The Office Door Was Never Supposed to Close Behind Her

Chapter 2

The Office Door Was Never Supposed to Close Behind Her

Leila Monroe’s POV

The next day, I tried my very best to act normal.

I drank my usual morning lukewarm coffee, I answered emails, attended and sat in meetings where words floated above like smoke I couldn’t catch, I obviously could not understand a thing but I made sure to understand. Everything about myself seemed perfectly rehearsed except my heartbeat, which had not yet found a steady rhythm since yesterday’s encounter at the rooftop.

He hadn’t touched me yet.

He actually doesn’t need to.

But the look in his eyes that cool, was giving a calculating spark and I felt it still pressed against my skin like a bruise no one else could see except for I.

I told myself obviously that it meant nothing.

He was married and my boss’ boss…twenty years older plus he is a man known more for his silence than his interest in interns.

So when my inbox pinged at 3:47 p.m with a message marked

“PRIORITY AND TREAT AS URGENT”.

I honestly did not want to open it, but I had to.

Subject: 22B.

Body: Now.

SW.

Just that and nothing else.

But I didn’t ask questions.

I just stood and smoothed my skirt. I told Anderson that I was heading to legal I just Lied so smoothly and it scared myself.

And of course I was on the marble stairs to the floor no one ever dared visited without an appointment.

Whitlock’s floor.

Suite 22B was quiet.

Too quiet.

I hesitated before knocking, and my heart was in my throat.

“Come in.”

His voice came again muffled but unmistakable. Like he already knew I was on the other side.

I pushed the door open.

It wasn’t looking like a typical CEO’s office it had no corporate photos or any modern art. Just dark paneling, leather chairs, floor-to-ceiling windows, and one large desk in the center.

He sat behind it, sleeves rolled to the forearms, tie loosened just enough to look dangerous, not casual.

He didn’t look up.

Not right away.

“Close the door, Miss Monroe.”

And I did as he commanded.

My pulse obeyed no logic neither did my legs, as I walked toward the desk.

“You summoned me?” I asked, voice steady but thin.

That made him look up.

I noticed his piercing blue eyes with no softness just scrutiny.

“No one’s ever asked me that like it’s an insult,” he said coolly. “Not bad.”

“I didn’t mean….”

“You did.” A pause. “And you meant it well.”

The Silence was thick and Unreadable.

He stood and walked around the desk, stopping a breath away, not touching not even close enough to claim it was inappropriate.

But God, it felt so fucking close.

“I called you here,” he said, “because I don’t like being distracted.”

Her brows lifted. “I don’t understand.”

His gaze dropped to my mouth so slowly like it was a choice he made every second.

“I don’t like confusion in my building, Miss Monroe.

I like silence and order.”

I swallowed hard. “And I’ve… caused confusion?”

“You caused me confusion.”

The words hit her like glass.

“I shouldn’t have spoken to you yesterday,” he went on, “It was unprofessional and reckless.”

I stepped back, just slightly.

But my heart didn’t. “Then why are we alone right now?”

He tilted his head. “Because I’m not as disciplined as I thought.”

I felt heat flood my cheeks. “You’re married.”

“Yes.” He didn’t flinch. “And I won’t pretend that excuses my attention. But it also means there are things I cannot allow.”

“Like what?”

“Like this.”

His hand lifted only a few inches just before dropping again like he’d stopped himself.

“I don’t think you understand what this building does to men like me,” he said, suddenly quieter. “It makes us kings. And kings don’t ask. They take. They own.”

I shook my head, throat tight. “Then what am I doing here?”

His eyes darkened. “You’re about to find out.”

Silence again.

Then a single step forward.

This time, I didn’t back away.

“If I tell you to leave right now, will you?” he asked.

I stared at him straight in the eyes. “Yes.”

“And if I told you to stay?”

A pause.

“I’d still have a choice,” I whispered.

He looked at me then.

He really looked but not like a man about to pounce.

Like a man at war with himself.

He turned away, jaw clenched.

“You’re dismissed.”

But I didn’t move.

“I said….”

“I heard you,” I said gently. “But I wanted to see if you meant it.”

Sebastian looked back at me and for the first time, the mask slipped but just for a second.

Long enough for me to see the crack underneath.

The want, guilt, fury and desire.

I turned and left without another word.

And this time, the door didn’t slam.

It closed so softly, it might as well have whispered her name.