Chapter 8

Helena’s POV

“I didn’t realize the office was still occupied.”

The voice came from the door just opposite where I sat, startling me as my shoulders stiffened instantly.

I knew that voice, how could I possibly forget it. I turned too quickly as my chair rolled fast against the polished floor, only barely stopping as my hand on the desk saved me from an embarrassing fall.

Barron Hale stood by the door, but there was something different about him now.

He didn’t look like the man who had just finished the strategy meeting earlier that afternoon. 

The composure that had held his posture in place earlier was all gone now. His jacket was folded over one arm while his sleeves had been rolled neatly to his forearms.

He looked, dare I say, casual.

“Sir,” I said quickly, pushing my chair back as I stood to my feet.

His gaze moved from me to the screen of my computer, then back to me again.

“You’re still here,” he muttered.

Not a question.

“Yes, sir, I replied anyway, clearing my throat. “I was just finishing the revisions from the meeting earlier,” I added.

He stepped into the office slowly, letting the door close quietly behind him.

The air in the room felt different now that he was in it.

Most of the lights had been dimmed for the night by me, leaving the room barely lit up, majorly coming from the window.

He glanced down at my monitor again. “The retention projections?” He asked.

“Yes,” I replied.

Then he walked closer, not stopping till he stood beside my desk.

Not all that close. But close enough for his cologne to invade my nostrils.

“You’re correcting them tonight?” He asked in a slightly higher pitch.

“Yes sir, thought it would save time tomorrow,” I replied.

He studied the numbers on the screen for a moment, then nodded slightly.

“Pretty ambitious for a first day,” he muttered and shrugged.

I wasn’t really sure if that was praise or criticism.

“I just wanna make sure the model reflects the onboarding change,” I said carefully.

His gaze hardened all of a sudden as the words left my lips.

Shit, I must have reminded him of earlier.

“You’re aware most people spend their first day observing,” he said stiffly.

“I did observe, Mr. Hale,” I countered politely.

“And?”

“And I saw something that didn’t look right,” I added slowly.

For a moment, I thought I had pushed too far again. But he didn’t look annoyed this time.

If anything, he looked, curious.

“Confident, pretty confident,” he said thoughtfully.

“I prefer the term, accurate, sir,” I muttered, not knowing why exactly.

The corner of his mouth pulled to form a smirk. That was the closest thing to a smile I had seen from him all day.

He moved away from my desk, walking towards the large glass window overlooking the city.

From where he stood, the entire skyline spread out beneath him.

“You’re not from here,” he said suddenly.

That caught me off guard. I managed to recover myself quickly, but it wasn't a question anyway.

“What makes you say that, sir?” I asked gently.

He turned to me and stared at me shortly before turning away. “You don't look it,” he replied.

I blinked. That was oddly perceptive.

“I grew up somewhere quieter,” I admitted.

And he nodded slightly, like that confirmed something in his head.

“Your family's here?” He asked, taking me by surprise again.

It was casual, yes. But it still made my chest tighten.

“Yes,” I said after a short pause.

“Close?” He pressed on.

Not really, but I wouldn't say that.

“Yes, sir, Mr. Hale,” I said again, then his eyes flicked back towards me briefly.

He didn’t push further immediately, but the silence that followed felt heavier than before.

“So,” he said after a moment, gesturing lightly towards my screen with his finger. “You believe the onboarding interface is the cause of the conversion delay?” He asked, getting back to work.

“Yes,” I replied curtly.

“And you’re certain?”

“I am, sir,” I said confidently.

He nodded and walked back towards my desk, this time stopping on the other side of it, opposite where I stood.

Our eyes met briefly but I couldn't hold his gaze long.

“What happens if you’re wrong?” He asked.

My stomach tightened slightly, that sounded more like a threat than anything else.

“Then I learn from it,” I replied honestly.

“And the company?” He pressed.

And I hesitated shortly. “Then the company learns too, sir,” I replied, taking myself by surprise too.

I looked up at him before looking away quickly as his gaze sharpened.

“Bold answer,” he muttered.

“But honest too,” I continued.

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke, the air between us felt different now. The second time since he stepped in.

His eyes moved slowly across my face, thoughtfully, in a way that made me suddenly very aware of how close we were standing.

Then he straightened slightly, pulling back. “You work quickly,” he expressed.

“I try my best, sir,” I replied.

“Trying to impress someone?” He asked, and again, the question came out casually, way too casually.

I felt my cheeks warm up slightly. “No, sir.”

He raised his brow at me. “No?”

“I just don’t like leaving work unfinished,” I corrected softly.

He studied me for another short while, then nodded once, as if accepting that explanation.

“Fair enough,” he muttered, followed by another quiet pause, a longer one this time.

I glanced down at my keyboard, suddenly aware of how late it was.

“Sir, I should probably finish this and head home soon,” I said.

“You should,” he agreed, but didn’t move either way.

Instead, he leaned forward with one hand resting lightly against the desk as his posture relaxed in a way I hadn’t seen before.

“Helena,” he called suddenly and my heart jolted.

The way he called my name, the look in his eyes, they all pressed heavily on me.

I couldn't dare imagine his next words.