Obsessed with my boss

The fast rhythm of Maya's heart kept beating while she waited outside Damien's office. 

This instant had been on her horizon since she realized her infatuation with him. 

She never anticipated these circumstances to unfold at this moment and in front of everyone at work. 

A whispering wave of conversation passed through the office when she moved toward the door. 

When she entered the building Naomi gave her a concerned look that Maya noticed before the door closed behind her. 

When the door closed Maya discovered the reality of her situation. 

Standing by his desk Damien kept his hands tucked in his pockets while showing no reaction on his face. 

His stance in front of the large window created a gentle radiant effect but his gaze at her had no comforting warmth. 

She tightened her fingers to avoid getting restless. 

"Sit," he said. 

Her spine reacted with a shiver when he uttered this solitary word. 

She took a seat on the edge of the chair and stayed still while waiting on the small bench. 

The silence stretched. 

Then, Damien moved. 

He removed a paper from his desktop and brought it closer to her. 

Reading the news headline made a strong wave of unease pass through her body. 

The Article Headline read "A Mysterious Lady Snatched Damien Knight's Focal Point Together With His Potential Affection" 

Maya swallowed hard. 

She held the newspaper edges while reading the photographs displayed across the page. 

Their picture was everywhere. 

The way he had held her. His demeanor during the festival gala was captured in the photos as he whispered secretly to her. 

Every glance. Every touch. 

Captured.

And now, everyone's got something to say.

Maya forced herself to maintain his gaze. "I—"

"What do you have to protect yourself, Sinclair?"

She flinched in response to his seriousness.

She wasn't sure if his temper, or his self-control, was uglier.

"This wasn't intentional," she replied carefully.

Damien leaned against his desk, holding his arms against his chest. "Are you sure?"

Her eyes opened wide. "You think I planned this?"

He didn't respond.

And somehow, in insinuating, but not directly accusing, is hurtful.

Maya exhaled, frustration washing in.

"I get it. Bad for business. But I did have no influence on press, Damien."

His jaw tightened in annoyance at having his given name used.

"Do you hear them?" He leaned in, whispering, soft enough. "That you're my mistress. You climbed to where you're at by sleeping your way up."

Maya's stomach tightened.

She knew everyone gossiped.

She just didn't expect it to go to such an extreme.

She straightened, gazing up at him sternly in the eye. "Do you think so, though?"

Silence.

Something flickered on his face. Something dark and incomprehensible.

Then, finally

"No."

Relief washed through her, but for only an instant.

"Regardless," Damien leaned against the desk, "we have to limit the harm.

The board is asking. And I—" He hesitated. "I cannot have a scandal in my life today."

Maya hated how hurtful such words were.

A scandal.

That's all she was.

A problem to be cured

Her chest tightened up, but she accepted. "I understand. What do you suggest to do?"

His gaze found hers.

Then, after such undue delay

"Stay away from me."

Maya left his office with her throat congested to a choking point.

The whispers in the office no longer stayed whispers but loud, flitted everywhere around her.

She kept chin in a low position, approaching her desk.

Naomi stood poised, folded arms. "Well?"

Maya sank deeper in her chair, rubbing her temples. "He's telling me to keep my distance."

Naomi snorted. "Sure, watch and see how long that lasts."

Maya shot her a glance. "Naomi."

"I'm just telling you. If you two weren't flirting before, sure, you're flirting now."

Maya groaned, resting her forehead against her desk.

This was a disaster.

And it continued to deteriorate.

Days passed.

Maya did her best to obey Damien's command.

She kept business dealings with him.

She avoided interactions unnecessarily.

She tried to uphold that there is no distinction.

But everything was transformed.

Because no amount of space between them did any good, Damien stayed.

Every glance around the meeting room.

Every brush of their arms against one another while passing in the hallway.

Every moment where their eyes met for just a second too long.

Distance wasn't addressing anything.

It was only making things worse. 

All this came to a halt on Friday evening. 

Most of the offices were taken out, but Maya was still typing a report, typing a report. 

She did not hear the Damien approach. 

Not until his voice cut down calmly. "Maya."

His hands settled on the keyboard. He turned, his heart was having a hard time beating. 

He was standing very close. 

His tie was loose, his sleeve rolled, and there was something in his eyes that sent his pulse to the overdrive.

Maya swallowed. "I thought you wanted me to stay away."

 Damian ran his hand through his hair. "I did." A break. A hesitation. Then-

 "But I don't think I can." Maya's breath stopped.

And like this, the line between them became even more blurred.