DAMIEN'S POV
Files were spread out all over my office — reports, projections, proposals.
Anna and I were buried in work, the clock ticking dangerously close to midnight. I glanced up from a spreadsheet, just in time to catch her mid-yawn, arms stretching lazily above her head.
I froze.
Jesus.
It wasn’t just the yawn, it was everything. The curve of her mouth, the way her blouse pulled slightly against her body, the soft, unguarded look on her face. She looked young, tired, beautiful.
I cleared my throat and turned my attention back to the file, trying to act like I hadn’t just been caught staring like a damn idiot.
Anna's eyes widened when she realized I was looking. She dropped her arms immediately, blushing furiously.
"I'm sorry!" she stammered, reaching for another file as if trying to prove she wasn’t slacking.
"We're done," I cut her off gently. "You've done more than enough today. Go grab your things. I'm dropping you off."
"But—"
I raised a brow. "Don't argue. It's late, and you won’t get a cab around here at this hour."
She hesitated for a moment, clearly weighing her options, but eventually nodded and stood up. "Okay. Just... just give me a second."
I watched her leave and ran a hand down my face. I wasn’t sure what exactly was happening between us lately, but the tension was thick enough to slice through with a knife.
I packed up my stuff quickly and made my way toward her office.
Just as I reached the door, it opened, and there she was, clutching her purse, looking slightly guilty.
"I’ll pay extra for every late-night work session," I said, nudging her lightly with my shoulder as we walked.
"You don’t have to," she said, her voice small.
I hit the elevator button and leaned against the wall casually. "What? Kosturos never did that?"
Instantly, her expression shifted. The brightness in her eyes dimmed a little.
"Let’s just say... working for him wasn’t exactly generous," she muttered.
There it was the first real crack in her professional armor.
As the elevator doors slid open, we stepped inside, and I couldn’t help but press a little more.
"You know," I said as the elevator began its descent, "you’re allowed to talk about the past. It's not going to kill you."
She looked up at me sharply. "Maybe. Or maybe it will," she said half-jokingly, then paused. "Can I ask you something... sensitive?"
I tilted my head curiously. "Shoot."
She bit her lower lip, looking adorably nervous. "Why... why is your body always so hot? And... why do you always sniff the air around me?"
I barked out a laugh before I could stop myself. That was not the question I expected.
"You're seriously asking me that?"
Anna nodded, crossing her arms defensively. "It's weird, you know."
I rubbed the back of my neck, searching for the right answer, preferably one that didn’t sound absolutely insane. "Maybe it’s because you smell nice?" I teased lightly. "Or maybe I'm part bloodhound."
She rolled her eyes, but I caught the tiny smile she was fighting.
Before she could grill me more, I leaned closer, smirking. "Since we're on the topic of weird behavior... why did you kiss me in the car the other day?"
Her mouth fell open in pure shock.
"I—I didn't—!" she stammered, face flaming.
I chuckled darkly. "Oh, you did, sweetheart. Want me to remind you how it happened?"
She opened her mouth to protest, and that was exactly when the lights flickered and died.
The elevator jolted violently, throwing both of us off balance. The sudden stop was brutal, slamming us against each other and the wall.
"Shit," I cursed under my breath, immediately pulling out my phone. But before I could do anything, I heard her breathing change, fast, shallow, panicked.
"Anna?" I called, stepping toward her.
She didn't respond. She was clutching the wall, gasping for air, her face already pale under the faint emergency light.
Panic slammed into me harder than the elevator walls had.
"Anna, look at me," I ordered, grabbing her shoulders. Her hands trembled as she tried to push me away, but I didn’t let her.
Still nothing.
I dropped my briefcase and turned on the flashlight on my phone, shining it toward her. That’s when I realized, this wasn’t just panic.
This was a full-blown claustrophobic attack.
"Dammit," I muttered under my breath as I grabbed her.