Chapter 3

Jason arrived at the office in one piece, though his reluctance clung to him like a second skin. When the elevator doors slid open, there she was. Selina was sitting at her desk, typing away with quiet focus. The morning sunlight spilled across the reception area, catching the soft edges of her profile and lending her an almost ethereal glow. He froze for a fraction of a second, utterly captivated.

When she looked up, greeted him with a bright smile, and stood to welcome him, reality snapped back into place. It took every ounce of Jason’s willpower to offer nothing more than a brisk wave and a curt greeting as he brushed past her.

Be professional, Jason. This is business, he scolded himself, shutting the office door behind him. Strictly business. You can do this.

He sat at his desk, arranged his stack of folders, and dove into work. But over the next two and a half hours, his resolve steadily eroded. He found himself buzzing the intercom and calling Selina in for minor questions he already knew the answers to—anything for an excuse to see her face and hear the calm cadence of her voice.

A sharp knock at his door finally broke the cycle. Jason checked his watch, noting the midday hour, and assumed it was his driver arriving right on schedule.

"Come in," he called out, standing up to grab his suit jacket from the coat rack. "Very punctual today, aren't we? I'm famished. What's on the menu?"

"Well, I have the steakhouse specials, chicken Alfredo pasta, and a seasonal soup, or..."

"Huh?" Jason turned, freezing mid-motion as if he had seen a ghost.

Selina stood in the doorway, menus clutched in hand. Her cheerful expression faltered under his wide-eyed stare, and her own frustration quickly bubbled to the surface.

"You've got to be kidding me," she muttered, self-consciously brushing a hand against her hair before recovering her professional posture. "Is something wrong with my hair, sir?"

"I'm sorry, what are you doing here, Selina?"

She forced a tight, polite smile. "Letting you know it's time for lunch."

"Yes, I gathered that. My question is, why are you the one telling me? Where is Mark?"

"He sent me a text saying he was running an urgent errand for you," she explained, looking just as bewildered as he was. "He gave me the menus and the restaurant locations you usually prefer."

Jason’s jaw tightened. He hung his jacket back over the chair and sat down. 

"Don't worry about it, then. I'll just order in today." He glanced up to find her lingering in the doorway, staring at him with wounded confusion. "You can take your lunch now. Don't let me keep you. Thank you, though."

Selina stood rooted to the spot, incredulous. He's canceling lunch just to avoid going with me? she thought. He doesn't just dislike me...he despises me.

Refusing to back down, she took a determined step forward. 

"Let me order for you, sir. What are you in the mood for? I might not look the part, but I'm a serious foodie. I know all the best spots in town, though fair warning, the food is so good it might knock you out for the afternoon."

A faint smile broke through Jason's stern expression. "You definitely don't look it. But really, I..."

"How about Chinese?" she pressed, refusing to take no for an answer. "You can stay right here and I'll place the order. Or better yet, I could take you there myself. A proper lunch break would do you good."

Jason's pulse betrayed him. He loved her persistence; he loved the eager, expectant light in her eyes. Could he really manage an hour alone with her outside the office?

He stood back up and grabbed his jacket. When the flush on her cheeks deepened into a radiant smile, his stomach twisted into a nervous knot.

"I think Chinese sounds good," he blurted out. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Do you like Chinese?"

"I love it," she said, beaming.

Jason knew he would pay for this later, but looking at her, watching her face light up, he couldn't bring himself to stop.

"I'll grab my bag and meet you at the elevator, sir," she said, her voice brimming with quiet victory. She was thrilled to have finally gotten her stubborn boss to look her in the eye for more than a second.

-----

"I really enjoyed lunch, Selina. Did you?" Jason asked as they finished their meal. He looked at her nearly empty plate and let out a low chuckle. "We can order takeout to bring back if you're still hungry."

Selina felt the heat rise to her cheeks, suddenly mortified by her appetite. Great, now he thinks I'm a glutton.

"No, sir, I'm completely full," she replied quickly. "I might just swing by on my way home later to get some for my friend Tina. She'd love this place."

"Makes sense. Shall we?" Jason stood and stepped around the table. In a natural, fluid motion, he pulled out her chair and reached down, smoothly lifting her shoulder bag from the hook.

Selina blinked up at him in surprise. "Sir?"

Jason looked down at the delicate handbag in his grip, realized what he had done, and set it back down on the table as if it had burned him.

"Oh...my mistake. I thought it was my laptop bag," he covered hastily, his ears burning. "I'll drive us back, don't worry."

"Absolutely not, sir. Mr. Mark was very specific, I was to drive you to lunch and drive you back."

