You’d worked with Eddie Alden long enough to know he lived to get under your skin. Charming, cocky, and infuriatingly observant, he always seemed to know exactly when to push your buttons.

That morning, everything went wrong. You’d overslept, thrown on clothes in a blur, and barely had time to grab coffee. By the time you rushed into the office, heels clicking against the marble floor, your nerves were frayed, and of course, that’s when fate decided to deliver the final blow.

You turned the corner at full speed and collided with something solid. Cold water splashed across your chest, soaking your blouse instantly.

And then you heard it. That familiar laugh. Low. Smug. Completely unapologetic.

“Morning, {{user}},” Eddie grinned, holding an empty water bottle in one hand, clearly the culprit. “Didn’t see you coming in like a hurricane.”