The Cold Shoulder

I woke with a pounding headache.

The first thing I did was swallow a hangover pill before dragging myself into the shower. The almost freezing water shocked my senses awake, but it couldn't wash away the fragments of yesterday that kept replaying in my mind.

Some conversations were missing.

Others were painfully clear.

By the time I finished getting ready, I'd pinned my hair back with a clip and slipped into a charcoal pencil skirt with a loose baby-blue satin blouse.

Today was going to be a long day.

Surprisingly, I was the first person to arrive at Parker Wines. Traffic had been unusually light, and there hadn't even been a queue at my favorite café.

I balanced my coffee beside my laptop, switched it on and absentmindedly scrolled through social media while waiting for the office to come alive.

The elevator chimed.

Without looking up, I smiled faintly.

"Morning, Laila."

"Good morning."

The deep masculine voice made me jump.

My eyes snapped upward.

Leonard Parker stood on the other side of my desk.

"G-Good morning, Mr. Parker." Heat rushed to my cheeks. "I'm sorry... I thought you were Laila. I wasn't expecting you this early."

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, his blue eyes drifted over me with unsettling calm, taking in every detail before returning to my face.

One hand rested casually inside the pocket of his navy trousers, his tailored blazer fitting him with effortless perfection.

My heartbeat stumbled.

Stop it.

He has no idea what you were thinking about last night.

"Good morning, Blair."

His voice remained perfectly composed.

"Will Laila be long?"

For a brief second, disappointment flickered across his features, quickly replaced by the detached professionalism I'd first seen the day we met.

"I... I'm not sure. I don't think she'll—"

The elevator chimed again.

Both of us turned.

Laila stepped out, touching up her lipstick as she walked.

Leonard interrupted me without hesitation.

"Ah. There you are."

His expression softened instantly.

"Laila, darling, come to my office when you're ready."

Her eyes widened.

"Y-Yes, of course, Mr. Parker!"

He rewarded her with a polite smile before walking away without another glance in my direction.

I remained frozen beside my desk.

What... had just happened?

Only yesterday he'd been standing close enough for me to feel his breath.

Today...

I barely existed.

Laila hurried after him, dropping her handbag onto her chair before disappearing into his office.

I stared after them, irritation building inside me.

The blinds were open.

From where I sat, I could see Leonard leaning comfortably against his desk, smiling while Laila laughed at something he'd said.

She tossed her hair over one shoulder.

He kept smiling.

For one fleeting second, his gaze lifted and met mine through the glass.

His smile widened ever so slightly.

I looked away first.

Fifteen minutes later, Laila returned positively glowing.

She collapsed into her chair with a dreamy sigh.

"I've officially had the best morning since I started working here!"

She grabbed my arm excitedly.

"He finally noticed me, Blair. I'm telling you... I think he's interested."

"Oh, really?"

The sarcasm escaped before I could stop it.

She didn't even notice.

"He called me darling, asked how yesterday went, apologized for being in a bad mood..." She practically squealed. "He said he's feeling much better today."

I forced a smile.

"So that's what he told you."

Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced toward his office.

Leonard sat behind his desk, completely absorbed in his laptop, absentmindedly tapping the end of a pen against his lips.

Ridiculously handsome.

Ridiculously irritating.

I tore my eyes away.

"And there's more!" Laila whispered dramatically.

"He's coming to today's social gathering."

I blinked.

"What?"

"He never comes!"

That was true.

Every Friday after work, the company hosted an informal gathering in the gardens behind the building.

Cocktails.

Canapés.

Music.

Beanbags scattered across the lawn.

Elegant fountains illuminated after sunset.

A chance for employees to relax together.

Leonard Parker had never attended.

Not once.

"I just know it's because of me," Laila said with absolute confidence.

Of course you do.

If he wanted to flirt with her, he certainly didn't need an entire company event to do it.

One smile would probably be enough for her to follow him anywhere.

For a brief moment, I considered skipping the gathering altogether.

Unfortunately, I'd already promised Jonathan I'd go.

He was convinced one of the new security guards was secretly gay and had decided it was his personal mission to help the poor man "discover himself."

There was no escaping tonight.

The afternoon crawled by.

Leonard came and went from his office countless times.

Every now and then, he'd stop to exchange a few words with Laila.

A smile.

A playful remark.

Once, I even caught him giving her a wink.

He never acknowledged me.

Not once.

Fine.

This was exactly what I'd expected from the beginning.

He'd enjoyed the chase.

Once he'd realized I wasn't going to make things easy, he'd simply moved on to the next woman.

That fit perfectly with the reputation everyone whispered about.

So why...

Why did it bother me so much?

I had absolutely no reason to feel angry.

And certainly no reason to feel jealous.

Leonard Parker had never been mine.

He never would be.

So why did being ignored hurt far more than being noticed ever should have?