Chapter 3

CHLOE’ POV 

I did not cry that night.I got to my apartment with my jaw tight and my keys shaking in my hand, but I didn’t cry.

Not until I’d changed into a sweatshirt, kicked off my heels, and sat in the middle of my tiny living room floor with a cold mug of lavender tea.

That’s when the tears came quiet and embarrassed. Not from what he said exactly, but from what it meant.

“You should learn not to stay where you’re not needed.”

It was like a stab with a knife, and worse he meant it. How calm his voice was,as he said it. Like I was just another piece of office furniture that had overstayed its purpose.

Maybe I had imagined the softness and the flickers of something human in his eyes when he thought I wasn’t watching. Maybe I’d filled in the gaps of our silences with stories that didn’t exist.

I hated that it hurt.

I hated that I cared.

….

The next morning, I wore lipstick.

Not because I wanted to look good for him but because I needed the armor.

“Whoa,” Nina said when she saw me. “You look like you’re about to chew glass and enjoy it.”

“New mood,” I replied, giving her a quick smile. “Productivity with a side of distance.”

“Ah. Rourke got under my skin’ phase.” She leaned over my desk and lowered her voice. “Just don’t let him make you think it’s your fault. The man could find fault in everything but himself.”

I handed her a post-it. “His schedule’s tight this morning. Don’t let him rearrange your boss’s meeting with him unless it’s an emergency.”

“Understood.” She winked. “I’ll only fake a heart attack if necessary.”

...

The first time I saw Elias today.

He walked in ten minutes later than usual and went straight into his office without a word.

I didn’t greet him and I didn’t offer tea.

Instead, I sent his morning brief by email and stayed silent.

But I noticed the way he hesitated before shutting his door.

Just for a second.

And I noticed something else too. He hadn’t shaved. His eyes looked… tired.

Good, I thought. Let him feel tired. Let him sit with whatever storm his father stirred up yesterday.

...

“Please tell me you’ve eaten today.”

It was almost noon when Gavin leaned across my desk with two paper bags and that impossibly golden grin of his.

“I’m fine.”

“No one’s fine if they’ve crossed paths with Elias Rourke before lunch,” he said, handing me one of the bags. “Cuban sandwich. Nina said you like those.”

“You two talk about my food taste?”

He smiled. “Nina talks. I listen.”

I took the sandwich,I paused before unwrapping it.

“Thanks,” I said. “But you don’t have to babysit me.”

“I’m not babysitting. I’m observing a smart woman who just realized she’s working for a man with no emotions.”

I choked on a laugh. “That’s… actually very true.”

He sobered slightly. “But you still care about what he thinks.”

I didn’t answer.

…

The day dragged on. I stayed quietly at my desk,I didn't knock on his door, didn’t give him coffee, didn’t do any of the little things I had done yesterday to make his day less stressful.

And for the first time, he came out at 3:45 p.m. holding his own empty mug.

He paused, clearly not expecting me to be away from my desk.

I was by the supply shelf restocking paper, just barely in earshot.

“Miss Hart?” he called out.

I took my time walking back.

“Yes, Mr. Rourke?”

He held out the mug. “My coffee…”

“I’m only scheduled to manage meeting logistics and external comms today,” I said calmly. “If you’d like me to handle beverage service again, I’ll add it to the task list tomorrow.”

He looked shocked.

But he didn’t argue.

He just walked back into his office with the same cold expression.

...

I left at 5:01 p.m.

As I walked past Gavin’s office, he came after me: “Hey.”

I paused.

“You did good today,” he said. “Holding your ground.”

I smiled faintly. “It doesn’t feel good.”

He nodded. “That’s how you know it was honest.”

…

Back home, I stared at my phone for a while.

I didn’t have many people to talk to. My mom was busy, my best friend from childhood lived across the country, and Nina would tease me until I cried.

Still… I texted her anyway.

> Me: Be honest. Why do people stay under Elias Rourke for more than a day?

> Nina: Two reasons. One, the money. Two… deep down, we all want to see if we’re the one who breaks the ice.

I didn’t answer.

Because deep down, I was starting to think I had cracked something in him. And he didn't like it.

I sat close to my window and watched the sunset as the streets became less busy.

After a while of sitting in silence, I decided to cook something to eat. Once I was done eating, I took my laptop and started watching the Season finale of ‘ Bridgerton’. I dozed off in the middle of the movie.