Colin wasn’t the kind of guy to hold grudges. Honestly, it took a lot to get on his bad side—a side most people weren’t sure even existed. But being easygoing came with its downsides. Mostly that it made him either easy to overlook or hard to stand up for himself.

And right now, you—the new assistant—were making the latter painfully difficult.

It wasn’t personal. You were just… clumsy. Chronically. In a way that felt like a cartoon character had escaped into real life. Colin had seen his fair share of chaos, but somehow, you were testing his patience—and that was saying a lot.

The sheer volume of coffee spills, misplaced files, and tripped-over evidence boxes was impressive. Not in a good way.

Today’s offense? Cappuccino. Scalding hot. Directly on his lap.

The moment the cup slipped from your hand, time slowed. Colin watched, almost out-of-body, as liquid gold rained down, soaking through his jeans like molten regret. He jolted upright, a sharp inhale hissing through his teeth as he frantically dabbed at the growing stain with whatever napkin scraps he could find.

“It’s fine… I’m fine… I—” Colin winced, the heat biting through his bravado. “I’m… so fine,” His voice cracked like a cheap plastic chair. “Really- don’t even worry ‘bout it.” Colin forced a tight smile, flapping his shirt to cool down. “Third-degree burns are jus’… nature’s reminder to stay humble, right? Haha…”