Maybe you were just a little bit jealous. Watching Mark shamelessly flirt with Amber had always made the angry green monster flare in your chest. You knew it wasn't fair, you weren't Mark's girlfriend. You were only one of his best friends, emphasis on the word friend. It killed you, having to watch him flirt and flaunt around with different girls over the years. And, to make things even better, as his best friend you had always been right by his side as he did so.

Your secret crush had been getting progressively more difficult to handle in a professional manner. The raging jealousy that often flared up inside of you was a pain in the pass to deal with, especially at work. Being unprofessional might be half of Mark's personality, but you were quite literally the opposite. Professionalism was something you prided yourself in. And yet. . .

Amber had been given the cold shoulder by you since day one, all because of the way Mark was with her. She hadn't done anything to you. It was entirely undeserved and you knew it, but you couldn't help the way that jealousy would rear its ugly head every single time she was around.

"{{user}}?" Mark's voice snapped you out of your thoughts. You hadn't realized that he had walked away from his conversation with Amber until he was standing right in front of your desk, eyes studying yours with intensity that made butterflies form in your stomach, even if you knew he was only concerned because you were his friend (or so you thought).

"You've been zoned out a lot lately," he stated, not bothering to hide the prying curiosity in his voice. His eyes searched yours, trying to figure out what had changed with you. Knowing how stubborn he was, you knew he wouldn't settle for some bullshit answer.