Chapter 9: Emma’s Perspective

Emma's pov

If there is one thing I’ve learned working at Sterling Enterprise, it’s that the walls have ears, and the hallways have eyes. This place is like a living, breathing gossip machine no matter where you walk, someone is whispering. And today, it felt like the whispers were about me.

Not that I’m paranoid or anything… okay, maybe a little paranoid. But when you catch three people in a row glancing your way and then suddenly pretending to be fascinated by the coffee machine, you know something’s up.

The thing is, I’m not here for gossip. I’m here for my job, my paycheck, and maybe a little harmless flirting to keep life interesting. Which brings me to Marcus.

Marcus the tall, broad-shouldered, annoyingly kind project manager who somehow manages to make every single person in the office like him. Including me. Which I hate. Because I swore to myself that I wouldn’t get tangled with anyone here. I told myself that mixing work and feelings is a one-way ticket to career disaster. But every time Marcus walks past my desk and flashes me that easy smile, my brain short-circuits.

This morning, he’d dropped by my desk, leaned casually against the edge, and asked if I wanted to grab lunch later. Not in a date-like way, more in a “we’re both humans who need food” kind of way. But still… lunch with Marcus. My heart had done that stupid jump thing, and I hated it.

And as if the situation wasn’t complicated enough, there’s Kane.

Kane is the kind of guy who walks into a room and immediately changes the air pressure. He’s charming in that dangerous way, smooth voice, perfect hair, eyes that feel like they’re trying to read your mind. He’s also Julian’s right-hand man, which automatically makes him a power player in this company. And for some reason, lately, he’s been… interested in me.

Not in an obvious, flowers-and-chocolates way. No. Kane is more subtle. It’s in the way he lingers when we talk, the way his gaze dips just slightly too low when I’m speaking, the way he always finds some excuse to stand close enough for me to smell his cologne.

I don’t like him like that. Or at least I keep telling myself I don’t. But I’d be lying if I said the attention didn’t make my pulse race just a little. And judging by the look Marcus gave Kane yesterday during a meeting, I think he’s noticed it too.

Great. Just what I need. A love triangle brewing when I didn’t even sign up for one.

By lunchtime, I was sitting across from Marcus at a quiet little café two blocks away from the office. The place had brick walls, soft lighting, and that faint smell of cinnamon that makes you feel like you’re in a rom-com scene.

“So,” Marcus said, looking at me over his coffee. “How’s Celeste doing with the whole… working-with-Julian thing?”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, you mean surviving the ice king himself? She’s fine. A little stressed, but she’s handling it.”

Marcus smirked. “You know, I’ve worked here for six years, and I still can’t figure Julian out. He’s like… I don’t know, a locked safe.”

“More like a locked safe in a snowstorm,” I said. “But honestly, Celeste is tougher than she looks. She won’t let him get under her skin.”

Marcus tilted his head, studying me. “And what about you?”

I blinked. “What about me?”

“You’ve been… distracted lately.”

I felt my face heat. “I have not.”

“You have,” he said with a knowing grin. “And I’m guessing it has something to do with a certain someone whose name starts with K.”

I groaned and buried my face in my hands. “Oh my God, Marcus, no. Not you too. I swear, people are going to start printing ‘Emma + Kane’ T-shirts at this rate.”

He laughed. “I’m just saying… the guy’s been circling you like a hawk. And I don’t like it.”

That last part made me pause. There was something in his tone protective, almost jealous that made my stomach flip.

“Why don’t you like it?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

“Because Kane’s not…” He hesitated, then leaned in slightly. “He’s not exactly trustworthy when it comes to women. And I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

For a second, I forgot how to breathe. Marcus looking at me like that like I mattered was doing dangerous things to my heart.

I forced a laugh to break the tension. “Relax, Marcus. I’m a big girl. I can handle myself.”

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I know you can. But that doesn’t mean I want you to have to.”

Back at the office, Kane was waiting by the elevator when we walked in. He greeted Marcus with a polite nod and then turned his attention to me, his smile slow and deliberate.

“Emma,” he said, like my name was a secret he wasn’t supposed to say out loud. “I was hoping to catch you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”

“I was wondering if you’d be free later to go over the presentation for next week. Just you and me.”

Before I could answer, Marcus stepped forward slightly, his voice calm but firm. “Actually, Emma and I are already working on it together.”

Kane’s eyes flicked between us, and I swear I saw the faintest smirk tug at his lips. “Of course you are,” he said smoothly. “Well, if you change your mind, Emma, you know where to find me.”

And just like that, he walked away, leaving behind a trail of tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Marcus muttered something under his breath that I didn’t catch.

I sighed. “You two are going to end up having some alpha-male showdown, aren’t you?”

He didn’t answer, but the look on his face told me I wasn’t wrong.

That night, as I was packing up my things, Celeste stopped by my desk.

“So…” she said, drawing the word out. “Marcus and Kane, huh?”

I groaned. “Not you too. Is there a sign on my forehead that says ‘Insert love triangle here’?”

She grinned. “Honestly? Kind of. But also… be careful, Emma. Kane’s reputation isn’t exactly spotless.”

“Marcus said the same thing,” I admitted.

“That’s because it’s true. And I’m not saying don’t have fun, but… you know. Protect yourself.”

I nodded, appreciating her honesty. But as I walked out of the building, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated.

Because deep down, I knew this wasn’t just harmless office drama anymore. This was personal. And the way both Marcus and Kane were looking at me lately?

It felt like a storm was coming.