Lina avoided him.
Not obviously.
Not in a way anyone else would notice.
But deliberately.
Carefully.
She chose different routes between departments.
Waited an extra minute before entering rooms.
Left meetings the second they ended.
Never early. Never late.
Always… precise.
It was exhausting.
But necessary.
Because every time she thought about seeing him...
Her chest tightened in a way she couldn't control.
And her mind...
Her mind refused to stay quiet.
She hadn't slept properly.
Not really.
Every time she closed her eyes, it came back.
Not clearly.
Never clearly.
Just...
Pieces.
Heat.
His voice.
That moment she should have walked away.
But didn't.
Lina exhaled slowly, pressing her fingers lightly against her temple as she stared at the document in front of her.
The numbers blurred.
Useless.
"Lina?"
She flinched slightly.
Then looked up.
Her colleague frowned. "You've been staring at that page for ten minutes."
"Oh."
Lina blinked, forcing a small, polite smile. "Just reviewing it."
"Are you sure? You look… off."
"I'm fine."
Too quick.
The colleague didn't look convinced.
But didn't push either.
"Alright… just don't mess up the figures. This one's important."
"I won't."
But as soon as the colleague walked away—
Lina's fingers tightened slightly around the pen.
Don't mess up.
Right.
Her eyes dropped again.
But she wasn't reading anymore.
She could feel it again.
That subtle shift.
That awareness.
He was here.
Not in the same room.
Not close.
But...
Close enough.
Her throat tightened slightly.
Don't think about it.
Just work.
So she did.
Or at least...
She tried.
Across the floor, Adrian stood by the glass window in his office, his phone resting loosely in his hand.
He wasn't using it.
He hadn't moved in a while.
Something was bothering him.
Not in a clear way.
Not something he could point at and say...
this.
Just...
Something.
His gaze drifted slightly across the office floor below.
People moved as usual.
Nothing different.
Nothing out of place.
And yet...
His brows pulled together faintly.
That scent.
It wasn't here.
Not fully.
But every now and then...
Just for a second...
It felt like it might be.
Then it disappeared again.
Annoying.
He exhaled quietly, adjusting his sleeve again out of habit.
He had already changed clothes.
Twice.
Still...
Something lingered.
Not physically.
Somewhere else.
He turned away from the window.
This was pointless.
There was work to do.
By late afternoon, the office had quieted slightly.
Less movement.
More focus.
Lina gathered her things slowly, making sure everything was in place before standing.
She needed air.
Just a few minutes.
Nothing more.
The hallway outside felt cooler.
Easier to breathe.
She walked without thinking too much about where she was going.
Just away.
Away from the noise.
Away from...
Footsteps.
She stopped.
Not suddenly.
Just enough to notice.
Someone was coming from the opposite direction.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the file she was holding.
Don't look up.
Just walk.
So she did.
One step.
Then another.
And then...
She looked up.
Adrian.
Too late.
Her breath caught.
Just slightly.
But enough.
He slowed.
Not fully stopping.
Just...
Not moving past her immediately.
For a second...
They stood there.
Nothing dramatic.
No words.
No reactions anyone else would notice.
But the air..
Shifted.
That scent.
It hit him again.
Stronger this time.
Closer.
Real.
Adrian stilled.
Completely.
His gaze flickered slightly...
Not quite meeting hers.
But close enough.
There it was.
No mistake this time.
His chest rose slightly.
Then stilled.
What...
The thought didn't finish.
Because just as quickly...
It faded again.
Gone.
Like it had never been there.
Lina lowered her gaze immediately.
Her heartbeat uneven now.
Too fast.
"Excuse me, sir," she said softly, stepping slightly to the side.
Professional.
Distant.
Safe.
He didn't respond immediately.
Just watched.
Not her.
Not exactly.
But...
Something about her.
Then...
He moved.
Past her.
Without a word.
But slower than usual.
And as he did...
That faint trace lingered again.
Just enough to stay.
Just enough to matter.
Lina didn't move until he was gone.
Completely gone.
Only then did she exhale.
Her grip loosened slightly around the file.
That was too close.
Too dangerous.
She couldn't let that happen again.
No more mistakes.
No more...
Her thoughts cut off.
Because deep down...
She knew.
It wasn't something she could control anymore.
Further down the hallway, Adrian stopped.
Just for a second.
Then slowly...
He turned his head slightly.
The space behind him was empty now.
But his expression had changed.
Not confusion.
Not yet.
Something quieter.
More focused.
Like his instincts had noticed something...
Even if his mind hadn't caught up.
"…interesting."
And for the first time...
Without realizing it...
He remembered the feeling.
Not the night.
Not the face.
Just...
That same, soft...
Sweet...
Presence.