CHAPTER 4 — MISTAKEN ACCIDENT
The afternoon sun streamed through the glass walls of the Velasco Empire office, casting long shadows across Aria's desk. She had been running between meetings, typing reports, and organizing files all morning, and her fingers ached from the constant motion. She tried to focus, reminding herself of HR's warning: Keep your distance. Stay professional.
But the universe had other plans.
"Miss Sarmiento, can you bring me the Henderson file?" Lucien's voice called from across the office. Calm. Commanding. Tempting.
Aria grabbed the nearest stack of papers, juggling them as she hurried toward his office. She barely noticed the rolling chair in her path until it moved just as she tripped on the corner of the rug.
"Oh no!" she gasped, flailing. The pile of reports flew from her hands, scattering like confetti across the polished floor.
"Aria!" someone shouted.
Before she could hit the ground, a firm pair of hands wrapped around her waist, steadying her. She looked up, her face inches from… Lucien.
His gray eyes were sharp, piercing, filled with a mix of irritation and something else she couldn't identify. "Careful," he said, voice low, controlled. "You could've hurt yourself."
Her cheeks burned crimson, and she stammered, "I—I'm so sorry, sir. I wasn't paying attention."
Lucien didn't move away. His hands remained at her sides for a heartbeat too long, and Aria felt a strange warmth creep through her chest. The air between them seemed to thrum with tension an invisible current pulling them closer despite every warning her brain shouted.
"Here," he said finally, crouching to help her gather the papers. As they knelt side by side, their hands brushed lightly, accidentally but enough to make her fingers tingle.
Lucien's gaze flicked to her hands, then back to her face. "Don't let carelessness get in the way of your work," he said softly, almost a whisper.
Aria nodded, but her heart was pounding in a way she had never felt before. She struggled to concentrate on picking up the papers, but every movement, every accidental touch, sent sparks through her.
Once all the files were in order, Lucien stood and handed her the last folder. Their fingers lingered for a second longer than necessary. Aria's breath hitched.
"Thank you… sir," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Lucien's eyes didn't leave hers, and for a moment, the office seemed to shrink around them. Then, with a controlled motion, he stepped back and returned to his desk.
"Do not make a habit of this," he said, his tone both warning and… intimate, though she couldn't explain why it felt that way.
Aria nodded again, heart racing. As she returned to her desk, she realized two things:
She was dangerously drawn to him.
HR's warning felt less like guidance and more like a cruel joke.
Sitting down, she tried to steady her shaking hands. The papers were neatly stacked, her work perfect, but her mind kept replaying the accident, the closeness, the brush of his hands…
He's forbidden. she told herself. I should stay away.
Yet as she looked toward his office, she knew one thing with terrifying clarity:
She couldn't stop thinking about him.