Chapter 3 Lines between us

The days that followed were quieter - far too quiet for an office like Cole Industries.

Nancy had mastered the art of avoidance.

She came in early, left later than usual, and only communicated with Cole through emails, sticky notes, or filtered instructions via Nathasha. Her once frequent soft knocks on his door were now replaced by sterile summaries sent to his inbox.

Cole noticed.

Every ignored glance, every missed opportunity to be alone, every moment her eyes danced around his without settling - he noticed all of it.

And it annoyed him.

No - it infuriated him.

He couldn't erase the memory of her lips, soft under his, or the tremble in her voice when she whispered, "We can't."

He hated how she avoided him like he was a mistake. Like that moment between them hadn't meant something real.

But Nancy wasn't ready to face the weight of it - not when her job was on the line. Not when the man in question was her boss.

Instead, she poured her energy into perfecting the company's systems - reorganizing files, coordinating high-level meetings, and ensuring that no one, including Cole, had a single complaint about her work ethic.

Still, Nathasha noticed.

"You're hiding," she said one evening, arms folded as she leaned against the desk.

Nancy didn't look up. "I'm working."

"Mmhmm. Working so hard you've skipped lunch three days in a row and haven't stepped foot in Cole's office all week."

"I don't want to talk about this."

"Fine," Nathasha said with a knowing smile, "but avoiding tension doesn't make it disappear. It only builds pressure."

Before Nancy could respond, her phone beeped.

"Meeting in Conference Room A – Mr. Cole + Mr. Grayson (Investor)

Time: 2:00 PM. Bring the updated pitch file."

Nancy sighed. "Guess I'm not avoiding him today."

2:05 PM | Conference Room A

Cole sat at the head of the long glass table, his suit impeccably pressed, expression unreadable.

Beside him was Damon Grayson, a long-time business partner and investor in one of Cole's luxury real estate ventures. Damon was charming, mid-40s, sharp-eyed, and had the air of a man who always got what he wanted.

Nancy entered, tablet in hand, head held high but pulse racing. Her eyes flicked briefly to Cole's - cold and guarded - before focusing on Damon.

"Miss Nancy Collins," Cole introduced curtly. "My assistant."

"Ah," Damon's lips curled. "So you're the Nancy I've heard about. No wonder he's so uptight lately."

Cole stiffened, but Nancy remained calm.

"I've prepared the revised projections and outlined the profit margin changes you asked for, Mr. Grayson," she said smoothly, handing him the file.

Damon didn't take it.

Instead, he leaned back and gave her a slow, appreciative once-over. "I must say, Mr. Cole, you've got quite the gem working for you."

Nancy forced a smile. "I'm here to work, sir. Let's begin the meeting."

Cole's eyes didn't leave Damon. His jaw flexed.

Halfway through the meeting, Damon leaned closer again. "Are you seeing anyone, Nancy?"

Cole dropped his pen.

Nancy didn't blink. "That's not relevant to this meeting, Mr. Grayson."

"Oh come on," Damon chuckled. "Don't tell me you haven't had to beat them off with a stick. Beautiful, smart... I imagine your boss isn't entirely immune either."

"Damon," Cole said sharply, voice cold. "That's enough."

Damon laughed again, casually. "Relax, Cole. It's harmless."

But Nancy stood, straight-backed and firm. "With all due respect, Mr. Grayson, I take my job seriously, and I'm not here to entertain anyone's personal interest. I'd appreciate it if we could stay professional."

Damon looked surprised - and a little impressed. He nodded slowly. "Touché."

Nancy didn't look at Cole as she exited the room, but he followed her with his eyes, heart pounding.

Later That Evening

Cole found her in the hallway near the elevator.

"Nancy."

She stopped.

"About earlier-" he started.

"It's fine," she said quickly. "Handled."

"I didn't like the way he spoke to you."

She sighed. "You don't get to be protective, Mr. Cole. Not when I'm trying to draw boundaries."

He stepped closer. "So that's what this is? Boundaries?"

"Yes," she whispered. "Because it's the only way I don't fall apart every time you look at me like that."

His voice was low. "Like what?"

"Like you want something we both know we shouldn't want."

Their eyes locked.

Silence. Breathing. Unsaid things.

The elevator dinged open behind her.

She stepped in, turned back to him.

"I'm here to work. Nothing more."

And the doors closed, leaving Cole standing there, fists clenched, heart raging.

Chapter 4 - The Distance We Choose

Cole sat in his office long after the lights had dimmed across the rest of the floor. The silence was deafening.

Nancy's words kept replaying in his head.

"You don't get to be protective."

"I'm here to work. Nothing more."

He let out a heavy sigh and loosened his tie.

He had misread her.

The kiss, the glances, the moments - he had assumed they meant something. But maybe, just maybe, Nancy had been trying to keep things together professionally, and he'd pushed too hard.

Maybe she truly wasn't interested in him the way he thought she was.

And for someone like Cole, who never chased, the idea stung.

