The hallway outside the CEO's cabin became a scene of quiet struggle. Avni and Crystal, with the unexpected help of Adi and Tony from accounting, were gently but firmly propelling a reluctant Devi towards the imposing wooden door.
"Come on, Devi! It's just dropping off some files," Avni reasoned, her hands on Devi's back.
"Yeah, what's the big deal?" Crystal chimed in from the other side, a playful smirk on her face.
Devi dug her heels in, her voice a strained whisper. "But… it's him. The CEO. I just… I don't want to bother him."
"Nonsense! He needs the data, and you're the one with it," Adi said with a reassuring smile, giving her a little nudge forward. Tony nodded in agreement.
Just as Devi thought she might successfully resist their gentle coercion, Avni made her move. She swiftly reached out and knocked firmly on the door. A deep, commanding voice echoed from within. "Enter."
Devi froze. There was no turning back now. Taking a deep breath, she tried to compose herself. Stay calm. Be professional. Don't do anything to jeopardize your job. With a final, resigned sigh, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Silas Rex was seated behind a large, mahogany desk, his head bent over a stack of files. He didn't look up as Devi entered. The room exuded an air of quiet power, the only sound the rustling of paper as he turned a page.
"Good morning, Mr. Rex," Devi began, her voice trying to maintain a professional steadiness. "I'm Devi from the data analysis department. Your secretary, I understand, is absent today. I have the files you requested. Could you please tell me where I should place them?"
Silas finally extended a hand, his eyes still fixed on the documents. "Just give them to me directly."
Devi carefully stepped closer to the desk and placed the bundle of files onto his outstretched palm. As she did so, the back of her soft hand brushed against the roughness of his. A strange shiver ran through her, and she quickly retracted her hand.
"Is there anything else, sir?" she asked, eager to leave. In her slight nervousness, the words tumbled out a little too quickly. "Can I take my leave now, Your… your highness?"
A beat of silence hung in the air. Silas's head snapped up, his piercing gaze finally meeting hers. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his intensely brown eyes.
Devi gasped, her cheeks flushing crimson as the unintended address echoed in the sudden silence of the office. Silas's reaction was immediate and unnerving. His eyes, which had been a cool, intense brown, seemed to darken, shifting to a startling shade of red around the edges of his irises. Almost unconsciously, he rose from his leather chair, his movements fluid and predatory as he took a step towards Devi.
Panic flared in Devi's chest. She instinctively took a step back, her eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and fear at the sudden change in him. She stammered an apology. "I… I'm sorry, sir. It just… slipped out."
But Silas kept advancing, each step deliberate, until her back bumped against the solid wood of the closed door. He placed both hands flat on the door on either side of her, effectively trapping her between his powerful frame and the barrier.
Her breath hitched. She quickly turned her back to him, fumbling for the doorknob, but his hands pressed firmly against the door, an unyielding obstacle. "What do you… what do you want?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
His voice, when it came, was a low, husky murmur right against her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "Say it again."
He turned her gently but firmly to face him once more. Devi kept her head bowed, her gaze fixed on the expensive carpet beneath her feet. She tried to push against his chest, a futile attempt to create some distance, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. A low growl rumbled in his chest, a sound that sent a fresh wave of fear through her.
His hands shot out, gripping both of her wrists with surprising strength, pinning them against the door above her head. "Say it," he repeated, his voice a raw demand.
Terror constricted Devi's throat. No words came. In the tense silence, Silas leaned closer, his face descending towards hers, his breath warm against her cheek. He kept leaning, the space between their lips shrinking until they were a hair's breadth apart.
Just then, a sharp, unexpected knock echoed through the office, startling them both.
Silas's eyes flickered, the strange red receding, replaced by their intense dark blue. He glanced down at her wrists, still held captive by his grip, and then at the scant inches separating their faces. With a sharp intake of breath, he abruptly stepped back, releasing her. He turned away, running a hand roughly through his dark hair.
When he finally turned back around, Devi was gone. The only sound was the insistent knocking at the door, slicing through his tumultuous thoughts. He mouthed a curt, irritated command. "Come in."
The door opened to reveal Leonard, a wide, teasing smile already gracing his lips. His eyes flicked from the closed door to Silas, then back again, his eyebrows raised in amusement.
"Well, well, well," Leonard drawled, stepping fully into the office. "What was all that about? Someone just bolted out of here like a lion was on their tail. Did you finally unleash your inner beast, Silas?" He chuckled softly. "Did you yell at her or something?"
Silas shook his head, his jaw tight. He briefly explained the bizarre moment, the slip of the tongue, his own inexplicable reaction, and the almost-kiss.
Leonard listened calmly, his initial amusement giving way to a thoughtful expression. "And why were you about to… do that, Silas?" he asked, his tone now serious.
Silas ran a hand through his hair again, a look of genuine confusion on his face. "I… I don't know, Leo. Something about her… the way she said it… it just triggered something."
Leo, using his nickname, laughed again, a short, disbelieving sound. He shook his head slowly. "You almost kissed a subordinate because she called you 'your highness'?"
Silas's glare intensified. "It's not funny," he growled, his patience clearly wearing thin. "What do you even want, Leonard? Why are you here?"
Leo held up his hands in mock surrender, his smile returning. "Alright, alright, touchy subject. I just came by to see if you were settling in okay. But," he paused, his eyes twinkling, "it seems I might have unintentionally interrupted a rather… intimate moment. Was that a pre-emptive welcoming kiss I walked in on?"
A low growl rumbled in Silas's chest, his fists clenching at his sides. Leonard's teasing was definitely hitting a nerve.
"Do you want to get beaten up, Leonard?" Silas asked, his voice dangerously low.
Leo simply chuckled again, shaking his head with a mixture of amusement and disbelief. Silas's irritation was palpable, and Leonard seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it.