The Nerd with glasses(2)

Jade

“Don’t be late tomorrow, Jade… or I might start showing up unannounced.”

Those were the last words Tovi Lane said before walking out of my office like he hadn’t just completely ruined my ability to think straight.

That was yesterday and now it was tomorrow. And I was already late.

My fingers trembled as I pushed my glasses higher up the bridge of my nose while staring at the elevator numbers climbing toward the top floor of Lane Enterprises.

Why am I nervous? It wasn’t like I was walking into a lion’s den. Except… it absolutely felt like that.

Because Tovi Lane was the kind of man who looked at you like he could see every secret you’d ever tried to bury.

And worse… like he enjoyed uncovering them.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. My heart immediately began hammering.

The entire executive floor was quiet. Too quiet. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, sunlight spilling across polished marble floors and dark glass offices.

But my eyes locked on only one thing.

Him.

Tovi Lane stood near the windows with his back turned, sleeves rolled to his elbows, one hand in his pocket while the other held a glass of something amber.

He looked… unfair.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. The kind of powerful build that made every suit look like it had been designed just for him. Dark hair slightly messy like he’d run his fingers through it one too many times. His jaw sharp enough to make magazines jealous.

when he turned around…Those blue eyes landed on me. Slow. Deliberate, Like he’d been waiting.

“Well,” he said calmly, voice smooth as velvet. “The shy genius finally decided to show up.”

Heat flooded my face.

“I’m not shy,” I muttered.

His eyebrow lifted slightly. “You hide behind oversized sweaters, thick glasses, and spreadsheets,” he replied. “That counts.”

My lips parted, but no words came out.

He was right. And the worst part? He knew it.

Tovi slowly set his drink aside and started walking toward me. Each step felt louder than the last. My pulse began racing again.

I told myself not to react. Not to stare. Not to notice how the open collar of his shirt revealed the strong line of his throat. But my traitorous eyes did it anyway.

“You look nervous,” he said.

“I’m not nervous.”

“You’re twisting your fingers.”

I immediately stopped twisting my fingers.

His mouth curved slightly. “Adorable.”

My stomach flipped. I hated how easily he could fluster me.

“Why did you ask me to come here?” I asked, trying to sound professional.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stopped just inches away from me.

Too close. The air between us felt warm. Electric.

“I wanted to see if you’d come,” he finally said.

“That’s it?”

“That’s the first reason.”

“And the second?”

His gaze dropped briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes.

“To see if you still look at me the way you did yesterday.”

My breath caught.

“I didn’t look at you any type of way.”

“Jade.”

Just my name.

But the way he said it… low, slow, almost amused… sent a strange warmth through my chest.

“You looked at me like you were curious,” he continued.

“I was not.”

“Like you wanted to know what it would feel like.”

My heartbeat thudded harder.

“I didn’t.”

Tovi leaned closer. Not touching. Just close enough that I could feel the warmth of him.

“Your pupils dilated,” he murmured.

My brain short-circuited.

“What?”

“Yesterday,” he continued softly, “when I leaned in… you stopped breathing.”

Oh my God. He noticed that?

I swallowed. “You’re imagining things.”

His lips curved. “No.”

The confidence in that single word made my stomach tighten.

“You’re used to women throwing themselves at you,” I said quickly. “Maybe you’re misreading things because I’m not doing that.”

He tilted his head slightly. Studying me. Like I was a puzzle he enjoyed solving.

“You’re right,” he said.

I blinked. That… wasn’t the response I expected.

“But that’s exactly why you’re interesting.”

My heart skipped. He reached up suddenly. My entire body froze. But instead of touching me… he adjusted my glasses. The gesture was small. Simple. But it sent a strange shiver down my spine.

“You hide behind these,” he said quietly.

“They help me see.”

“They help you hide.”

My breath came out uneven. “I’m not hiding.”

His fingers lingered on the frame for just a second longer before dropping away.

“Then prove it.”

“How?”

“Have dinner with me.”

My brain completely blanked. “Dinner?”

“Yes.”

“That’s… that’s inappropriate.”

He chuckled softly. “You work in accounting, Jade Sink. Not a monastery.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Then what is?”

I hesitated. Because the truth? The truth was that I wanted to say yes, and that terrified me.

“You don’t even know me,” I said.

“I know enough.”

“Like what?”

His gaze softened slightly. “You’re the smartest person in this building.”

My eyes widened.

“You stay late almost every night.”

“That’s because I—”

“You hate loud parties.”

I blinked again. “How do you—”

“You bring the same lunch every day.”

My jaw dropped.

“You’ve been watching me?”

He didn’t deny it.

“Why?”

His answer came without hesitation. “Because you’re fascinating.”

My cheeks burned. No one had ever called me that before.

“Most people here only see the glasses,” he continued quietly. “But I see the woman behind them.”

My throat felt tight. “And what woman is that?”

His eyes darkened slightly. “One that’s been denying herself far too long.”

My pulse stumbled.

“Denying… what?”

He stepped closer again. The air between us felt charged.

“Curiosity,” he said softly.

My breathing slowed. “And what exactly are you curious about?” I whispered.

His gaze dropped briefly to my lips again. “Me.”

The word sent heat rushing through my chest.

“Tovi…”

“Dinner,” he repeated.

“Why?”

His voice lowered. “Because if I keep standing this close to you in the office…”

He paused. My heart raced.

“…I might forget we’re at work.”

My stomach flipped violently.

“And what happens if you forget?” I asked before I could stop myself.

His eyes darkened in a way that made my breath catch.

“Then I’d do something extremely unprofessional.”

Silence stretched between us. The kind that show silence. My mind screamed at me to walk away. To return to my spreadsheets. To stay in the safe little world I’d built behind my glasses and routines. But another voice whispered something dangerous.

What if you didn’t?

“What time?” I asked quietly.

His smile appeared slowly. Like he’d been waiting for that.

“Seven.”

“Where?”

“You’ll see.”

“That doesn’t sound suspicious at all.”

“Trust me.”

I snorted softly. “You’re a billionaire CEO who admits to watching me for weeks.”

“Months.”

My head snapped up. “Months?!”

He shrugged. “You were reading a finance book in the lobby café. And your presentation landed us the biggest deal with M.Co too,”

I frowned.

“That was like… three months ago.”

“Yes.”

“You noticed that?”

His voice lowered again.

“You were biting your lip while you read.”

Heat shot straight to my face.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“So is your habit of pretending you’re invisible.”

I folded my arms defensively. “Maybe I like being invisible.”

He leaned closer again. Close enough that his voice brushed my ear.

“No,” he murmured.

“You don’t.”

A shiver ran through me. Before I could respond, he stepped back. The sudden space felt strange, Like something had been taken away.

“Seven, Jade,” he said again.

“And if I don’t come?”

His eyes gleamed. “Then tomorrow I’ll show up at your desk again.”

“And?”

“And I’ll ask you the same question.”

My heart skipped. “And the day after that?”

“Same thing.”

“And after that?”

His smile turned slow. Dangerous.

“Eventually you’ll get curious enough to say yes.”

I stared at him. Annoyed. Flustered. And embarrassingly intrigued.

“You’re very confident,” I said.

“I’m very patient.”

Silence lingered. Then I turned toward the elevator.

My heart still racing. “Seven,” I said without looking back.

The elevator doors opened. I stepped inside. Just before they closed, his voice reached me again.

Low. Amused. And full of promise.

“Wear something that doesn’t hide you, Jade.”

The doors began sliding shut. But just before they closed completely, he added one more sentence that made my pulse spike.

“Because tonight… I plan on seeing the real you.”