."
As the door closed behind him, Victoria pressed a hand against the unfamiliar ache in her chest.
Possessiveness.
Jealousy.
Want.
Emotions she had spent years mastering.
And somehow...
Julian Hart had awakened every single one of them.
For the first time in her life...
Victoria Vence wasn't entirely in control.
And she wasn't sure whether that terrified her...
or thrilled her.
- Writer
