The tension didn't fade.
It settled.
Deeper.
Quieter.
More dangerous.
Riyana had been avoiding him all day.
Carefully.
Precisely.
No unnecessary interaction.
No eye contact.
No mistakes.
And it was working.
Until
"Riyana."
Her steps paused.
Just outside the meeting room.
She closed her eyes briefly.
Not now.
"Yes?" she said, turning.
Bosco stood a few feet away.
File in hand.
Expression unreadable.
"Come here."
Not a request.
Riyana hesitated.
Then walked toward him.
Controlled.
Steady.
Inside the meeting room, the door shut behind them.
Silence.
She stood across the table this time.
Maintaining distance.
"Yes, sir?"
That word again.
Bosco didn't respond immediately.
He placed the file on the table.
Opened it.
"Sit."
"I'm fine standing."
"Sit, Riyana."
A pause.
Then she sat.
He moved around the table.
Stopped beside her.
Too close.
Riyana stiffened slightly.
But didn't move.
"This section," he said, leaning slightly over her shoulder.
Her fingers hovered over the laptop.
"Fix it."
"I already"
"Do it again."
His voice was calm.
But firm.
Riyana inhaled slowly.
Started typing.
But now
She could feel it.
Him.
Right there.
Not touching.
But close enough that it didn't matter.
Her focus slipped.
Just a little.
"Wrong line," he said quietly.
"I know."
"You don't."
Before she could react—
His hand moved.
Covering hers.
Guiding it.
The movement was slow.
Intentional.
Riyana froze.
Her breath caught instantly.
His hand was warm.
Steady.
Firm over hers.
"Here," he said softly.
But she wasn't looking at the screen anymore.
Her entire awareness shifted—
To that one point of contact.
Her fingers didn't move.
Bosco noticed.
But he didn't pull away.
"Riyana."
Her name
Lower now.
Closer.
She turned her head slightly.
And that was enough.
Too close.
His face was just inches away.
Her breath uneven.
His gaze was steady.
For a second
Neither moved.
Then
Riyana pulled her hand back.
Quickly.
"I can do it."
Her voice wasn't as steady as she wanted.
Bosco straightened slightly.
But didn't step away.
"Then do it."
She tried.
But her fingers didn't cooperate the same way.
Because now
She could still feel it.
The warmth.
The pressure.
The memory of his hand over hers.
"Focus," she muttered.
"Are you going to?" he asked quietly.
Her jaw tightened.
"Yes."
Another mistake.
Because now
He stepped closer again.
Riyana stood up suddenly.
"I'll do it later."
She turned to leave.
But didn't get far.
Because
His hand closed around her wrist.
Firm.
Instant.
Riyana froze.
The contact sent a sharp awareness through her.
Not pain.
Not force.
Just
Intensity.
"Don't," Bosco said.
Her breath hitched.
"Don't walk away like that."
She didn't turn immediately.
Her eyes dropped to his hand on her wrist.
Then slowly
She looked back at him.
"Let go."
Her voice was quieter now.
But not weak.
Bosco didn't.
Not immediately.
His gaze held hers.
Searching.
Waiting.
"For what?" he asked.
Riyana's heart was racing now.
"This," she said, her voice tightening. "Whatever this is."
He stepped closer.
Still holding her wrist.
Now
There was barely any space between them.
"You keep running from it," he said.
"I'm not running."
"You are."
"I'm avoiding a mistake."
That
That hit something.
Bosco's grip loosened slightly.
But didn't leave.
"And you think this is a mistake?"
"Yes."
Immediate.
But her voice
Wasn't convincing.
His eyes dropped briefly
To her lips.
Then back to her eyes.
Riyana noticed.
And her breath faltered.
"Then why," he said quietly, "do you react like this?"
She didn't answer.
Because she couldn't.
Because he was right.
And that was the problem.
"Let go," she said again.
This time
Softer.
Bosco held her gaze for one second longer.
Then
Slowly
He released her wrist.
The absence of his touch
Felt immediate.
Riyana stepped back.
Creating distance.
But not before that moment lingered.
Too long.
Too real.
"I'll send the file," she said quickly.
And walked out.
Not waiting.
Not stopping.
The door closed behind her.
Inside
Bosco exhaled slowly.
Running a hand through his hair.
Because now
It wasn't just tension anymore.
It was something pulling
From both sides.
And neither of them
Was really in control anymore.