"Is that so? I wonder who employed Mark, and who employed you," Jason teased with a faint smirk as they headed toward the exit. He quickly cleared his throat, forcing his professional guard back up.

"Fine. Just make sure the Peterson files are on my desk as soon as we're back. I need to review a few details."

-----

Back at the office, any remaining semblance of focus vanished. Jason fought a losing battle against his own senses.

He was craving her.

Her presence. Her smile. The striking depth of her warm blue eyes. The subtle, sweet scent of her everyday shampoo that seemed to linger in the air long after she left the room.

He couldn't concentrate on a single line of text. He buzzed her into his office repeatedly for trivial matters he had already handled, purely for an excuse to see her face and catch that fragrance.

"It's only the second day, and I've already lost my mind," Jason muttered, slamming his palm against the wooden desk. "I can't do this."

Frustrated and on edge, he picked up the phone, dialed Mark to bring the car around, and grabbed his coat. As he walked past Selina's desk on his way out, he offered only the same brief, distant wave from the morning, refusing to risk a proper goodbye.

Jason climbed into the back seat of his town car and pulled the door shut with a sharp thud.

"What was that stunt today, Mark?" Jason demanded, his voice tight with irritation. "There is a strict line between my personal and professional life. I didn't find this afternoon amusing in the slightest. Never pull something like that again. Am I making myself clear?"

"Yes, sir. Perfectly understood," Mark replied calmly from the front seat. He paused, giving Jason a moment to settle, before adjusting the rearview mirror. 

"Sir, the file you asked me to look into is ready. It's on the seat beside you."

Jason frowned, reached over, and picked up the manila folder. When he flipped it open, the name across the top made his breath hitch: Celeste Montclair.

He scanned the surveillance notes, his temper instantly reigniting. "When did she get back into the city?"

"The day before yesterday, sir. She arrived on an unregistered private flight, which is why it took time to flag." Mark gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. "I apologize, sir."

"Where is she?" Jason asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"She leased an apartment for five months, and..."

"No! Where is Selina?!" Jason's voice thundered through the car, laced with sudden panic. "Mark, where is she right now?!"

Back at the office, Selina packed up her belongings, her mind still replaying the afternoon. The way Jason had pulled out her chair, the effortless way he had reached for her bag like a true gentleman...

If she was being honest, it had made her heart flutter. Yet his abrupt, distant departure at the end of the day left her completely confused about where she stood with him.

"Oh, I'm such a mess," she whispered to herself as she rode the elevator down and stepped out into the cool evening air.

She pulled out her phone and dialed Tina's number. "Hey. Are you in the mood for Chinese takeout tonight?"

"Girl, how did you know I was starving?" Tina answered immediately. "Yes! And please pick up a bottle of wine on your way."

"Deal," Selina laughed, hanging up and hailing a cab back toward the restaurant.

Inside the bustling restaurant, Selina stepped up to the counter to place her order. Before she could finish, a smooth, melodious voice spoke up beside her.

Selina turned and found herself looking at a stunning woman. She was tall easily five-foot-nine or five-foot-ten, with stylish, chestnut-brown hair and heavy, immaculate makeup that suited her sharp features flawlessly. An intoxicating, opulent perfume drifted from her, so luxurious that Selina took an involuntary half-step back.

"I'm sorry," the stranger said with a warm, disarming smile. "People often think I talk over them, but I promise I don't mean to cut in."

"Oh, no, you're fine," Selina said, laughing it off. "Go ahead and place your order. I don't mind waiting."

"Please, it was rude of me to interrupt," the woman insisted, her eyes lingering on Selina with a flicker of sudden, curious recognition. Her gaze dropped to Selina's chest. "I love your necklace. Where did you get it? I simply have to track one down."

Selina touched the simple pendant resting against her collarbone. "I don't think a woman of your caliber would wear something like this, honestly. It was a gift from my mom."

"Oh, but that makes it even sweeter," the woman said. She gave the cashier her order, then gently took Selina by the arm, guiding her toward the waiting area. 

"Your mother must have exquisite taste. It suits you perfectly."

"Thank you. You're very kind."

A moment later, the counter staff called out Selina's name.

"That's me," Selina said, stepping forward to collect her bags. She turned back to wave goodbye, but the woman stood up and glided over to join her.

"What's your name, if you don't mind me asking?" the woman inquired softly.

"I'm Selina. Selina Woods."

A slow, knowing smile spread across the woman's lips. "Would you imagine that... It's so lovely to meet you, Selina. I'm Celeste Montclair."

Celeste stepped in and wrapped Selina in a warm, lingering embrace.

"I like you, Selina," Celeste murmured with a soft laugh. 

"Let's be friends."