Chapter 6
691 Words
"Have you reviewed the final figures for the board presentation?" Owen asked, his voice steady but laced with the weight of the task.
“Yes I just did, ” Brielle replied, walking over to his desk with a folder in hand. “Everything looks solid. The numbers will impress them.”
She placed the folder on his desk, her fingers brushing against his as she handed it over. A spark passed between them, small but noticeable enough to make her heart skip a beat. Brielle quickly pulled her hand back, hoping he hadn’t noticed the sudden rush of warmth that spread through her.
But Owen had noticed. His gaze shifted from the documents to her, lingering for just a moment longer than usual. He had been observing her more closely these past few days—not as his employee, but as a woman. There was something about the way she carried herself, the subtle determination in her eyes, and the way her lips pressed together in concentration.
"Good work, Brielle," Owen said, his tone dropping slightly, a subtle edge of intimacy creeping in.
She looked up, catching his gaze. There was something different in the air between them. The way he was watching her now, his eyes holding hers for just a beat too long, made the room feel smaller—like they were the only two people in the world. Her breath hitched, and suddenly the conversation about the deal didn’t seem to matter as much anymore.
“I can’t afford to fail with this,” he continued, his voice lower now, almost like he was confiding in her. "But with you... I feel we’re in good hands."
Brielle’s pulse quickened. It wasn’t just the words—it was the way he said them. His confidence, his unwavering control, the way he spoke to her like she was an essential part of something bigger. For the first time, she saw something beyond the cold, calculated CEO. Something that intrigued her. And scared her.
The room fell silent as they stood close, their unspoken thoughts filling the space between them. Owen’s gaze dropped briefly to her lips, then back up to her eyes, and the tension between them thickened.
Brielle’s mind raced. Was this really happening? Was Owen, the man who commanded every room he walked into, now standing so close that she could feel the heat radiating off him, looking at her like he wanted—
Just then, the door to Owen’s office swung open.
“Mr. Walton, I—oh, sorry!” A flustered voice broke the silence.
Brielle quickly stepped back as Rebecca, one of the junior staff members, stood frozen at the doorway, her eyes wide. She had clearly walked in on something she wasn’t meant to see. The sudden interruption shattered the moment like glass hitting the floor.
Owen straightened, his face instantly returning to its usual composed expression. “Rebecca, what is it?”
Rebecca fumbled with the files in her hands, her cheeks flushing. “Uh, I… I came to drop off the legal documents for the merger. I didn’t mean to interrupt…”
Brielle felt her own cheeks burn with embarrassment. She glanced at Owen, who gave a curt nod to Rebecca, dismissing the awkwardness with his usual authority. “Thank you, just leave them on my desk.”
Rebecca hurriedly placed the documents on his desk, her eyes darting nervously between Owen and Brielle. Without another word, she scurried out of the office, leaving the door ajar behind her.
The silence returned, but the tension that had filled the room just moments before lingered in the air.
Brielle exhaled softly, trying to regain her composure. Owen, as usual, seemed completely unfazed, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—a trace of what had just happened. Or what almost happened.
“Where were we?” he asked, his voice back to its professional tone, though there was a hint of something more underneath.
Brielle swallowed, her heart still racing. “The merger. The presentation for the board.”
He nodded, picking up the documents. “Right. Let’s focus.”
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