Date: March 29, 2025

  I was this close to calling this week uneventful.

  Then, as always, life said, “absolutely not.”

  Monday: A Strange Start

  The first sign that this week would be off happened the moment I walked into the office.

  I made my way to my desk, already mentally preparing for a long day of debugging—only to stop short.

  Leo was sitting on my left.

  Ethan was on my right.

  Neither of them usually sat here. Leo tended to stroll in late and claim whatever seat was closest to the snack counter, while Ethan preferred being tucked away in the quieter part of the office.

  And yet, here they were, desks conveniently set up as if they’d always been there.

  They both acted completely nonchalant about it, like nothing had changed.

  I opened my mouth, then closed it again.

  I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to know the answer anyway.

  So I chose to say nothing.

  Tuesday: Priya Sees Too Much

  It started as an ordinary afternoon.

  I was at my desk, half-listening to a Zoom stand-up, scrolling through messages, when my phone lit up with a notification.

  [Oliver Carter: Lunch sometime this week? No pressure, but I still owe you that coffee.]

  Before I could even react, Priya—who has zero concept of personal space—happened to walk by at that exact moment.

  She arched an eyebrow.

  “Oh?” she drawled, pausing mid-step. “Who’s Oliver?”

  I nearly fumbled my phone. “What? No one!”

  Priya smirked, deadly and amused, like a shark catching the scent of blood.

  “Really?” she said, tilting her head. “Because that message just now says otherwise.”

  I groaned, setting my phone facedown. “It’s nothing. He’s just a friend.”

  “Uh-huh.” Priya leaned against my desk, grinning. “So when’s the wedding?”

  “Priya—”

  “Bachelor party? Destination honeymoon?”

  I buried my face in my hands. “Oh my god.”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  What I didn’t notice—at first—was that Leo and Ethan had both gone completely still.

  Leo, who had been casually spinning a pen between his fingers, had stopped entirely. He turned slightly, raising an eyebrow.

  “Who’s Oliver?”

  Ethan, meanwhile, didn’t move. Didn’t look up.

  But there was a pause, just a moment, before he resumed typing, his face unreadable.

  I exhaled sharply. “It’s not a big deal. He’s just someone I met through my aunt.”

  Leo squinted. “Through your aunt?”

  Priya, sensing the shift, leaned in slightly, eyes flicking between them.

  She didn’t know who Oliver was. Didn’t know what he did.

  But she knew a moment when she saw one.

  She grinned. “I see. So he’s important enough to text you in the middle of the workday?”

  Ethan’s posture didn’t change, but I felt his presence more acutely.

  Leo let out a slow, thoughtful hum. “Huh.”

  I frowned. “What does ‘huh’ mean?”

  Leo shrugged, too casual. “Nothing. Just… interesting.”

  Priya, still entertained, nudged my arm.

  “You should reply. Keep him waiting too long, and he might think you’re not interested.”

  “I don't know if I'm interested,” I hissed under my breath.

  Ethan suddenly pushed his chair back and stood up. “Need coffee.”

  Leo watched him walk off before turning back to me, the corners of his mouth tugging upward, but something else flickering underneath.

  “Well,” he mused. “If Oliver’s buying you coffee, I’d hope it’s the good kind.”

  I shot him a look. “Unlike the tar you drink?”

  Leo’s grin widened, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  “You wound me, Watanabe.”

  Priya, stretching lazily, sighed. “Man, I love this office. Who needs Netflix when I have this?”

  I groaned again. Why was this my life?

  Thursday: A Random Moment You’d Think Was Nothing (But Apparently Was Something)

  I was minding my own business, staring at a graph that refused to behave, when Leo’s chair wheeled dangerously close to mine.

  “Spoon Girl,” he said, propping his chin on one hand. “Hypothetically speaking.”

  I sighed. “That’s never a good way to start a sentence.”

  Leo ignored me.

  “If someone were interested in you—hypothetically—what kind of move would actually work?”

  I blinked. “Excuse me?”

  Leo shrugged. “Just curious.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Why?”

  “Why not?” His grin deepened, but something about it felt different. “I mean, I saw Oliver’s text. Clearly, men are out here trying.”

  I huffed. “It wasn’t a move. He was just being friendly.”

  “Sure,” Leo said, drawing out the word like he was humoring me.

  I crossed my arms. “You’re asking like you need advice, but you flirt with everyone.”

  Leo’s grin faltered, just for half a second. Then, too quickly, it was back.

  “True. But some people are more oblivious than others.”

  Something about the way he said it sent a weird prickle down my spine.

  Before I could respond, Ethan appeared.

  “Stand-up meeting,” he announced, grabbing an empty chair and pulling it next to mine. Way too close.

  Leo’s brows twitched slightly.

  But all he did was stretch his arms lazily. “Alright. Let’s hear about everyone’s productivity.”

  Friday Night: The Bar, The Woman, and the Completely Unnecessary Moment of Flustered Chaos

  Naomi had once again decided I needed a “night out.”

  I sighed but complied, slipping into an emerald green dress she picked from my closet.

  Then, at the bar, I saw him.

  Leo.

  With a woman.

  And just like that, I paused.

  Not for long, but long enough.

  Leo was leaning in slightly, laughing at something she said. Yet again, this was another Leo I had never seen before. His hair slick and styled, wearing a collared shirt of all things, and actual pants instead of slacks. Honestly, if it wasn't for his signature smirk, I wonder if I would have even recognised him.

  And then Leo saw me.

  His gaze flickered toward me mid-sip, stopping just briefly.

  For a split second, he didn’t react.

  Then, like a switch, his usual smirk appeared, and he winked.

  I immediately looked away, ignoring the unexpected heat creeping up my neck.

  But when I turned back, fully prepared to roll my eyes, Leo was still looking at me.

  Except this time, his smirk had faltered, just a little.

  His gaze flickered down to what I was wearing. And for the first time ever Leo looked flustered.

  It lasted less than a second.

  He recovered fast, his usual confidence snapping back into place.

  But I saw it.

  I definitely saw it.

  Naomi returned, setting my drink down with an exaggerated sigh. “Okay, I need to know what’s going on here.”

  I exhaled, picking up my drink. “I don’t even know.”

  She smirked. “Liar.”

  Evening Reflections

  I should not have noticed. I should not have cared. And yet, here I was.

  Very aware of the fact that Leo had looked at me like that. And even worse?

  I didn’t know if I hated it.

  Until next time,

  Ada W.