The office buzzed with the usual energy as I walked in, still feeling the residual tension from the night before. But today, something was different. Today, I was determined to focus on work. No distractions, no internal battles.
Lucas was sitting at his desk, his glasses perched on his nose as he scanned through some documents. When he noticed me walking by, he smiled, waving me over. “Hey, Mia, can I get your opinion on something?” he asked, his tone as friendly as always.
I smiled back, grateful for the distraction from my racing thoughts. Lucas had a way of making everything feel... easier. He was kind, approachable, and genuinely interested in what others had to say. I liked that about him. I liked how I didn’t have to fight or feel on edge when I was around him. It was just easy.
“Of course,” I said, walking over to his desk. “What’s up?”
Lucas pulled up the project on his screen, showing me a few designs. “I’m just trying to decide which direction to take this. What do you think? Does this feel too much, or do you think it works?”
I leaned over, studying the design. “Hmm, I think the concept’s good. Maybe play with the color scheme a bit more? It could use a little more contrast,” I suggested. “But overall, it’s solid.”
Lucas nodded thoughtfully, tapping a finger to his lips. “I’ll try that. Thanks, Mia. You’ve got a good eye for this stuff.”
I shrugged, feeling my cheeks warm a little at his praise. “It’s nothing,” I said, trying to downplay it. “It’s your project, after all. I’m just here to help.”
He smiled, and for a moment, I felt a comfortable warmth settle in my chest. Lucas was the kind of person I could talk to about anything. He wasn’t pushy, didn’t expect anything from me, and he was always considerate of my thoughts. It was such a refreshing change from the chaos and intensity that Tristan seemed to bring into every room he entered.
We spent the rest of the morning talking about random things, our hobbies, favorite restaurants, childhood pets. It felt natural, like we’d known each other for years. He even mentioned his love for skiing, which we laughed about because neither of us was good at it, but we both enjoyed trying.
“You know,” I said, leaning back in my chair, “I think skiing is one of those things that’s way harder than it looks. I swear, I spend more time falling down than actually skiing.”
Lucas chuckled. “Same here. I’ve tried to make it look cool, but it’s just a disaster every time.”
I laughed too, and I realized that with him, I didn’t feel the pressure to be anything I wasn’t. There was no need to keep my guard up. He was easy to be around, and that was a rare feeling.
He looked at me with a friendly smile. “You’re pretty good at this, you know? At work and at making things fun.”
I was caught off guard by his compliment. “Thanks,” I said, feeling a little shy. “I think you’re the first person who’s ever said that.”
Lucas gave me a knowing look. “Well, they’re all missing out then. You’re great at what you do, Mia.”
I felt the weight of his words, and for the first time in a long time, I felt... appreciated. Not for anything other than just being me. It was a strange but comforting feeling, and I realized then that Lucas was the type of guy I had always wanted to be around. He wasn’t complicated. He wasn’t demanding. He just was kind, genuine, and cute in a way that didn’t feel overwhelming.
But that’s when the moment was interrupted.
I was starting to feel comfortable, starting to let myself relax and enjoy the day. But then, as I glanced up from my screen, the door to the office opened, and there he was Tristan. His presence instantly changed the entire atmosphere in the room. The air seemed to thicken, and the tension that I had momentarily forgotten about returned in full force.
I felt my whole body stiffen. My jaw clenched, and I couldn’t stop myself from glaring at him.
Tristan raised an eyebrow, looking between me and Lucas before his gaze landed on me. “What’s with the look?” he asked, his voice dripping with curiosity, but also an edge of amusement. “You glare at me like that and it’s starting to feel personal, Mia.”
I didn’t even try to hide my frustration. “You ruin the mood when you walk into the room,” I shot back, my voice sharp. I could feel the way my chest tightened with the building anger. “Especially after Lucas has been here. It’s like everything goes cold the moment you step in.”
Tristan didn’t move. He just stood there, his eyes narrowed, as if trying to read me. “Cold?” he repeated. “You’re blaming me for the mood in here now?”
I crossed my arms, feeling the anger rise in me. Why did he always have to make things complicated? “Yes,” I said, my voice low but firm. “You always do. You can’t help but stir things up, Tristan. You have a way of turning everything into a power struggle, even when it’s not necessary.”
He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “You think Lucas doesn’t stir things up, too?” he asked, his voice almost mocking now. “The guy is nice, but he’s a little too... predictable for my taste.”
“I’m not talking about Lucas,” I said, my frustration boiling over. “I’m talking about you. You have a way of making everything feel like a game. Like you’re the only one who matters.”
Tristan’s smirk faded just a little, but there was something in his gaze—something intense—that made me want to look away, even though I couldn’t. “Maybe I am the only one who matters,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Maybe you just haven’t figured that out yet.”
I wanted to respond, to yell, to make him understand how much I hated the way he always had to be right, always had to dominate. But before I could say anything else, Lucas spoke up, clearly sensing the shift in the room.
“Okay, that’s enough, both of you,” Lucas said, standing up and putting a hand on Tristan’s shoulder as if to push him away from the tension that had settled between us. “There’s no need for this. We’re all here to work, right?”
Tristan glanced at Lucas for a moment, but his gaze flicked back to me. “Fine,” he said, though I could tell he was barely holding back his irritation. “But don’t forget things don’t always stay as they are for long.”
He turned and walked out, leaving me standing there, my heart still racing with frustration and confusion. Lucas sighed and sat back down, clearly trying to keep the peace, but I could feel the unease in the air.
“Don’t let him get to you,” Lucas said softly, offering me a reassuring smile. “He’s just like that.”
I nodded, but deep down, I knew that wasn’t the problem. It wasn’t just Tristan’s attitude. It was the way he made me feel, the way he made everything more complicated than it needed to be. And now, I couldn’t stop thinking about the fight we’d just had, the tension in my chest that still hadn’t eased.
But the thing that stuck with me the most? The realization that Tristan, no matter how much I hated the games he played and had the power to control my emotions in a way no one else did.