Backlash

The door to his office opened smoother than it should’ve; like it had been left unlocked on purpose.

The air inside smelled colder. A captivating smell of expensive leather and wood and a trace of something smoky.

Cazien Wolfe stood by the window, one hand in his pocket, the other swirling a glass of wine. The skyline stretched behind him like a crown he never had to earn. He didn’t turn.

“I’d say I’m surprised,” he said, voice slow, “but I was counting the minutes.” My heels tapped once against the floor before I stopped, planting myself in the center of the room like I belonged there.

“You humiliated me,” I said. Finally, he turned slowly towards me took a sip from his glass while his eyes raked over me with casual violence.

“No,” he said,“ I reminded you whose house you walked into swinging an axe.”

“This is my life Mr. Wolfe. I worked to get here. I earned this. You think this is a game?” I stepped closer, pulse rising like a dare.

“No. I think it’s a hierarchy. You just forgot what floor you’re on.” He tilted his head. Every word made my skin itch. He wasn’t hearing me or was he not listening? Every syllable from his mouth lit something reckless in my chest.

“I should quit,” I said. “Right now. Walk out and tell every news outlet what kind of man you are.”

“You should,” he agreed. He set his drink down with a clink. “It’d be a faster way to destroy whatever you worked so hard to achieve.” His tone wasn’t cruel. It wasn’t even angry. It was colder and more dangerous than rage - patience.

He walked toward me slowly. Not menacing. Not gentle. Measured. Like he had all the time in the world and no intention of wasting it.

“I don’t play with interns,” he said, stopping just short of close. “I don’t sleep with them. I don’t talk to them. I barely remember their names.” His eyes locked on mine. Gray and merciless.

“But you walked in with a mouth too fast and a conscience too loud, and now I can’t seem to stop thinking about you.”

My breath hitched just for a second. And he saw it. Of course he saw it. He leaned in not enough to touch just enough to make the air go thin between us.

“So here’s the real question, Miss Cole,” he whispered. “Are you going to run? Or are you going to see what happens when you stop pretending you’re not curious too?” I didn’t move. Not because I was frozen but because I was on fire.

He stepped back first. The moment broke, but the heat didn’t.

“Dismissed,” he said softly. “Unless you plan to beg.” I turned on my heel without a word but my hand shook on the door handle.

**********

The office buzzed. That low, charged hum of half-conversations and sidelong glances. The kind that dripped through the air like perfume after a stranger leaves a room; faint, heavy and unmistakably about you.

I kept my chin up and eyes straight as I walked back to my desk, my heels clicking sharp against the tile. The same woman who complimented my blazer an hour ago now didn’t look at me at all. Someone at the coffee machine stopped mid-sentence when I passed. Another girl stared down at her screen a little too hard.

The floor had decided. I was that girl now.

“Hey.”

Then a soft sweet voice came fast and low behind me - Her name was Mira. She fell into step beside me, all bright lipstick, soft curls, and the kind of confidence that made you believe she was always two steps ahead.

“You planning on making a career here, or just setting it on fire for the insurance money?”

“Subtle.” I blinked at her.

“Subtle gets you walked on. You’ve got wolves on your scent, babe. You might wanna start running smarter.”

We reached my desk. I dropped into my seat, pulled my laptop toward me, and tried not to care that my fingers felt tight on the keys.

“I don’t run,” I said.

“Then at least look like you meant to poke the lion,” she said, folding her arms. “People are talking about you and him.” I didn’t respond. She sighed and leaned in.

“Look. You do you. I’m just saying… Wolfe doesn’t usually acknowledge interns. He doesn’t even look at them. And now you’re in meetings, getting singled out in front of half the department like you’re either his new plaything or his new project.”

“I’m no one’s plaything.” My jaw tightened.

“Good,” she said, straightening. “Then make sure they remember that before someone decides your mouth got you more than just a cubicle.” I met her eyes.

Mira didn’t scare easy but there was something in her expression I hadn’t seen before. Not judgment or jealousy. Maybe worry?

“Thanks,” I said, softer this time. “I’ll handle it.” She nodded once and walked away, hair swinging behind her like punctuation. I turned back to my screen. A blank document stared up at me. My mind felt the same - Blank.

Except for the image I couldn’t shake off. My boss - Cazien Wolfe. The closeness, his calm and the way he was watching me now like I was his next idea or his next mistake. I may just be both.