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89: Home Lunch
publish date:
2026-08-12 05:25:22
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Bound By The Desk 89: Home Lunch
Zephyr's POVThe smell of my mother’s cooking fills the whole house. I sit at the dining table with my elbows on the wood. It feels strange to be here in the middle of the day after Paris. My body is still on another time zone, but the noise of home pulls me back fast.My mother sets a full plate in front of me and wipes her hands on her apron. “Eat,” she says. “You look like you have been surviving on airplane food and stress.”“I am fine,” I answer.She gives me a look. “You disappear for two days, come back with that soft smile on your face, and tell me you are fine. Sit properly and eat.”My sister drops into the chair across from me. “She has been saying that since you walked in,” Selene says. “You would think you were gone for a year.”“I was gone for two days,” I reply.“Two days too long,” my mother says. “It is good to have both of my children at the table at the same time. This almost never happens anymore.”My father comes in from the living room and takes his seat at the h
Bound By The Desk 88: The Real Owner
Miles’ POV The restaurant is expensive and quiet. Dark wood. Low lights. Heavy curtains that keep the city noise outside. I sit across from Nathaniel Holt with a glass of red wine I have barely touched. He is already on his second drink. His hands move too much. His eyes keep checking the door.I watch him with growing irritation.“You need to calm down,” I say.Nathaniel leans forward. “Calm down? Vorian is getting closer. I got word today that his people pulled deleted files. They are looking at the transfers. They are looking at the keycard.”I take a slow sip of wine. “I know what they are looking at.”“Then you know we are in trouble,” he says. His voice is rising. “If he connects everything to HoltTech…”“He will not,” I cut in.Nathaniel shakes his head. “You did not see his face in that last board meeting. He is not guessing anymore. He knows someone inside is feeding us information. It is only a matter of time before he points at me.”“And how did you know about his face in
Bound By The Desk 87: Under the Tower
Vorian's POV The car drops us near a quiet street in the 7th arrondissement. I place my hand on the small of Zephyr’s back as we walk toward the restaurant. It is small, with dark wood and warm light spilling onto the sidewalk.Inside, the host leads us to a table near the window. Zephyr sits across from me. The black shirt looks even better under the low lights. He glances around once, then back at me.“This is perfect,” he says.“I hoped you would like it,” I answer.We order simply. Wine for him. Water for me. Food that takes time to arrive. I do not mind. I watch the way he looks at the menu, the way he smiles at the waiter, the way his shoulders finally relax. For the first time in weeks, neither of us is waiting for a phone to ring or a door to open without warning.Halfway through the meal, two young women at a nearby table keep glancing over. One of them whispers to the other. I notice, but I do not react. Zephyr notices too. He raises an eyebrow at me.“They are staring,” he
Bound By The Desk 86: Paris
Zephyr's POV Vorian picks me up at the junction near the park just like we planned. The sky is already turning soft orange. I climb into the passenger seat of his car and close the door. He looks calm. He is wearing a dark shirt and no tie. His hair is slightly messy in a way that looks intentional.“You look good,” he says.“So do you,” I answer.He pulls into traffic. I settle back and watch the city move past the window. I am looking forward to the small Italian place. Pasta. Quiet conversation. No work. Just us. I even wore the black shirt he asked for.After a few minutes, I notice the route feels wrong. We pass the street that should take us north. Instead we keep going toward the highway.I turn my head. “This is not the way to the restaurant,” I say.Vorian keeps his eyes on the road. “I know,” he answers.“Did you forget the address?” I ask.“No,” he says.I wait. He does not explain. The car merges onto the highway. The city lights start to fall behind us.“Vorian,” I say.
Bound By The Desk 85: Bad Timing
Silas’ POV The café is small and warm. Soft lights hang over the tables. The smell of coffee and fresh bread fills the air. I sit across from Selene with a cup of black coffee in front of me. She ordered something sweet with too much foam. She looks relaxed tonight. Her hair is down. She is wearing a simple dark top. I like the way she looks when she is not at work.“You are quiet,” she says. She stirs her drink with the little wooden stick.“I am thinking,” I answer.“About work?” she asks.“A little,” I say. “Mostly about how long it has been since I sat somewhere without a laptop.”She smiles. “That is sad.”“I know,” I reply. “Do not judge me too hard.”She leans forward a little. “I am not judging. I am impressed you made it out of the office at all.”I take a sip of my coffee. It is strong and hot. “I can be fun,” I say.“Prove it,” she answers.I open my mouth to say something clever, but the door of the café opens with a small bell sound. I glance over out of habit. Then I f
Bound By The Desk 84: Lunch Evidence
Vorian's POV The restaurant is quiet for a weekday afternoon. Soft music plays in the background. Sunlight comes through the wide windows and lands on the wooden table. I sit with my back to the wall, the way I always do. Zephyr is across from me. Silas sits to my right. We ordered simple food. Grilled chicken and pasta, water.Silas is still making faces every time he looks at me. He has been doing it since yesterday.“You two are impossible,” Silas says. He stabs a piece of chicken with his fork. “I am traumatized. I may never recover.”Zephyr keeps his eyes on his plate. “Can we not talk about it,” he says.“I am still seeing it when I close my eyes,” Silas continues. “I need therapy. Expensive therapy. You two are paying.”I take a slow sip of water. “You walked in without knocking,” I say.“I always walk in without knocking,” Silas replies. “That is the problem. You changed the rules without telling me.”Zephyr finally looks up. His ears are a little red. “Can we change the sub
Bound By The Desk 4. Sparks in the Schedule
Zephyr’s POV “Man, this place is insane,” I mutter, sitting at my new desk, papers and screens everywhere. My head is still spinning from meeting Vorian Rex; those eyes, that voice, like he could burn me alive and I would thank him. I dismiss the feeling.Silas saunters by, coffee in grasp, smilin
Bound By The Desk 3. Red Ink and Razor Eyes
Vorian’s POV I stepped out of my black Maserati, the morning sun hitting NexusVibe’s glass tower like a spotlight.Silas slams the car door, grinning. “Vorian. Look at ‘em; employees practically kissing the ground you walk on.” I glance at the lobby, where staff nod and scatter as we stride thro
Bound By The Desk 2. Echoes in the Dark
Zephyr’s POV “Zephyr, you are gonna burn a hole in that plate if you continue gazing,” Dad utters.I snap out of my thoughts, grabbing the bowl. “Just thinking, Dad. Big day tomorrow. New job at NexusVibe.” Mom, slicing bread at the counter, turns with a proud smile. “My boy, working for the big
Bound By The Desk 1: Cracks in the Crown
Vorian’s POV “Vorian, if you do not devour this roast, I am disowning you,” Mom utters, her voice piercing but soothing, gliding a plate of herb-crusted beef across the dining table. The chandelier shines off her gemstone necklace, making her look seem she is still commanding a gala, not our famil
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