Chapter 4 New tension new feelings

There's something off today.

You ever walk into a room and feel like it's holding its breath? That's what the office feels like when I walk in. I glance around-nothing's obviously wrong. But everything's... tight. Like there's this invisible thread pulling at everyone's shoulders.

Claudia catches my eye from across the room. She's sipping her coffee, unreadable. Doesn't even greet me. Just a slight lift of her chin like, Yeah, I see you, and I know. I don't know what exactly she knows, but it makes my stomach twist.

I find my desk. Eli's already there.

He doesn't say anything. Not even his usual dumb joke about me being late, even though I'm not. He just sits with his headphones in, pretending to scroll, but his screen's on the lock page. He's not working. Just... pretending.

We haven't talked since last night. And I don't mean the casual "see you tomorrow" kind of silence. I mean that kind of silence that tastes like something's changed but neither of us knows how to name it.

I almost say something, just to break it-but the elevator dings.

And that's when everything shifts.

A guy walks in. He's got that kind of quiet confidence that makes you look twice. Soft curls, easy smile, the kind of person who feels like they belong anywhere, even if they've never been there before.

HR steps out behind him.

"Everyone," she announces, "this is Noah. He's our new intern. He'll be with us for the next three months. PR team. Fresh out of university."

Noah smiles and waves, and just like that, he's got everyone's attention. There's nothing flashy about him, but people notice anyway. Including Eli.

Especially Eli.

I glance sideways, and there it is-Eli's watching him. Not in a weird way. Not obvious. But I know Eli. I know when his curiosity gets caught on something. Or someone.

And the way he looks at Noah?

It's new.

It's quiet, but it's there.

I swallow that weird feeling climbing up my throat.

Noah's desk is right next to mine. Of course it is.

We trade polite words. He's nice. Funny, even. Easy to talk to. Too easy. My smile stays on autopilot, but I'm somewhere else entirely. I feel Eli's silence behind me. I feel his attention leaning away from me and toward something-or someone-new.

An hour later, Eli stands behind me.

"Coffee?" he asks, voice neutral.

I nod without thinking. We always get coffee.

Except this time, when we walk down the block, Noah's already at the café. He's standing there like he's part of the plan, like this is just his place too now.

Eli lights up.

"I didn't think you'd actually come," he says, and I swear, his voice sounds... lighter.

Noah shrugs. "I figured, why not?"

And then it happens-Eli and Noah fall into conversation like they've known each other for years. Something about music, oat milk, and a podcast I've never heard of. They laugh. They nod. They connect.

And I'm standing there.

Outside the moment.

I stare at my coffee like it holds answers. It doesn't.

"Hey," I say eventually. "I forgot I left something printing-I should head back."

Eli glances at me, distracted. "You good?"

I nod.

Lie.

Back at the office, I sit at my desk and try to focus. But I keep hearing their voices from the break room. I keep seeing the way Eli looked at him.

Not like he wanted him. Not yet.

But like he could.