The silence after he leaves the room is deafening. I take a deep breath, and try to focus, but the last few moments replay in my mind... the intensity of his blue eyes locking onto mine, the brief flicker of his gaze to my lips, the teasing words which went back and forth between us, until he became all serious again.
And then he'd said it. 'We'll continue this conversation later.'
What does he even mean by that? Was he flirting? Or am I just reading into things that aren't there? I press my lips together, annoyed at myself for overanalyzing.
I don't really think he's fully aware of the effect he has on me though. The same effect which made me pour my coffee all over him the first time I saw him.
I push the thoughts aside, shaking off the heat in my cheeks, and force myself to focus on the tasks I'm working on.
I try to distract myself with them, filing away the documents he handed me and typing up the meeting notes on my brand new work laptop which had only been given to me just yesterday.
Noon finally comes around, and just as promised, someone shows up to take my lunch order.
"Good afternoon, Miss Cole," says a well-dressed man in a sharp suit, balancing a tablet. "Mr. Crane instructed me to take your order. Anything you'd like."
Great. Now I even have a lunch attendant. Just what I need, another reminder of how tightly he controls everything in this building.
After struggling to focus on the menu, I settle on a basic salad, barely even tasting it, my mind preoccupied. I glance at the door from time to time waiting for Mr Crane to return.
But he doesn't.
After lunch, my mind shifts to the anxious feeling I've had since meeting Mr. Gaines this morning. And with my 'dinner' with him now just a few hours away, it's hard to ignore the growing sense of unease creeping up on me.
By a few minutes to two, Mr Crane still isn't back, and I start to get nervous. He has a meeting scheduled, and I know his project managers must be waiting. He is the boss though, but it's my job to make sure he attends his meetings promptly
I decide to give him a call. I pull out my phone, then I realize I don't even have his number and I sigh. I'll need to ask him for it later.
At exactly two, the intercom buzzes with Mr. Crane's clipped voice. "Miss Cole. The third-floor boardroom. Now."
I grab my notebook and head down. In the boardroom, Mr. Crane reviews updates with his project managers, covering projects, deadlines, and everything in between. I do my best to look like I'm paying full attention, but my mind keeps drifting back to Gaines and that weird dinner invite.
The meeting wraps up after an hour, and as people file out, I linger by the door, hesitating. Should I ask him for his number? I can already imagine the smug look on his face. But if I don't, how am I supposed to reach him in an emergency?
I clear my throat and approach. "Um, Mr. Crane?" He raises an eyebrow, turning his attention back to me.
"Yes, Miss Cole?"
"I, uh, realized I don't have your number." The words come out rushed, and I cringe.
One corner of his mouth lifts in a what looks like a smirk. "Oh, already? Trying to reach me after hours, are we?"
My cheeks flush instantly. "No! It's just for work purposes."
"Sure it is," he says. He pulls a business card from his pocket, extending it to me. "Reach out to me during business hours. But…let's not make a habit of late-night calls, shall we?"
I manage a polite smile, my cheeks still on fire. "Of course, Mr. Crane. Wouldn't even dare."
"Good," he says. "Hold all my calls. I'll be out for the rest of the day."
"Okay." He strides toward the elevator without another word, leaving me standing there with his card in hand and a ridiculous, fluttery feeling in my chest.
The rest of the day crawls by slowly. By five, I log out and head to the lobby. Just as I'm about to step out, I see Jessy by the elevator, scrolling through her phone. She looks up, gives a little wave, way too friendly for someone I barely know. I wave back, my smile polite, and hurry out, relieved to escape her knowing look.
My relief is short-lived though, because outside, there's a black Sedan waiting by the curb. A sharply dressed chauffeur leans against the hood.
I ask if he's from Mr Gaines, he nods politely and opens the door, gesturing for me to get in. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, and slide into the backseat.
The ride is smooth and quiet, the evening sunset blurring past, and soon we pull up to an upscale restaurant with a warm glow spilling from its windows. A host leads me to a private dining room with soft lighting and curtains that make it feel sealed off from the world.
Gaines is already there, swirling a glass of wine. He looks up as I enter, his polite smile almost hiding the glint in his eye.
"Aria," he greets, gesturing to the seat across from him. "Right on time."
"Mr. Gaines." I keep my voice steady, but I can feel his gaze, watchful and assessing.
After several polite refusals to his drink offers, he finally gets to the point. "I've been hearing rumors," he begins, leaning back with ease. "About Mr. Crane. Seems he's been having a few… private meetings."
He pauses, his eyes fixed on mine. A chill creeps down my spine, but I keep my face impassive. How does he know about the meetings Mr. Crane brought me to? I thought they were confidential.
I try to sound neutral, though unease claws at me. "I wasn't aware. I'm just his secretary, after all."
Gaines's gaze sharpens. He leans forward, voice dropping. "I'll be straightforward, Aria. I believe Mr. Crane is hiding something." He pauses, watching me closely.
"What do you mean?" I ask, trying not to let my irritation slip through.
"Oh, yes." He takes a sip of wine, as if savoring it. "He's been meeting with certain—shall we say—powerful people. High-stakes investors, people with real money. Money that could change the future of Crane Group." His eyes gleam with satisfaction.
He continues, his tone almost too casual. "And it bothers me. If these big-shot investors come into the picture, I'm out. Nolan's keeping them close. Closed doors." His lips curl in disgust. "If I didn't know better, I'd say he's planning something big. And he doesn't want me in the picture."
I resist a shiver, determined to stay neutral. "Maybe he's just… cautious?"
"Aria," he says, shaking his head, a cold laugh escaping. "There's cautious, and then there's ambitious. And Crane? He's never been the type to settle for just cautious."
He leans even closer, his smile unsettling. "I need to know what he's planning. If he's cutting deals that could affect my stake, I deserve to know." His eyes bore into mine, a chilling intensity. "And you, Aria, are in the perfect position to help me find out."
I'm suddenly thirsty and I fill a glass with red wine, take a long drink, feeling his words close in around me.
"You want me to…" I trail off, leaving the sentence unfinished.
"I need information, Aria," he murmurs, his gaze steady. His smile widens. "I want you to be my eyes and ears when it comes to Mr. Crane."
I choke, coughing out my drink back into the glass. "I'm sorry—what?"