Cold Distance

The next morning felt different.

Rose noticed it the moment she stepped into the office.

Nothing had changed—but at the same time, everything had.

The usual quiet hum of keyboards, soft conversations, and ringing phones filled the space, just like always. People moved around with their usual urgency, focused on deadlines and meetings.

But for her…

It felt heavier.

Like she was carrying something no one else could see.

She tightened her grip on her bag slightly and walked to her desk without looking around too much. The last thing she needed was someone asking questions she didn’t want to answer.

Or worse—someone who already knew.

Her mind drifted back to last night.

The look on Sophia’s face.

Jason’s voice.

That kiss.

Rose exhaled slowly and sat down, placing her bag neatly beside her chair.

Stop thinking about it.

That was the only way she was going to get through the day.

Work.

Just focus on work.

“Morning.”

Rose looked up briefly.

Adrian stood beside her desk, holding a file. His expression was the same as always—calm, observant.

“Morning,” she replied.

He studied her for a second longer than necessary.

“You okay?” he asked.

Rose forced a small nod. “Yeah. Just tired.”

Adrian didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push it.

“Big meeting later,” he said instead, placing the file on her desk. “Jason wants the revised numbers ready before noon.”

Rose’s fingers paused slightly on the edge of the file.

Of course he did.

“I’ll handle it,” she said.

Adrian gave her one last look, then nodded and walked away.

Rose buried herself in work.

Numbers, reports, projections—anything that kept her mind occupied.

It helped.

At least for a while.

Until she felt it.

That familiar shift in the room.

The subtle change in atmosphere when someone important walked in.

She didn’t need to look up to know it was him.

Jason.

Her fingers tightened slightly on the keyboard, but she didn’t lift her head.

Not this time.

She kept typing.

Focused.

Distant.

Professional.

Footsteps approached.

Then stopped.

Right beside her desk.

“Miss Rose.”

Her name sounded the same as always—calm, controlled.

But now, it felt different.

Rose looked up slowly.

“Mr. Carter.”

The formality wasn’t accidental.

She saw it immediately—the slight pause in his expression.

Barely noticeable.

But it was there.

Good.

“Have you finished the report?” he asked.

“Yes,” she replied, sliding the file toward him without hesitation. “Everything is updated.”

Jason didn’t pick it up immediately.

Instead, he looked at her.

Like he was waiting for something else.

Anything else.

He wasn’t going to get it.

Finally, he took the file.

“I’ll review it,” he said.

Rose nodded once. “Alright.”

Silence.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Jason turned and walked away.

It should have been a normal interaction.

Short. Professional.

Nothing unusual.

But it wasn’t.

Because Rose could feel it—

The distance she had created.

And the way it unsettled him.

The meeting later that afternoon was tense.

Not because of the clients.

Not because of the work.

But because of them.

Rose sat across the table, her posture straight, her expression composed. She spoke when necessary, explained her data clearly, and avoided looking in Jason’s direction unless she had to.

Every word was measured.

Every movement controlled.

No mistakes.

No emotions.

Jason, on the other hand, was quieter than usual.

Still sharp. Still in control.

But different.

At one point, their eyes met briefly.

Rose looked away first.

After the meeting, people began to leave the room one by one.

Rose gathered her things quickly, ready to leave before—

“We need to talk.”

She stopped.

Of course.

Slowly, she turned around.

Jason stood a few steps behind her, his expression unreadable.

Rose held his gaze for a second.

Then shook her head.

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

His jaw tightened slightly.

“Rose—”

“Mr. Carter,” she corrected quietly.

That did it.

The air shifted.

Sharp.

“You’re avoiding me,” he said.

“I’m doing my job,” she replied calmly.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Rose picked up her file, holding it close to her chest.

“It doesn’t matter what you meant,” she said. “We’re at work. Let’s keep it that way.”

Jason stepped closer.

Too close.

“Is that really what you want?” he asked.

The question caught her off guard.

For a split second, something flickered in her eyes.

But it was gone just as quickly.

“Yes,” she said.

Simple. Firm.

Jason studied her face, like he was trying to find something she wasn’t saying.

But she didn’t give him anything.

Not this time.

After a moment, he nodded once.

“Fine.”

The word was quiet.

Controlled.

But there was something underneath it.

Frustration, maybe.

Rose didn’t wait to find out.

She turned and walked out of the room.

Later that evening, as she stepped out of the building, Rose finally allowed herself to breathe.

The day had felt longer than it should have.

More exhausting than usual.

She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and started walking, her thoughts finally catching up with her.

This was the right decision.

It had to be.

Distance.

Control.

No complications.

That was the only way this would work.

But even as she told herself that—

A small, stubborn part of her wasn’t convinced.

Behind her, through the glass walls of the office, Jason stood still.

Watching.

He hadn’t moved since she left the room earlier.

His expression was calm.

But his thoughts weren’t.

And for the first time in a long time—

Something wasn’t going according to his plan.