Chapter 7 CROSSING PATHS

CALLIOPE

"Calliope?"

My name falls from his lips, his tone warm with surprise. The smile that follows catches me off guard, tugging at a string inside me I wasn't ready to feel tonight.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, my voice quieter than I'd like.

"I was just heading home," Orion replies casually, his gaze flickering between me and Julia, who's already stepped closer, her curiosity unhidden. "Do you two need a ride?"

I open my mouth to politely decline, but Julia speaks first, her tone bright and eager. "That would be great! Thanks!"

My stomach twists. "Julia," I mutter under my breath, but she's already nudging me forward like this is a perfectly normal situation.

"Don't be silly," she whispers as we approach his sleek car. "It's late and pouring. You want us to stand around waiting for a bus?"

Orion steps out and opens the passenger door for me. His gaze holds mine, and for a moment, the air feels heavier than it should. I reluctantly slide into the seat, my fingers gripping the strap of my bag tightly.

Julia hops into the backseat without hesitation. "You have a nice car," she says, already settling in.

"Thank you," Orion says, his voice smooth. He starts the engine, the quiet hum filling the silence. "So," he glances at me, "how was your day?"

"Uneventful," I say quickly, hoping to keep the conversation short.

Julia snickers from the back. "She's underselling herself as usual."

I twist in my seat to glare at her, but Orion's soft laugh draws my attention back to him. "Is that so?"

"She got offered her dream job today and we went out to celebrate!" She says, squealing like a bubbly child.

I give her a death squint in the rear-view mirror which she ignores. Will this be the right time to introduce them? Tell Julia that Orion is the CEO of GreenYield? I want to open my mouth and speak but my throat feels blocked.

"She's brilliant, really," Julia continues, ignoring my warning look. "She studied data science."

"Julia," I hiss, heat creeping up my neck.

"That's impressive," Orion says, his interest genuine. "What made you choose that?"

I shrug, trying to play it off. "I like solving problems. It seemed practical."

His smile deepens. "It suits you. You seem like the meticulous type."

The compliment catches me off guard, and I turn to stare out the window, hoping he doesn't notice the faint blush on my cheeks.

"And you?" Orion says, his attention shifting to Julia. "What do you do?"

"I'm a nursery school teacher," she says with pride.

"That's admirable," he says, his tone warm. "That must be a lot of work."

"It is," Julia replies with a laugh. "But it's worth it. Kids are amazing, even when they're little terrors. What about you?"

"I head an agro film here in the City," he replies easily.

"Suits you," she says. "You look like those bosses on the cover of a romance novel."

I nearly choke on my breath. "Julia!"

Orion chuckles, casting me a brief glance. "Thank you so much. I do try to keep romance out of the office."

I bite my lip at his blatant lie.

Julia leans forward, resting her elbows on the back of my seat. "Oh, you must keep everyone on their toes then."

"Only when necessary," he replies, his lips twitching into a smile.

The easy banter between them fills the car, but I stay quiet, my mind swirling. This is too casual, too familiar. Every so often, I catch Orion's gaze flicking to me, his expression unreadable, and it sets me on edge. Orion eventually introduces himself as my boss to Julia, I keep my eyes on the road to avoid her shocked stare.

When we near my neighbourhood, I give him directions reluctantly, mumbling each turn. I know how this area looks to someone like him, and the thought of him seeing where I live sends a fresh wave of anxiety through me.

"Turn right here," I say softly, gesturing to the narrow street.

His brows furrow slightly, but he doesn't comment as he makes the turn. The streetlights here are sparse, the uneven pavement illuminated in patches. My apartment building looms ahead, its faded exterior looking even more dismal under the dim light.

He pulls up in front and puts the car in park. "Here we are."

I reach for the door handle, eager to escape. "Thanks for the ride," I say quickly, hoping to end the interaction.

Before I can step out, Julia pipes up from the back. "You should come inside, Orion. At least for a coffee or something."

I freeze, my hand still on the door. Why would she do this?

"That's kind of you," Orion says, his voice polite but noncommittal.

I can't bring myself to turn around, my heart hammering in my chest. The thought of him stepping into my small, cluttered apartment, is unbearable.

After a pause, he smiles. "But I should get going. It's been a long day."

Relief floods through me, though I try to hide it.

"Well, thanks again," I say, stepping out of the car. Julia follows, her steps light as if she hasn't just made my heart nearly explode.

"Goodnight, Calliope. Julia," Orion says, his voice soft as his car pulls away.

We stand there for a moment, watching his taillights disappear into the night.

Julia breaks the silence with a sly grin. "He's totally into you."

"Don't start," I groan, shaking my head as we head up the stairs.

"Oh, come on," she teases. "Did you see the way he was looking at you? Like he couldn't get enough."

"You're imagining things," I mutter, unlocking the door to our apartment.

Julia flops onto the couch the moment we're inside, her expression triumphant. "Admit it, you like him."

I glare at her. "I'm going to bed."

But even as I retreat to my room, her words linger. I can't stop thinking about the way Orion said my name, the way his gaze softened when it landed on me. It's ridiculous, I tell myself. He's my boss, and I have no business entertaining these thoughts.

Yet, as I lie in bed staring at the ceiling, I wonder what it would be like to let someone in, to let him in.

---

The next morning, Julia is relentless. "So, were you going to tell me you had a hunk for a boss?" she asks over breakfast, her grin as bright as the sunlight streaming through the window.

"Julia," I warn, sipping my coffee. "You are going to be late."

"What? I'm just saying. He went out of his way to give us a ride. That means something." She finished off her toast and eggs.

"He was being polite."

"Uh-huh," she says, clearly not convinced. "And what about the way he kept looking at you? That was more than just polite."

I roll my eyes, refusing to engage. Just as I'm about to dismiss her, my phone rings. The high-pitched sound makes me jerk, spilling hot coffee all over myself.