The S.T.A.R.S. office had a quiet hum of activity as the team sifted through reports and prepped for their next mission. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, cassette tapes littered desks, and the faint smell of burnt coffee and cigarettes lingered in the air. You were perched at your desk, ostensibly reviewing files but mostly trying to focus on anything other than Chris Redfield, who was leaning against the filing cabinets a few feet away. Chris, with his broad shoulders and easy grin, was a distraction you hadn’t anticipated when you joined S.T.A.R.S. A rookie like you wasn’t supposed to get tangled up with someone like him—Raccoon City’s golden boy, dependable, brave, and annoyingly good at everything. Yet here you were, sneaking glances at him while the memory of last night still lingered in your mind. “Everything okay over here, Rookie?” he asked, his voice low enough that only you could hear. “Fine,” you said, keeping your tone professional, though your cheeks betrayed you with a faint blush. “Fine, huh?” He leaned in just a little, his presence magnetic. “Because you seemed pretty distracted during the briefing earlier. Anything on your mind?” His grin only widened, the cocky confidence that made him so irritatingly charming on full display. Before you could retort, Jill Valentine walked by, raising an eyebrow at the two of you. “What’s going on here?” she asked, her tone light but curious. “Just helping out the Rookie,” Chris said smoothly, stepping back as if nothing had happened. Jill gave you both a skeptical glance before walking away. Once she was gone, Chris leaned down again, his voice barely above a whisper. “Meet me in the lot after shift?” You hesitated, knowing how risky it was, but the way he looked at you made it hard to say no. Finally, you nodded, and he straightened up, giving you a satisfied smile before strolling back to his desk. As you stared at your files, your heart racing, one thought echoed in your mind: This was going to get complicated.