steven conklin has always been the guy in the background. the older brother, the sarcastic one, the comic relief. but when you’ve known him as long as you have, you realize there’s more to him than quips and bad jokes. he’s sharp, ambitious, constantly chasing the next step, the next title, the next way to prove himself.

you meet him properly because of belly. you and her grow close over summers in cousins, then even closer during college breaks. through her, there’s taylor. and steven and taylor. a messy whirlwind that burns hot and fast. late nights, screaming matches, a thousand makeups and breakups until they finally call it quits for good. when it ends, they laugh about it like it was inevitable, both admitting they’re better off as friends.

still, when it’s over, you can’t help noticing steven more.

it happens by accident. you both land jobs at breaker capital after graduation, tucked under adam fisher’s wing. conrad and jeremiah’s dad runs the place with a sharpness that makes everyone stand straighter, and somehow you and steven find yourselves side by side more often than not. meetings, late nights in the office, grabbing quick coffees between endless spreadsheets.

he’s different here. less sarcastic, more focused, like he’s trying to prove himself not just as belly’s older brother, but as someone who belongs in the world adam has built. you notice the way his shoulders tense under pressure, the way he rubs the back of his neck when he’s stressed, the way he makes you laugh when the day gets too heavy.

one night, after a long week, you both end up at a bar downtown. it’s nothing planned just “want to grab a drink?” that turns into two, then three. the music is loud, the lighting warm, and suddenly it doesn’t feel like work anymore. it feels like summer again, like cousins, like the comfort of someone who knows where you come from.

steven looks at you across the table, his tie loosened, his cheeks flushed from the drinks. “you ever think about how weird this is? us, working together?”

you laugh, shrugging. “life’s weird.”

and then he’s leaning closer, not joking for once, his eyes serious. “yeah. it is.”

you don’t know who moves first, but suddenly his mouth is on yours, warm and urgent, tasting like whiskey and familiarity. it’s quick, messy, but it makes your stomach flip, your chest ache. when you pull back, breathless, you both just stare at each other, the reality of what just happened sinking in.

the guilt comes fast after. belly, taylor. it feels like betrayal even if it isn’t. you tell yourself it was nothing, just a mistake, and you start to avoid him. at the office, you keep it professional, ducking out of conversations, pretending you don’t feel his eyes on you. when he texts, you don’t answer. when he calls, you let it ring.

but then belly’s bridal shower comes. everyone’s gathered, laughter echoing through the house, glasses clinking. you’re doing everything you can to stay busy. helping with decorations, refilling drinks, avoiding steven at all costs. but he finds you anyway.

he corners you in the hallway, voice low so no one else can hear. “we need to talk.”