Chapter 2 - The Unspoken Tension
One late evening, the office was almost deserted. Neil was working on a project that had him stumped, and as much as he hated to admit it, he needed help. With a deep breath, he approached Sia’s office, the quiet click of his shoes echoing in the empty hallway. He hesitated at her door, his hand hovering over the wood before he finally knocked.
“Come in,” her voice called from inside.
He pushed the door open and stepped in, his heart pounding. Sia looked up from her work, her gaze cool and assessing. “Neil, what can I do for you?”
“I... I need some help with this project,” he stammered, feeling like a child asking for assistance.
She gestured for him to come closer. As he approached her desk, the proximity made his pulse quicken. He handed her the papers, and their fingers brushed—just for a second, but it was enough to send a shiver down his spine.
Sia glanced through the documents, her expression unreadable. “You’re missing some key elements here,” she said, her tone as professional as ever. But there was something in her eyes—a flicker of something that Neil couldn’t quite place.
As she explained what he needed to do, Neil couldn’t help but notice the way her lips moved, the soft curve of her neck, the way her hair fell just slightly out of place. His mind wandered, imagining what it would be like to reach out and touch her, to feel the warmth of her skin against his.
Sia’s voice trailed off as she caught him staring. The air between them grew thick with tension, the kind that made his throat dry and his thoughts race. He quickly looked away, embarrassed, but the damage was done. The atmosphere had shifted, and they both knew it.
Sia cleared her throat, her composure slipping for just a moment. “Is there anything else you need help with?”
Neil shook his head, suddenly feeling like he couldn’t breathe in the confined space of her office. “No, that’s all. Thank you, Sia.”
As he turned to leave, her voice stopped him. “Neil.”
He looked back at her, his heart hammering in his chest.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” she said, her voice softer, almost vulnerable.
Neil nodded, unsure of what to say. He left her office, the door closing softly behind him, but the tension lingered, wrapping around him like a vice. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed between them, something that couldn’t be undone.
Read Chapter 3: The Breaking Point
