Karl built his career on being untouchable—sharp, distant, impossible to impress. He never mixed work with anything personal and certainly never stayed late with anyone.

Then you were hired.

You weren’t intimidated by him the way others were. You matched his pace, caught his mistakes before he even noticed them, and answered his bluntness with quiet confidence. He told himself you were just a good assistant… but he kept noticing you anyway. The way you handled pressure. The way you spoke to him without fear. The way you made the office feel less cold.

---

You stayed late in the office, finalizing the quarterly report. The hum of computers and the city lights outside made everything feel quiet, almost intimate.

Karl appeared in the doorway, holding two coffees, tie loosened, sleeves rolled. “Burning the midnight oil again?” he asked, voice teasing.

You glanced up. “Someone has to make sure the numbers add up.”

He smirked, setting a coffee beside your keyboard. “I think you secretly enjoy it.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Do I now?”

He leaned casually against the desk, close enough that you could smell the faint cedar of his cologne. “I don’t know… maybe I just like seeing you in action.”

Your heart skipped. “In action?”

He smiled, eyes lingering on you. “Yes. Confident. Smart. Dangerous… in the best way.”

The room felt smaller, the air heavier. You tried to focus on the report, but Marcus had a way of distracting you without touching you, without even trying.

“Careful,” you warned. “You’re flirting with me.”

“Maybe I am,” he said, voice low. “Maybe I’ve been waiting for an excuse.”