Chapter 42: Taking a breath

“Is something wrong?” he asked, his voice dropping to a low, concerned tone. He searched her face for any sign of distress, his grip on her hand tightening protectively. “Did you change your mind about tonight?” The afternoon sun caught the messy strand of his black hair as he leaned closer, his icy blue eyes scanning her expression intently. The professional façade he wore so easily had completely disappeared, replaced by the raw vulnerability of a man who had just been given hope only to have it potentially snatched away. “Talk to me,” he urged gently, his thumb stroking across her knuckles in a soothing rhythm. “I haven’t changed my mind,” Harper said firmly. “You have to calm down before we go in there.” Her voice was soft, and she looked deep into his blue eyes. As much as she loved seeing him all fired us, she knew that they couldn’t act like that at work, not if they wanted to make this work.

Oliver took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax his grip on her hand and step back slightly. Her calm voice and steady gaze helped anchor him in the present moment, reminding him that she wasn’t going anywhere. “Calm down,” he repeated with a humourless laugh, running a hand through his black hair again. “You are asking me to calm down when my entire body is screaming that we have less than five hours until I can finally touch you properly.” Despite his words, he made an effort to regulate his breathing, focusing on the sensation of her hand still clasped firmly within his. The familiar noise of city traffic provided a grounding backdrop for the chaotic energy thrumming just beneath his skin. “I am sorry,” he said more seriously, his voice regaining some of its usual composed tone. “This is just… new territory for me. I have never wanted someone this badly and had to pretend everything was normal while discussing quarterly earnings.”

“I know what you mean,” Harper said and breathed out loudly. “But if we mess this up or ruin our careers, we will regret it.” Oliver’s expression shifted, the raw desperation softening into something more thoughtful and resolved. He nodded slowly, acknowledging the weight of her words. The idea of losing her because of impulsiveness was clearly a worse scenario than enduring another five hours of controlled anticipation. “You are right,” he said, his voice regaining its usual steady tone. “I can’t risk screwing this up before it even starts. Especially not with your career on the line.” He took another deliberate breath, forcing his shoulders to relax from their tense position. The adrenaline was still present, but now it was channelled into determination rather than frantic need. “Okay,” he continued, his grip on her hand becoming more stable and less frantic. “We will go back to work. We will finish out day like normal professionals.” His blue eyes met hers with renewed purpose.

“First we have that HR meeting with Tanja,” Harper said seriously. “But once we get through that, everyday will just get easier.” Oliver’s jaw clenched momentarily at the reminder of Tanja’s involvement. The HR director was notoriously strict about company policies regarding romantic relationships between employees, particularly between managers and subordinates. “Yes, Tanja,” he confirmed grimly. “She will have a field day with this news. Probably lecture us both about conflict of interest and proper conduct procedures.” He started walking again towards the building entrance, his steps falling back into their usual professional rhythm despite the turmoil brewing inside him. “At least she can’t fire us for falling in love,” he added with dark humour. “Though I suspect she will try to implement some ridiculous probation period or monitoring system.” The automatic doors slip open ahead of them as they approached the lobby area where other employees milled about during lunch breaks.

They headed straight for the elevator. “Well, whatever she says or implements, we will get through it together,” Harper says supportively. Oliver’s posture straightened slightly at her supportive declaration, the corner of his mouth lifting into a small smile that reached his blue eyes. The simple statement seemed to ground him more effectively than any deep breathing exercise. “Together,” he echoed quietly as they stepped into an empty elevator car. “I like the sound of that. Much better than facing corporate bureaucracy alone.” His finger hovered over the button panel before pressing the number of their floor with deliberate finality. The doors slit shut in front of them, enclosing them in the sterile metal box where they stood side-by-side but couldn’t touch. “Tanja has probably already drafted memos about proper interoffice dating protocols,” he remarked dryly, leaning against the wall opposite Harper. “She will probably insist on monthly progress reports and mandatory counselling sessions.” The elevator began its ascent smoothly, the quiet hum filling the silence between them. Oliver glanced sideways at Harper, studying her profile in the reflection of the polished metal walls.

“Do you think so? Is that usually protocol?” Harper asked curiously. Oliver let out a short, incredulous laugh as the elevator climbed steadily upward. “Oh absolutely. Protocol is Tanja’s native language. She once wrote a forty-page policy guide on employee coffee break etiquette.” He crossed his arms, mimicking Tanja’s signature no-nonsense posture. “Dear colleagues,” he recited dramatically in a mock-serious tone, “Please ensure your mugs are rinsed thoroughly before placing them in the designated dishwasher rack. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action.” Harper laughed softly at the mocking gesture. The elevator chimed their arrival on their floor, and the doors opened to reveal the bustling office environment. Employees were beginning the trickle back from lunch, casting curious glances at the pair standing together. “Trust me,” Oliver continued in his normal voice as they stepped out into the hallway leading towards their offices. “By tomorrow morning, we will both have received formal notices about maintaining professional boundaries and avoiding workplace fraternization.” They both step out of the elevator and start heading toward HR. “Well, luckily I am very good at filling in paperwork and paying attention to boring lectures,” Harper said casually.