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Morning Observation
Adrian Hale arrived at the office earlier than usual, as always. The corridors were quiet, printers silent, coffee machines humming. Perfect for mental organization.
And then he saw her.
Elara Monroe, precariously balanced on the verge of disaster, clutching a laptop bag in one hand, three folders in the other, and a dangerously full cup of coffee perched like a fragile crown on top.
She’s going to spill that coffee.
His fingers itched to intervene. Not that he cared. Not at all. She was… insignificant.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he found himself watching.
Her coffee cup wobbled. She caught it. No complaints. Not a word muttered.
Interesting. Annoying. Distracting.
He scowled at himself. Why was he observing her habits? It wasn’t relevant. She wasn’t relevant. She didn’t matter.
Focus, Hale.
---
First Flickers of Emotion
By mid-morning, he noticed her furrowed brow as she corrected a minor spreadsheet error. The crease was small but… somehow… memorable.
How can someone look so concentrated while being so… unremarkable?
Adrian tried to focus on his reports. Failed. His attention snapped back to her every time she moved: the tilt of her head, the way she muttered under her breath, the careful organization of her papers.
This is irritating. Distracting. Unacceptable.
---
Chloe & Maya’s Interference
He noticed the two junior employees sneak toward her desk with a small chocolate stash, whispering and laughing like conspirators in some ridiculous heist.
Why are they allowed to interfere with her workspace?
What he didn’t realize was that their meddling made him notice her even more. The way she reacted to the chaos—calm, composed, almost… human—something inside him shifted.
Focus. Ignore her.
Impossible.
---
The “Help Her” Moment
Later, a pile of papers teetered on the edge of her desk. Before he could stop himself, Adrian stepped in.
“Careful,” he said, handing her the papers in neat stacks.
She blinked up at him. “Oh. Uh… thanks, boss.”
Nothing more. No spark, no flutter. But internally, Adrian felt a weird tug of… interest.
What is this feeling?
Why did her being slightly flustered yet efficient affect him? Why did he find himself observing every minor detail, cataloguing her movements in his mind like some… bizarre report?
Ridiculous. Dangerous. Irritating.
---
Cataloguing Habits
Adrian began noticing small things:
The way she bit her lip when thinking.
The faint crease of concentration between her brows.
How she calmly straightened a toppled folder stack without missing a beat.
The subtle way she muttered sarcastically under her breath about the chaos around her.
Why am I cataloguing this?
He tried to refocus on his work. Every time he did, he found himself glancing at her. She moved through the office like a chaotic little storm, completely oblivious to his presence—or perhaps strategically ignoring it. Either way, it was… distracting.
---
First Accidental Proximity
An elevator ride later, he found himself sharing the small space with her. She pressed the wrong floor button, looking flustered and apologetic.
“Oh. Uh… hi,” she said awkwardly, gripping her folders.
“Hello,” he replied curtly.
Silence. He noted the slight tremble in her hands—not anxiety, just focus. She didn’t notice his gaze lingering a fraction too long.
Focus, Hale.
---
Observing Reactions
Throughout the day, Adrian found himself noting every small reaction:
The way she rolled her eyes when Chloe and Maya were whispering nearby.
The way she straightened a crooked pen on her desk, an unconscious display of order.
The way her brow furrowed when concentrating, just slightly, like a tiny signature of her personality.
Every detail felt… oddly significant. He couldn’t explain why.
---
Internal Conflict
By the afternoon, Adrian realized he was… irritated. Not in anger, not in annoyance—well, maybe a little—but not the usual kind. This was different.
He was irritated that he couldn’t stop noticing her.
I don’t get distracted. I don’t notice employees. I do not feel… anything.
And yet, he did.
Each minor mishap, every flustered glance, every tiny display of competence tugged at something he couldn’t define.
She’s… distracting. Dangerous. Annoying. Possibly… interesting.
---
Closing Thoughts
Adrian Hale, CEO of Hale Corp, prideful, composed, professional… was officially flustered.
He did not know why.
He did not know what it meant.
He only knew that he could not stop noticing her.
And that, Hale, was completely unacceptable.
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