The office was unusually quiet, the hum of Kasie's computer the only sound breaking the silence. It had been a whirlwind of a week, catching up on the Paris projects while transitioning to new initiatives back in Denmark. Kasie thrived in the chaos, but even she couldn't deny the relentless pace was exhausting.
Jake walked into the shared workspace carrying two cups of coffee. He set one down on her desk without a word, the cup sliding slightly on the polished surface before coming to a stop in front of her keyboard.
Kasie looked up, her brow furrowing. "What's this? A peace offering?"
"Coffee," Jake said simply, shrugging as he sipped from his own cup. "Figured you might need it since you've been glaring at your screen like it owes you money."
Kasie narrowed her eyes at him but couldn't suppress a small smile. She took a cautious sip and immediately felt the warmth spread through her. It was good—almost annoyingly so.
"You're surprisingly thoughtful," she muttered, her tone begrudging.
"Don't spread that around," Jake replied, smirking. "I have a reputation to maintain."
The air between them was light, a welcome change from the tension that had characterized most of their interactions in Paris. Now, back in Denmark, their rhythm felt more natural, like they had finally found a balance between banter and begrudging respect.
Jake leaned over her shoulder, pointing at the figures on her screen. "You forgot to adjust the revenue model for the seasonal shifts."
Kasie tilted her head to look at him. "I was just about to do that," she said defensively.
"Sure you were," he replied, stepping back with a satisfied grin.
She shook her head, biting back a retort. He was infuriatingly perceptive, but she couldn't deny that he was usually right.
By late evening, the office had emptied out, leaving only the two of them. Kasie was still engrossed in her work, her desk a cluttered mess of papers and sticky notes. Jake, on the other hand, had leaned back in his chair, scrolling through his phone with an air of casual indifference.
"You're awfully relaxed for someone with three pending reports," Kasie remarked, glancing at him from behind her laptop.
"Already done," he said, not even bothering to look up.
"Showoff," she muttered under her breath.
Jake finally set his phone down and stood, stretching his arms above his head. "Come on, you're clearly overthinking that data set. Call it a day."
Kasie sighed, reluctantly shutting her laptop. "Fine. But only because I'm starving."
They walked out of the building together, the cool evening air a welcome relief after the stuffiness of the office. The streets of Copenhagen were alive with soft laughter and the distant clink of glasses from nearby cafes.
"You know," Kasie began, her tone teasing, "for someone who's so good at his job, you're surprisingly terrible at giving compliments."
Jake raised an eyebrow. "I'm great at giving compliments. I just don't waste them."
"Right," she replied, rolling her eyes. "Because telling someone they're overthinking isn't insulting at all."
Jake chuckled, the sound low and warm. "If you want me to compliment you, just say so."
Kasie stopped walking and turned to face him, a playful challenge in her eyes. "Okay, fine. Compliment me."
Jake took a moment, his expression thoughtful. "You're brilliant at what you do. Stubborn as hell, but brilliant. There. Happy?"
For a second, Kasie was caught off guard. His words, while laced with his usual sarcasm, felt sincere. She recovered quickly, though, not willing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her flustered.
"That was passable," she said, turning back toward the street.
Jake laughed again, catching up to her. "Don't let it go to your head."
As they reached the corner where their paths diverged, Kasie hesitated. "Thanks for the coffee," she said, her voice softer now.
Jake gave her a small nod, his smirk replaced by a genuine smile. "Don't mention it. See you tomorrow."
She watched him walk away, the easy confidence in his stride both irritating and oddly reassuring. Shaking her head, she turned and headed home, her thoughts lingering on the strange balance they had found—somewhere between rivalry and something she wasn't quite ready to name.