The rhythm of the workweek pulsed steadily through the office, and Arabella found herself slowly adjusting to the small changes that had begun to ripple through her days. Adrian, whom she had known from their orphanage days but hadn't seen in years, was becoming a more frequent presence. At first, his joining their lunch table was a surprise, a ripple that unsettled the calm waters of her routine. But with each day, she found herself less tense, less distracted by his company. He was easy to talk to, and there was a warmth in his smile that reminded her of simpler times.
At the cafeteria, Lydia was warm and welcoming to Adrian from the start, effortlessly drawing him into their conversations. Arabella, quieter by nature, felt more reserved—but that didn't mean she was closed off. Slowly, she began sharing small things about her work and listening to Adrian's stories from the tech department, the way the office printer always jammed or how a recent system update caused chaos for a day.
Damon's presence during these days, though not constant, was impossible to miss. Sometimes their eyes met briefly across the room. Each time, Arabella felt a quiet flutter in her chest, but Damon's gaze was different—intense, lingering. There were moments when he passed by their table or her desk, his glance shifting sharply toward Adrian, who sat close to Arabella, laughing or talking softly. Damon noticed the way Adrian looked at her, a look that spoke of more than mere friendship. It drew his possessiveness, like a silent warning. She's mine, his gaze seemed to say, though his lips stayed tightly sealed.
Arabella caught none of this—not consciously, at least. Her thoughts were caught up in small comforts: the lightness of shared jokes, the soft clink of cutlery, the easy rhythm of conversation that didn't demand more than she could give.
---
The weekend brought a welcome break. Arabella met Yaasi at her apartment—a small, cozy space filled with plants, books, and the smell of freshly brewed tea. The two friends sank into the softness of the couch, a pile of cushions supporting them as outside the city hustled on.
While watching a romcom, Yaasi paused the show, and started talking about her love life goals animatedly. They laughed and continued eating snacks. Suddenly, Yaasi shifter to Arabella, and said,
"So, spill," Yaasi teased with a grin, eyes sparkling mischievously. "Any cute guys catching your eye at the new job?"
Arabella's breath caught for a moment, her gaze flickering away. She felt a warmth rise in her cheeks, but she shook her head softly. "No… not really."
Yaasi wasn't convinced. She nudged her gently. "Hey, you can't lie to me. I've known you since forever. There's got to be someone."
Arabella hesitated, then tried a weak denial, "No, I don't think so."
But Yaasi pressed on, her tone playful but insistent. "Come on, spill it. Were you thinking about someone just now?"
Arabella's heart thudded in her chest. She knew Yaasi wouldn't push without reason. Taking a deep breath, she decided to share a little, cautiously.
"There is someone… but he's… higher up in the company," she said vaguely, eyes fixed on the soft carpet beneath her feet. "And he's… different. Sometimes he teases me, but other times he just watches quietly. It's confusing."
Yaasi's smile grew wider, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Ooooh! Is he handsome at least?"
Arabella's cheeks flamed scarlet. She nodded shyly. "Yes."
"Oh wow," Yaasi breathed, dramatically clasping her hands together. "Okay, that's definitely someone worth noticing. Go for it, girl."
Arabella felt a flutter of warmth spread through her, mixed with nervous excitement.
"But," Yaasi added, suddenly, more seriously, "does he make you feel comfortable? Like, does he respect you? Because if he's higher up, things can get tricky."
Arabella's gaze drifted to the window, her voice barely a whisper. "He's always respectful, teasing yes. Never pushy. Just… there."
Yaasi gave her a reassuring smile. "Sounds like he likes you. And if he's careful like that, then maybe he's trying to figure out how to show it to you."
Arabella swallowed hard. "I don't know what to think yet."
Yaasi leaned back, her teasing smile softening and said encouragingly, "You're just starting to notice, that's all. And that's not a big deal. Take it slow, it might just be your first relationship.. so go for it. Don't worry too much about unnecessary things."
Arabella looked up at her friend, the night suddenly feeling warmer and more full of possibilities.
---
Later that night, as the city's lights twinkled through the window, Arabella lay awake in her bed, the conversation with Yaasi spinning gently in her mind. Damon's teasing smiles, the way he watched her, the subtle possessiveness, teasing in his intensive eyes and the new warmth in her own heart she hadn't dared to name before.
She didn't know where this would lead, or what it all meant—but for the first time in a long while, she felt a flicker of hope that maybe she wasn't alone in this.