Elena sat in her office, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the polished wooden floors. Her fingers hovered over her keyboard, the words she needed to write eluding her, her thoughts too scattered to focus. The bright glow of the screen seemed to mock her inability to settle into her work. She hadn't realized how much time had passed since lunch, and it felt as though every second had bled into the next, a blur of meetings, emails, and the hum of office life.
But her mind kept returning to Jay.
She told herself it was nothing. A simple lunch. A break in the routine. But in the back of her mind, she knew the truth. She could still hear his voice, that quiet way he'd called her out on being too focused on the future. "What's the point of being so focused on the future if you forget to enjoy the moments you're living right now?"
It was a question she hadn't been able to shake. The simplicity of it haunted her. She had spent so many years calculating every move she made, striving for success, that the thought of letting go—even for a moment—felt like a risk she wasn't sure she was willing to take.
But then there was Jay.
The man who had a way of slipping past her walls, making her laugh in ways she hadn't in years. The man who didn't seem to care about the trajectory of her career or the things that defined her. He wanted something else—something different. Something Elena didn't know how to give.
Her thoughts wandered back to their lunch. The way Jay had leaned across the table, his words effortlessly drawing her in. His gaze had been steady, yet curious, as though he was waiting for her to reveal something about herself that she wasn't even aware of. She hadn't expected to talk so openly, to laugh so easily.
And yet, there she was, thinking about him at the end of the day.
Was that a bad thing?
The rapid tapping of heels outside her door broke her train of thought, and Elena straightened up in her chair as Rachel, one of her team members, knocked gently on the door. The young woman hesitated just a moment, then stepped inside.
"Hey, Elena, do you have a second?" Rachel asked, her voice tentative. Elena could tell something was on Rachel's mind.
"Of course," Elena replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes as she gestured for Rachel to take a seat. "What's up?"
Rachel stepped further into the room but didn't sit. Instead, she crossed her arms and regarded Elena with a curious expression. "I just wanted to mention something I noticed… at lunch today."
Elena's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly masked the surprise with a neutral expression. "Oh? What do you mean?"
Rachel shifted on her feet, biting her lip as though she was trying to figure out the best way to phrase her thoughts. "You seemed… different. You know? More relaxed. More yourself."
Elena blinked, not sure how to respond. She'd never been one to let down her guard, especially at work. But Rachel's observation seemed to be coming from a place of genuine care, not judgment.
"I'm always myself," Elena said, trying to brush it off, but the defensive tone in her voice felt unfamiliar.
Rachel nodded slowly, but she didn't seem convinced. "I know you are, but I've worked with you long enough to know that you don't usually let your guard down like that. And today, you did."
Elena's stomach tightened, a sense of vulnerability creeping up on her. Was it that obvious? Had she really let her guard slip that much? It wasn't something she was used to, especially not in the office. She had worked hard to cultivate an image of professionalism and control, and the last thing she wanted was for her employees to see any cracks in that façade.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Elena said quickly, the words falling out more defensively than she intended.
But Rachel wasn't fazed. She just tilted her head slightly, her gaze softening. "It's not a bad thing, Elena. I think it was good for you. You deserve to take a break now and then."
Elena's thoughts raced. She wasn't used to hearing this. She wasn't used to being told to relax, to take time for herself. Her entire life had been built around pushing forward, moving faster, and achieving more. To stop, even for a moment, felt like it would shatter everything she had worked for.
Rachel's words hung in the air, making Elena feel like she had just been caught in a moment of weakness. She didn't want to appear fragile in front of anyone. She was the one people relied on, the one who had it all together. At least, that's what she wanted them to think.
"I'll think about it," Elena finally said, her voice a little softer than before. "Thanks for your concern, Rachel."
Rachel smiled warmly. "Anytime. Just don't forget that you're allowed to be human, you know?"
As Rachel left, Elena sat back in her chair, her fingers absently tapping against the desk. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had just been exposed in some way, even though Rachel hadn't meant to make her feel that way. The conversation with Rachel lingered in her mind, but it was quickly overshadowed by the buzz of her phone.
Another text from Jay.
"Hope you're not working too hard. Let me know if you need a break later."
She stared at the message for a long time, her thumb hovering over the screen. There was a part of her that wanted to respond—wanted to tell him that yes, she could use a break, that she wanted to see him again—but another part of her, the one that had been raised to stay focused and controlled, urged her to ignore it.
She had work to do. She couldn't afford to let herself be distracted.
"I'll pass," she typed back quickly, her fingers moving faster than her mind could keep up. But as soon as the message was sent, she regretted it.
She stared at her phone for a moment longer, her pulse quickening, as though waiting for him to reply. He didn't. Of course he didn't.
The sudden ringing of her office phone startled her. She glanced at the screen—Jay again. Her breath caught in her chest. Why was he calling now?
Tentatively, she answered, trying to hide the hesitation in her voice. "Hello?"
"Elena," Jay's voice was warm, familiar, as though he had been waiting for her to pick up. "How's your evening going?"
The casual question made her heart race a little faster. "Busy," she replied quickly, keeping her tone neutral. "You know how it is."
"I do," he said, his voice steady but laced with something more. "But I just wanted to check in. Make sure you're not working yourself into the ground."
Elena's stomach fluttered, an unfamiliar sensation coursing through her. It was a simple question, yet it felt far more intimate than she was comfortable with. How did he know her so well already?
"I'm fine," she said, her voice clipped. "I can handle it."
There was a brief silence before Jay spoke again, his tone softer this time. "I'm just saying… maybe it's okay to take a break. Even if it's just for a second."
His words settled around her like a soft weight, pressing into her chest. She didn't know how to respond. She was so used to keeping up the façade of having everything together. To let someone in, even a little, felt dangerous.
"I'll think about it," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jay paused before responding, and when he did, his voice had a new depth to it. "You deserve it, Elena. Don't forget that."
Her heart stuttered, and she felt her breath catch in her throat. She didn't know why, but his words affected her more than she had expected. She had always been the one to hold it all together, to make sure everyone else was okay. To hear someone tell her that she deserved something—anything—felt like a revelation.
The call ended soon after, but Elena sat there for a long moment, staring at the phone in her hand. She hadn't expected to feel so shaken by such a simple conversation.
What was it about him?
She wasn't sure if it was the way he made her feel seen, or the way he didn't seem to want anything from her, other than her presence. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that Jay had somehow crept under her skin.
And that scared her.