~Jay's ~
Jay's fingers drummed against the steering wheel as he waited in the parking garage beneath the office building. He had always been a creature of habit, but today, his usual calm had deserted him. He wasn't nervous—he wasn't the type of guy to get nervous—but there was something about Elena that kept gnawing at him.
He knew she was different the moment they met. She was sharp, focused, and had an aura of control about her that made her stand out in a room full of ambitious people. But it was more than that. It was the way she carried herself, the way she always seemed to be one step ahead, always on guard, as though the world could break her if she let her walls down for even a second.
He wanted to be the one to tear those walls down. He wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because he could see the strain beneath the surface, the way she worked herself to the bone without ever giving herself a moment to breathe. It was like she didn't believe she deserved to rest, to be human.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized how deeply she had affected him. It wasn't just about attraction; it was about something deeper, something more… raw. She was guarded, yes, but there was a vulnerability in her that he saw, even if she tried to hide it. He'd noticed it when they were at lunch together, the way she hesitated just before she smiled, the way her eyes seemed to soften when she let herself relax for the briefest of moments.
He wanted to see more of that side of her, the one she kept buried beneath her impeccable professionalism.
He glanced at his phone. No messages. No updates. Just his mind racing with thoughts of her. It wasn't like him to be this fixated on someone, but with Elena, everything felt different.
The sound of his phone buzzing broke his reverie. Elena had responded to his earlier message, but as he read her reply—I'm fine. Just… busy. Thanks for checking in—he couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration. She was so damn closed off, and it wasn't just about her work. She was holding back, and it frustrated him.
Maybe he was pushing too hard. But he couldn't help it. He knew she needed someone to push her, to make her realize that there was more to life than deadlines and corporate goals.
He shoved his phone into his pocket and swung open the car door. His heart beat a little faster as he walked toward the building's entrance. He wasn't sure what to expect when he saw her again. All he knew was that he couldn't let her slip away. Not when there was something undeniable between them.
~Elena's ~
Elena's pulse quickened when she saw him standing by the entrance. Jay. His presence was unmistakable—confident, yet relaxed, like he didn't have a care in the world. But there was something in his eyes, something that told her he was paying far more attention to her than anyone else in the room.
For a moment, she froze. She didn't know why, but it was as if the world had narrowed down to just the two of them in that hallway. The crisp sound of her heels clicking against the marble floor seemed deafening, and she almost wished she could take a step back, retreat into the safety of her office, where things made sense.
But she didn't. She couldn't. Not with him looking at her like that.
"Hey," she said, forcing herself to sound calm, her voice steady even though her heart was racing. She tried to ignore the way her body seemed to react to his presence, to the warmth that spread across her chest just by seeing him standing there.
Jay's smile was easy, as if he hadn't just thrown her entire sense of composure off balance. "Hey, Elena. How's it going?"
The casualness of the question didn't make her feel at ease. It just made her feel more… exposed.
"I'm good," she replied, trying to keep it light, trying to convince herself that she was fine, that nothing had changed. But even as the words left her mouth, she knew they didn't sound convincing.
Jay tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly, as though he could see right through her. "You don't look good. You look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders."
Her first instinct was to brush him off, to tell him she was fine and that everything was under control, as she always did. But something about the way he said it, so gentle yet direct, made her pause. She wasn't used to people noticing. She wasn't used to being vulnerable in front of anyone, let alone Jay.
"I'm just busy," she said, her voice quieter this time, as if speaking the words aloud would make them more real.
"I get that. But that's not what I'm asking." Jay's voice softened, his gaze unrelenting. "I'm asking how you're doing. Not the job. Not the deadlines. Just you."
Elena's breath hitched, and she felt a flush spread across her cheeks. She couldn't remember the last time someone had asked her that, let alone someone like Jay. Most people only cared about the results she produced, about what she could give them. But Jay… he wasn't asking for anything.
He wasn't demanding anything from her.
"I'm fine," she repeated, but this time the words felt hollow, even to her.
Jay's smile faltered for just a moment, as though he could sense her resistance. But then, with a tilt of his head, he leaned in slightly, his voice low but filled with an earnestness that tugged at her.
"You know, you don't have to do it all alone, Elena," he said quietly. "You don't have to be perfect all the time. It's okay to take a step back."
It was almost as if he were speaking directly to the walls she had built around herself, the barriers she had so carefully constructed to keep everyone at a distance. His words chipped away at her defenses, and for a split second, Elena felt an overwhelming urge to just let go, to confess everything—her exhaustion, her fear of failure, her endless drive to prove herself.
But she didn't.
Instead, she forced a smile, one that was so practiced it felt like a mask. "Thanks, Jay. I appreciate it, really. But I'm fine. Really."
Jay didn't seem convinced, but he didn't push. Instead, he nodded, that same easygoing smile returning to his face. "Alright, if you say so. But if you ever change your mind… I'm here, Elena. Don't forget that."
For a moment, Elena just stood there, staring at him. His words lingered in the air between them, a promise, a challenge. And as much as she wanted to dismiss it, as much as she wanted to push him away, she couldn't.
Because deep down, she wanted to believe him.
But she wasn't ready for that. Not yet.
"So, what's on your mind?" she asked, eager to change the subject, to push the vulnerability she was feeling back into the box she kept it locked in.
Jay grinned, sensing her need for a shift in the conversation. "Well, I was thinking we could grab a drink later," he said casually. "You know, get away from work for a bit. It's been a while since we had a proper conversation."
Elena hesitated, the thought of stepping outside of her routine, of letting her guard down even more, making her uneasy. But there was something in his eyes, something that made her want to say yes, even though she knew it wasn't the smartest choice.
"I don't know," she said, trying to sound nonchalant, but her voice betrayed her, a hint of curiosity seeping through. "I'm not really the type for after-hours drinks."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Really? You don't know what you're missing. Just one drink. I promise I won't bite."
Elena almost laughed at his teasing tone. Almost. "We'll see."