Devin cursed heavily under her breath. Being buried in this much work was not good for any person's health.
Devin rubbed her eyes, the text on the screen blurring for the fifth time that hour. The office was quiet, lit only by the harsh white light above her desk and the soft blue glow from her monitor. A week's worth of reports, contracts, and half-finished proposals loomed over her like a paper avalanche. It wasn't this bad when she started. Or maybe it was always this bad, and she was just distracted.
Dynos had mentioned a collab—something big, or at least vaguely important. He hadn't gone into detail. Typical. He spoke in hints for some reason.
He had sent the official proposal this week so there were many knots to be sorted from her end.
She had planned to see him before heading to lunch with Ryan. Entering the building she reaches his floor and heads down the hall to his office. She didn't knock.
Dynos was where he always was—lounging behind his desk like he'd been carved into it centuries ago. A pen spun between his fingers. His gaze never lifted to hers once.
And it stung.
"Didn't expect you to crawl out from under all those files so soon," he said, voice smooth and too amused for someone who'd caused half the workload. " I haven't seen you in person in such a long time."
"You're part of the reason I'm drowning in them," Devin muttered, dropping into the seat across from him. "Don't act like you don't already know what's going on with me."
He raised an eyebrow. "You wound me. Do you think I'm your stalker or something?"
"You' are." she said, leaning forward. "Half-god and all. You haven't been showing up as much though."
He chuckled, low and warm. " You're not the only one of us with a company to run."
She hated that he still made her laugh.
They spent a few minutes skimming through the project files, tossing jabs like they always did. It was too easy, too familiar. Devin knew exactly when he'd smirk and how he'd tilt his head when thinking. She also knew he wasn't being entirely honest with her—he never was, not really.
Later, as she was gathering her things, Ryan showed up at the lobby. Her boyfriend leaned by the receptionist desk, hands in his pockets, smile and all. He's smile seemed to tighten at the sight of Dynos.
"Hey," he said. "Ready to head out?"
Devin nodded, glancing back at Dynos. "We're done here."
Dynos stood, polite but unreadable. "Take care, Devin."
Ryan gave a small nod, eyes narrowing just slightly when Dynos smiled at her—not a smug smile, just... knowing.
As they walked to the car, they didn't say anything, but his hand brushed hers a little too deliberately. Protective, maybe. Or claiming. She wasn't sure. She didn't ask.
In all honesty, she was in no place to ask anything. She was dating Ryan but the thoughts that plagued her mind wasn't her sweet boyfriend. The best thing was to breakup with Ryan to save him the heartache or cut off Dynos so that she could heal.
She glanced softly at Ryan, and gave his hand a squeeze before smiling at him.
She was going to make this work. Even nothing was going the way she planned it, she had something to be grateful for.