Two months later:
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the office, Nia leaned back in her chair and exhaled. Two months had passed since Zack had started coming into the office, and in that time, they'd had minimal interaction—just brief, professional exchanges, nothing more. She had kept her distance, and so had he. But every week, without fail, there was always some small gesture from him—a dessert, a kind word to the team, a subtle reminder that he was still there, still watching over the project, still... watching her.
Every Friday, he left these little surprises for the team, and every Friday, she told herself not to overthink it. But the truth was, it was getting harder to ignore the weight of his absence and the quiet way he still managed to insert himself into her life.
