The first week flew by in a blur of meetings, emails, and deadlines. Evelyn had tried to keep her focus on the work, but Leo was… impossible to ignore. He was always there—by her side, anticipating her needs, but never once making her feel like she was in the spotlight. It was the little things he did, the way he seemed to understand her rhythms, that irked her.
And yet, there was a part of her—one she refused to acknowledge—that appreciated his presence.
It was on a Thursday morning when their first true clash occurred. Evelyn was deep into a presentation for a new client, outlining the company's latest strategy, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned, ready to snap at whoever dared interrupt her, but froze when she saw Leo standing there with a tablet in his hands, his usual grin nowhere to be found.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I noticed a gap in the numbers. I've adjusted it here," Leo said quietly, sliding the tablet onto the table.
Evelyn's pulse quickened as she glanced down at the tablet. Her eyes scanned the numbers, her mind working overtime. He was right. There was a mistake. A big one. Her own team had missed it.
Her heart clenched in irritation.
"What do you think you're doing, Leo?" she snapped, lowering her voice as she shot him a glare. "This is my meeting."
Leo didn't flinch. "I'm doing my job, Ms. Carter. I'm here to make sure everything runs smoothly."
The room was silent as everyone watched, tension thick in the air. Evelyn felt her control slipping, but she wasn't about to let him win this one. She could feel her pride and authority demanding to be asserted.
"I didn't ask for your help," she said, her tone colder than ice.
"But you needed it," he shot back, unbothered. "You'd be risking this entire deal if you hadn't caught that mistake."
Evelyn's face flushed, but it wasn't from embarrassment—it was from the heat of the argument, the electric charge between them. She clenched her jaw, willing herself to stay calm.
"Leave the room, Leo. I'll handle it from here."
Leo stood his ground. "I don't think that's a good idea, Ms. Carter."
There it was again. That challenge in his voice. The audacity.
"You're pushing it," she warned him, though she could feel her heart pounding in her chest.
"I'm just making sure you succeed, Ms. Carter," Leo said, his voice smooth, almost teasing. "It's what I'm paid for."
The words hung between them for a moment, the air so thick that it almost crackled. Evelyn's chest tightened, but she refused to back down.
"Fine," she finally said, standing up. "But you better not make a habit of this."
As the meeting continued, Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling that Leo had just done something more than just point out a mistake. He had gotten under her skin in a way that she wasn't ready to admit.
She glanced at him again, noticing the confident way he stood, watching her with those damnable eyes. She couldn't understand it—why was he so calm when she was so… unsettled?