He stood, walked to the window, and looked out over the city skyline. The view was breathtaking, but his thoughts were elsewhere - on her. How composed she was. How distant she'd become.

He clenched his jaw, making a quiet decision to himself.

If she wasn't interested... then he'd stop trying.

He'd keep things professional. Civil. Distant, if that's what she wanted.

The Next Morning | Cole Industries

Nancy had just dropped a file on Cole's desk and quietly left when Nathasha entered, sipping her iced coffee with her usual flair. She leaned on the table.

"You look like hell," she said to her brother.

Cole didn't respond.

Nathasha raised an eyebrow. "Trouble in boss-assistant paradise?"

He gave her a long look. "There is no paradise. She's not interested. I'm dropping it."

Nathasha studied him, then gave a slow nod. "Smart. For now."

Later that Day | Nancy's Office

Nancy was working on her second cup of coffee and her third report when her door opened without a knock.

"Hope I'm not interrupting," Nathasha smiled, already stepping in.

Nancy glanced up, then relaxed. "Not at all. What brings you?"

Nathasha tossed a sleek portfolio onto the desk. "Just a little reminder that I do more than hang around my brother's company."

Nancy opened the folder and froze.

Inside were glossy pitch decks, branding proposals, and signed contracts. The top page read:

"Nathasha Cole – Founder & CEO | VELVET LUXURY EVENTS"

Nancy blinked. "You own this?"

Nathasha grinned. "From scratch. Five years in the game, running solo. I only step into Cole Industries to keep him from losing his humanity."

"I... I didn't know," Nancy murmured, still stunned.

Nathasha plopped onto the visitor chair. "Most people don't. They assume I'm just the rich, spoiled sister. But believe me, I've got my empire too."

Nancy looked at her with new respect. "That's... impressive."

Nathasha's expression softened. "Thanks. I worked hard to make sure I wasn't just living under his shadow. You know how that feels?"

Nancy hesitated, then nodded faintly. "I think I do."

Nathasha's curiosity flared. "You don't talk much about your past."

Nancy looked away quickly, pretending to stack papers. "There's not much to talk about."

"That's not true," Nathasha said gently. "You get this far in life, in a city like this, working for a man like Cole... there's always a story."

Nancy's lips pressed into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Maybe one day."

Nathasha nodded, sensing the wall but respecting it - at least for now.

Later That Evening | Cole's Private Office

Nathasha closed the door behind her and walked straight to her brother, arms folded.

"What?" Cole asked without looking up.

"You were right to give her space," Nathasha said, settling into the chair across from him. "She's guarded. Not because she's cold, but because she's been through something."

That got Cole's attention.

He looked up. "She told you?"

"No," Nathasha admitted. "But I asked. And she shut down like a vault. Changed the subject. Smiled like she was fine."

Cole leaned back, processing that. "So you think someone hurt her?"

"I think someone left a scar deep enough she doesn't trust easily," Nathasha said. "Which makes your little kiss - or whatever happened between you two - a very big deal to her, even if she's pretending otherwise."

Cole's gaze darkened, conflicted.

"Don't push her," Nathasha added softly. "But don't walk away either."

The dim lighting in Cole's office cast long shadows against the high windows as the city glowed in the background. The ticking of the antique clock on the far wall echoed in the silence between them.

Nancy sat at the edge of the conference table, laptop open, fingers poised over the keyboard.

Cole stood behind his desk, sleeves rolled to his elbows, eyes scanning the printout she'd handed him moments ago.

They hadn't said much since she stepped in with the excuse of needing to finalize his upcoming week's calendar.

She hadn't needed to do it in person.

He knew it.

She knew it.

But here they were.

"Board meeting on Wednesday," she said finally, tapping a line on her screen. "Then site inspection Thursday afternoon. I moved your dinner with the commissioner to Friday - his secretary said he's flying in late."

Cole nodded, his eyes not leaving her. "And the gala next weekend?"

"Confirmed. Black tie. You'll need to approve your RSVP list before noon tomorrow."

Their eyes met for a flicker of a second - just enough to make her heartbeat stutter.

"I don't know how you keep all this in your head," he murmured, voice low.

Nancy looked down. "It's my job."

"You do more than your job," he said, softer this time.

She didn't reply.

He took a few slow steps around the desk and sat across from her, his eyes studying her face - the quiet strength in it, the way she refused to look directly at him.

"You've been avoiding me."

Nancy's fingers stilled on the keys.

"I've been busy," she answered, too quickly.

"Busy avoiding me."

She finally met his eyes, and for a moment, neither of them breathed.

"I didn't think it was wise to... blur lines again," she said, voice barely above a whisper.

"You think I'm trying to blur lines?" he asked, leaning forward, elbows on his knees.

Her throat tightened. "I think if I let myself look at you for too long, I'll forget I work for you."

Cole's jaw flexed, something unspoken passing over his expression.

He stood, slow and deliberate, and walked to the window, hands in his pockets.

"I told myself I'd leave you alone," he said, still facing away. "That if you weren't interested, I'd stop pushing."

