Lila barely registered the sound of her office door clicking shut behind her as she stepped inside. The lights automatically brightened, illuminating the expansive space, but she remained near the door, leaning against it as though the weight of the evening demanded her pause.
Her conversation with Ethan on the rooftop played on a loop in her mind. She hated how exposed she had felt, how easily he had cut through her defenses with a few carefully chosen words.
"Belonging isn't something you earn by destroying yourself, Lila."
It had been a long time since anyone had spoken to her like that—with sincerity, not deference, and without ulterior motives. She had built her life around keeping people at arm's length, ensuring no one could see her struggles or question her authority. Yet Ethan Blake, with his quiet demeanor and unyielding gaze, seemed to see right through her.
Lila shook her head and pushed off the door, determined to refocus. Vulnerability was a luxury she couldn't afford, not now. Not ever. She walked to her desk, her heels clicking against the polished floor, and sank into her chair. The city skyline stretched out before her, glittering in the night, a constant reminder of the empire she had built.
But tonight, the view felt more suffocating than inspiring.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her attention back to the present. It was a message from her assistant:
Meeting with the board at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Legal department wants to discuss the contracts beforehand. Let me know if you need anything else.
Lila replied with a curt Understood and set the phone down, her thoughts drifting once again.
---
Across the office floor, Ethan sat at his desk, trying and failing to focus on the reports in front of him. The dim lighting of the now-empty office felt oppressive, the silence amplifying his thoughts.
He couldn't stop thinking about Lila—how she had looked on the rooftop, her composure cracking just enough for him to glimpse the woman beneath the icy exterior. He hadn't meant to push her, but once the words had started, he couldn't stop them.
What was it about her that made him care so much? She was his boss, a fact he reminded himself of constantly, but she was also… more.
He sighed, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his temples. He had worked with powerful people before—CEOs, executives, politicians—but none of them had ever affected him like this. Lila was a puzzle he couldn't solve, a mystery he wasn't sure he wanted to unravel but couldn't seem to resist.
As he stared at the empty office, a flicker of light caught his eye. He glanced toward Lila's office and saw that her blinds were open, the faint glow of her desk lamp illuminating her silhouette.
Without thinking, he stood and made his way toward her office. He hesitated outside the door, his hand hovering over the handle. This wasn't the first time he'd debated whether or not to reach out, but tonight felt different.
Taking a deep breath, he knocked lightly.
"Come in," Lila's voice called, clipped but not unwelcoming.
Ethan pushed the door open, stepping inside. Lila looked up from her desk, her expression guarded as she took him in.
"Blake," she said, her tone neutral. "What is it?"
Ethan closed the door behind him, taking a step closer. "I wanted to check in on you," he said simply.
Lila raised an eyebrow. "Check in on me?" she repeated, a hint of incredulity in her voice. "I wasn't aware that was part of your job description."
Ethan shrugged, unbothered by her attempt to deflect. "It's not," he admitted. "But it doesn't mean I can't be concerned."
Lila's gaze softened ever so slightly, but her guard remained firmly in place. "I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm fine," she said, her tone firm.
Ethan studied her for a moment, his eyes searching hers. "You don't have to pretend with me, Lila," he said quietly.
Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she looked as though she might respond. But then she straightened in her chair, her expression hardening once more. "I'm not pretending," she said coolly. "Now, unless there's something work-related you need, I suggest you get back to whatever it is you were doing."
Ethan hesitated, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. He wanted to push, to make her see that she didn't have to carry everything alone. But he knew better than to force it.
"Alright," he said finally, his tone calm but laced with an undercurrent of resolve. "But if you ever do need someone, you know where to find me."
He turned and walked toward the door, but before he could leave, Lila's voice stopped him.
"Why do you care, Blake?" she asked, her tone quieter now, almost uncertain.
Ethan paused, his hand on the doorknob. He turned back to face her, his gaze steady. "Because I see you," he said simply. "Not the CEO, not the image you project to the world. You. And whether you believe it or not, you're worth caring about."
For a moment, Lila didn't respond. She sat frozen, her usually sharp eyes wide with something Ethan couldn't quite name—shock, maybe, or fear.
Before she could gather her composure, Ethan nodded once and left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.
---
Lila sat alone in her office, Ethan's words echoing in her mind. "You're worth caring about."
She wanted to dismiss them, to write them off as meaningless sentiment. But she couldn't. Because deep down, a part of her—a part she had buried long ago—wanted to believe he was right.
But believing that meant opening herself up to the possibility of pain, of loss, of failure. And Lila Devereaux didn't fail.
Still, as she stared at the empty doorway where Ethan had stood just moments ago, she couldn't help but wonder: What if, for once, she let herself be seen?