Immediately after finishing the last check of the presentation, her phone began to buzz. Alexander was the one who sent the message.
Come see me at my office. I need to go over the details of the presentation with you. —A. Pierce.
Every time he called her, she experienced a flutter in her heart. Breathing in deeply, she gathered her things and leisurely walked down the hallway towards his office. She observed him at his desk, completely focused on his computer screen, with the door slightly ajar. She lightly tapped on the door and looked up to meet his gaze.
"Enter," he said, speaking with a tranquil and steady tone.
Natalie entered the room and shut the door. She attempted to calm her nerves, reassuring herself that this meeting was no different than any other. Purely business. However, when their gazes connected, she experienced that same sudden surge of warmth enveloping her.
Alexander rose to his feet and strolled around his desk, positioning himself only a couple of feet from her. "I've examined the presentation, and it appears sturdy," he mentioned, his voice formal, but there was an underlying element that caused her heart to race. "I have some changes I would like to talk about."
Natalie nodded, maintaining a neutral expression. "Naturally."
As he passed her a hard copy of the presentation slides, their fingers briefly touched, sending a surge of electricity through her body. She quickly withdrew her hand, hoping he hadn't seen her response. However, the quick flash in his eyes indicated to her that he had.
"Slide seven requires stronger focus on the revenue estimates," Alexander remarked, maintaining a steady voice while staring at her slightly longer than necessary. "I also want to ensure that our closing statement is solid. Something that clearly conveys our vision to investors.
Natalie said, "I understand," rapidly writing notes on the paper. However, only half of her mind was focused on the task at hand. Half of her attention was devoted to the man standing near her, while the atmosphere between them was charged and unmistakable.
Natalie noticed a sudden break, then lifted her gaze to find Alexander staring at her intently. He had a serious look on his face, yet there was a spark in his eyes that made her heart beat faster. He seemed to be having a hard time, just like she was, trying to maintain a professional demeanor. For a brief moment, they both remained silent, and the unsaid words made the silence feel weighty.
In the end, Alexander spoke in a quiet voice. "You have been putting in a lot of hours working late."
Natalie nodded after swallowing. "There's plenty of things to get done."
He moved nearer, his eyes fixed on hers without wavering. "You've been working additional hours consistently."
"She mentioned that she is ensuring everything is flawless for the presentation, speaking in a softer tone." The gap was shrinking as time went on, making it increasingly difficult to resist the attraction she had towards him.
Alexander's eyes shaded slightly, and for a moment, she sensed he could come closer to her. However, he then stepped back and ran his hand through his hair, as if attempting to regain composure.
"We're nearly there," he stated, his voice tense. "In a couple of days, this will all be in the past."
Natalie gave a nod, even though she felt a mix of happiness and sadness at the idea of the project coming to an end. The end result of months of hard work was the presentation, which also signified that she and Alexander would no longer need to spend as much time together. A part of her questioned whether it might be beneficial for her to create some space in order to take charge of her feelings. Another part of her, which she attempted to push aside, desired for this to continue.
Natalie, Alexander complimented her excellent work, his tone becoming gentler. "You consistently do."
The unexpected compliment made her chest feel tight, and she briefly felt her determination weakening.
For weeks, she worked to convince herself that her feelings for him were temporary and could be ignored. Standing so near to him, she came to understand her previous mistake. This wasn't disappearing.
"Thank you," she murmured, barely audible.
Another period of extended quiet ensued, with Natalie sensing the tension escalating between them once more. She was aware that she needed to depart, to exit his office before the situation became more intricate. However, her feet remained grounded. Her heart was racing in her chest, and she was unable to move from where she stood.
At last, Alexander spoke once more, his voice filled with emotion. "You are excused, and...make sure to look after yourself, Natalie."
Gazing at him with eyes filled with appreciation, at least he is concerned about her welfare. "Thank you, I will," she whispered, her voice barely audible.