She didn't speak.

"But you sitting here right now - in my office, after hours - knowing we could've handled this over email... tells me I'm not the only one struggling to stay away."

Nancy's chest tightened. Her pulse was thunder.

He turned to face her. "Tell me I'm wrong."

"I'm not here for... this," she said, standing too, voice shaking. "I just wanted to finish the schedule."

"Then finish it," he said, stepping closer, his voice calm but intense. "And look me in the eyes when you do."

She didn't move.

His presence filled the space between them like heat.

"Why are you doing this?" she whispered.

"Because I can't get you out of my damn head," he said roughly. "And every time you pretend like what happened between us was nothing, it drives me insane."

Nancy stepped back, her back brushing the edge of his desk. He didn't touch her - but his nearness made her ache.

"I can't afford to fall for you," she said, eyes glistening. "Not again. Not like this."

His brows knit. "Again?"

She froze - realizing she had let too much slip.

"Nancy..."

"Forget it," she whispered, brushing past him.

But before she could reach the door, he caught her wrist - not forcefully, just enough to make her stop.

"Nancy."

She turned slowly, her eyes locked with his.

The tension crackled in the silence, sharp and electric.

"I'm not asking you to fall for me," he said, voice low. "I'm asking you to stop lying about the fact that you already have."

A heartbeat.

Then two.

"I should go," she said again, but softer now. Sadder.

He let go.

She didn't look back as she left - but Cole watched her go, his jaw set, a war raging in his chest.

Perfect. Here's the next chapter of Wanna Be Yours, focusing on:

Three Days Later

The office atmosphere had shifted again.

Nancy noticed it immediately.

Cole was there - present in meetings, handling tasks, giving instructions - but something about him felt... distant. Not cold. Not angry. Just quieter.

Detached.

He didn't look at her for too long. Didn't speak unless necessary. There were no unexpected run-ins, no casual small talk, and definitely no more late-night schedule meetings.

He had given her the space she asked for.

And somehow, it hurt more than she expected.

That Night | Nancy's Apartment

Rain tapped softly against the windowpane of Nancy's modest apartment. The lights were low. A half-eaten dinner sat on the coffee table, untouched, forgotten.

She sat on the couch, wrapped in her old grey hoodie, laptop closed, phone ignored.

All she could think about... was him.

His voice.

The way he looked at her like he saw more than she was ready to show.

The way his fingers had brushed her skin, even for a second, and left sparks she couldn't extinguish.

She hugged her knees to her chest and leaned her head against the couch.

"This can't happen," she whispered to the silence.

Her heart was louder than her voice.

You've done this before.

You let someone in once - and what did it cost you?

Your peace. Your trust. Your sense of self.

She shut her eyes, and for a moment, she remembered her ex - the empty promises, the gaslighting, the way he'd made her feel like she was too much and not enough all at once.

And then she remembered Cole's voice again.

"I'm not asking you to fall for me. I'm asking you to stop lying about the fact that you already have."

Nancy exhaled shakily, pressing her fingers to her temple.

"No," she told herself. "You're not doing this again. Not for any man - not even him."

And still... the ache didn't go away.

Meanwhile | Cole's Penthouse

The city skyline was quiet, glowing in the haze of the rain as Cole stood near his floor-to-ceiling window, glass of whiskey in hand.

He hadn't checked his phone once today.

No unnecessary messages. No schedule reminders from Nancy. No texts from Nathasha bothering him about his mood.

Just silence.

But his mind wasn't silent.

He turned, pacing slowly across the living room, brows furrowed. He didn't recognize himself lately - this version of him who kept glancing at the office door whenever she walked by, who memorized the pattern of her steps, who wanted to protect her from people like Damon and himself.

Cole sank onto the edge of the couch, ran his fingers through his hair, and stared at the untouched whiskey.

"When the hell did this happen?" he muttered.

It wasn't just attraction. He'd had that before - beautiful women, flings, women who wanted him for his power or his name.

But Nancy? She was different.

She never tried to impress him. Never played into his ego. She didn't want his wealth or his name.

She just wanted to work... and be left alone.

And that had fascinated him.

More than fascinated him - it had consumed him.

He had fallen for her.

Hard.

And now, she was slipping through his fingers.

Cole stood up and walked to his desk, pulling open a drawer. Inside was the printed schedule she'd left him during their last meeting - the one where she almost cried but held it in like a soldier trained not to bleed.

He ran his fingers along her handwriting.

There was so much she wasn't telling him.

So much pain she carried like armor.

And for once, he wasn't sure what the right move was - to respect her silence, or to break it.

Back at Nancy's Apartment

Nancy got up from the couch and moved to her small desk, pulling open a drawer. Inside was a faded envelope - the one she swore she'd never open again.

A breakup letter. Her last.

She didn't open it.

She just stared at it, fingers trembling.

"You don't get to fall for a man like Cole," she whispered. "He'll ruin you... even if he doesn't mean to."

And yet... she knew she already had.