sank into his worn-out couch, phone propped up on his knees as the familiar faces of his two closest friends popped up on the screen.
"Finally done with the madness," Elias sighed, rubbing his temples. "I swear, Damien's like a storm that never passes. Nothing I do is ever good enough."
Taye leaned closer to his camera, grinning. "You're the only one who can survive that guy's temper. How do you even do it?"
Elias gave a bitter laugh. "By pretending I don't care. But some days... it's exhausting. You try your best, and he just finds a way to remind you you're replaceable."
Lara shook her head, sympathy clear in her eyes. "Sounds rough. But hey, you're smart, Elias. He's just mad 'cause he can't break you."
Elias scoffed, "Maybe. Or maybe he's just a ruthless control freak who gets off seeing people struggle."
Taye grinned. "Ouch. That's harsh."
Perfect, munchkin! Let's continue the video call, keeping it fun with *some light gossip about their own crushes and love interests*, while still letting Elias vent about work—this will make the scene lively and show his bond with his friends.
Elias took a sip of his tea, leaning back into the cushions as Taye and Lara exchanged smirks over the screen.
"So... anyone fancy anyone lately?" Lara asked, wiggling her eyebrows. "You know, just casually asking."
Taye groaned dramatically. "Oh, come on, I was going to save my scandalous stories for later!"
"Too late," Lara shot back. "Spill. We're all friends here."
Elias rolled his eyes but smiled despite himself. "You two are ridiculous."
"I'll start," Taye said, leaning closer. "I've been seeing someone at work, kind of. Not official, but... sparks, you know?"
Lara gasped mockingly. "Taye, you sly thing!" Elias laughed quietly. "You guys are impossible."
"Impossible?" Lara repeated. "This is the most fun conversation we've had all week. And honestly, you, Elias, are way too serious. You need some chaos in your life."
"I survive chaos every day," Elias replied, shaking his head. "Damien makes sure of that."
Taye leaned back, smirking. "Speaking of chaos, anyone else's crush driving them nuts? Because mine's been sending the most mixed signals. I can't tell if he likes me or wants to destroy me."
Elias chuckled softly. "Sounds familiar. I swear, dealing with Damien's scrutiny at work is a full-time emotional workout."
Lara nudged him playfully. "Oh, don't pretend you're not secretly intrigued by someone at the office. Admit it, you're dying to spill."
Elias shook his head quickly, hiding a flush creeping up his neck. "Nope. Strictly professional. That's all. Focused on surviving, not... whatever you're suggesting."
"Uh-huh," Taye said with a grin. "Professional... right. That's what everyone says at first."
The three of them laughed, the warmth and banter washing away some of Elias's stress. For a brief moment, the office pressures, the constant fear of Damien's wrath, and the heavy weight of scrutiny felt far away.
*****
Elias was sitting through a pile of reports when movement near Damien's office caught his eye. A woman stepped in, and his breath caught.
She was stunning, tall, elegant, with hair like liquid night and eyes that sparkled with mischief. Every step she took radiated confidence, and her smile was magnetic, impossible to ignore. She greeted everyone so warmly before heading towards Damien's office.
Elias blinked, heart thudding. He leaned slightly toward Marisa, who was passing by with some files.
"Who... is she?" he asked quietly, unable to look away.
Marisa's eyes followed Vivian and Damien for a moment, then she leaned closer, voice low. "That's Vivian Miller, Our boss's fiancée."
Elias froze, feeling a strange tightness in his chest as he watched them. Vivian leaned close to Damien, brushing a hand lightly over his arm, her laugh soft and teasing. Damien's expression remained controlled, professional, but the way he allowed her near, the way he subtly responded to her charm... it made Elias's chest ache in a way he couldn't understand.
They spoke quietly, heads close, the aura between them charged but polite. For a moment, Elias felt like an intruder watching something private, something untouchable.
Marisa whispered, almost amused. "See what I mean? She's designed to command attention. Everyone notices."
Elias exhaled slowly, trying to push the fluttering away. "Yeah... I can see that," he murmured, eyes still fixed on the pair. The tightness in his chest refused to go, lingering as if reminding him how close they were, how unattainable.
Vivian finally straightened, giving Damien a playful nudge before excusing herself. Damien returned to his desk, composed and calm, but Elias remained frozen for a moment, heart still tight, mind racing.
It was just his fiancée. That's all. And yet... he couldn't shake the image of them being together
Elias excused himself from his desk, needing a quick break. The office corridor was quiet, except for the faint hum of air conditioning. He barely noticed the vase at the entrance of the restroom, still replaying the tightness in his chest from seeing Vivian and Damien close together.
Then—slip! His foot hit the vase that was on the polished floor, and he stumbled forward.
Before he could hit the ground, strong hands gripped his arms, steadying him.
"Careful," a deep voice said.
Elias looked up and froze. Damien stood there, tall, imposing, yet perfectly calm, holding him steady. Their eyes met.
For a few heartbeats, the world seemed to pause. Damien's gaze was sharp, unreadable, but something flickered beneath it—attention, awareness, a hint of something that Elias couldn't yet name.
"I... thank you," Elias said finally, voice a little shaky, still catching his balance.
Damien's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "You're welcome," he replied, his tone controlled, casual.
The silence lingered for a moment longer before Damien stepped back, releasing his grip and walking away with the same calm, confident air he always carried.
Elias exhaled, brushing his sleeve over his hands, heart still racing. That few seconds, that brief connection, lingered longer in his mind than he wanted to admit.
As he finished up in the restroom, he couldn't shake the faint thrill of being rescued from falling by Damien. All that he could think about was how his strong arms had held him in place, and the scene of his cologne till lingered in his nose.