Chapter 5 Gossip and Glares

Ari adjusted the strap of her bag as the elevator doors slid open. The Monday buzz had already started. Heels clicked, phones rang, and keyboards tapped like rain. She stepped in, hoping to reach the 17th floor without unnecessary interaction.

But luck wasn't on her side.

Sebastian Cole stepped in right behind her.

Tall. Crisp navy suit. A scent that clung to memory.

The elevator doors closed.

"Morning," he said, voice low, warm.

"Seb," she nodded. Polite. Cool. Professional.

His eyes lingered. A flicker of something passed between them, the same unspoken thing that had simmered since the Christmas party. She'd ignored it then. She couldn't afford distractions.

"Nice dress," he added.

She didn't look at him. "It's a Monday dress. Nothing special."

"Still. Looks good on you."

The air tightened. The floor numbers crawled up. The lights above blinked.

"How was your weekend?" he asked.

"Quiet. I like quiet."

He smiled. She hated that she noticed.

The elevator dinged. She stepped out first, heels steady despite her pulse. As she walked toward her office, whispers followed. Quick glances. Half-smiles.

She frowned.

By mid-morning, the walls had ears. Ari could feel it-eyes on her back, murmurs she couldn't quite catch.

Jenna from HR offered a sugary smile. "Hey, Ari. Busy morning?"

"Not busier than usual."

Jenna leaned in. "Someone said they saw you and Seb getting cozy in the elevator."

Ari raised an eyebrow. "It was two minutes. That's hardly cozy."

"Still. People talk."

"Let them."

But her tone lacked conviction.

She turned back to her screen. Her inbox was chaos, but her focus flickered. What were they saying? That she slept her way up? That Seb was playing favorites?

She gritted her teeth. No. She earned her spot. Every late night. Every overlooked idea.

And yet, the office buzz grew louder.

Seb walked into the team meeting ten minutes late. No apology. Just his usual effortless command.

Ari kept her face blank, but her pulse spiked when he sat directly across from her.

He glanced at her once. Then again.

Her phone buzzed beneath the table.

Seb: You okay?

She ignored it.

"Ari," he said aloud, "can you walk us through the Fitz report?"

Her voice stayed calm. "Sure. As of last quarter, client retention rose by six percent, primarily due to our new onboarding strategy."

He nodded. "Impressive."

More whispers. Someone snorted quietly. She didn't turn to see who.

"Let's catch up after," he added.

She didn't answer. But her stomach dropped.

She found him by the glass wall near the break room.

"We need to talk."

He stepped closer. "I'm all ears."

"People are talking. About us."

"Let them talk."

"Easy for you to say. You're the boss. I'm the one being judged."

He frowned. "No one should be judging you."

"But they are."

He looked away for a second. "Do you regret that night?"

A pause. A breath.

"I regret what it's doing to my career."

His jaw tightened. "So that's a yes."

She turned before she could say more.

Behind her, his voice was low. "I don't regret any of it."

By Tuesday, the rumor had mutated.

Now it wasn't just that they had history. Now people said she was angling for a promotion.

Karen from Accounting muttered as Ari walked by. Something about "sleeping her way to the top."

Ari froze. Her spine straightened. Her eyes met Karen's.

"Say it louder."

Karen blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You said something. Say it to my face."

Karen looked away.

Coward.

Ari kept walking, but her heart thundered.

That night, Seb texted.

Dinner? Neutral ground. No pressure. Just talk.

She stared at her phone. Her thumb hovered.

She typed: Fine. One hour. No drama.

He replied instantly: Deal.

The place was dimly lit. Quiet. Safe. No office eyes.

"Thanks for coming," Seb said, pulling out her chair.

"Don't thank me yet."

They ordered. Small talk faltered.

"I miss us," he said softly.

"There was never an 'us,' Seb. Just... moments."

"They mattered."

She looked down. Her hand brushed his. She didn't pull away.

The tension hummed. Familiar. Dangerous.

Then his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and cursed.

"What is it?"

He looked at her. Seriously. "Someone sent HR an anonymous complaint. About you."

Wednesday brought the storm.

HR called her in. Cold voices. Careful questions.

"Are you and Mr. Cole in a personal relationship?"

"No," she said. "We're coworkers."

"Any after-hours meetings? Unscheduled encounters?"

Her fingers clenched in her lap. "Nothing unprofessional."

They nodded. Wrote something down.

She walked out shaky. Humiliated.

Seb waited by her office.

"They talked to me, too. Said it's protocol."

"Right."

"We're being watched, Ari."

She swallowed. "Then we better not give them a reason."

But she didn't mean it. Not entirely.

She avoided him all Thursday. Meetings, emails, everything.

But by evening, he was waiting by the elevators.

"You're ghosting me now?"

"I'm protecting myself."

"From me?"

"From the mess. From the whispers. From how you make me feel."

His voice dropped. "And how do I make you feel?"

She didn't answer.

The elevator opened. She stepped in.

He didn't follow.

Friday night. Late. Office empty.

She was working late. Trying to focus. Trying to breathe.

He showed up. No warning.

"What are you doing here?"

"Finishing what we started."

She stood. Eyes wide.

"Seb-"

He crossed the room. Fast.

His mouth met hers before she could think.

Heat exploded between them. Weeks of tension snapping.

She pulled back, breathless. "This is a mistake."

"Then stop me."

She didn't.

Outside the office door, someone stood in the shadows.

Watching.

Waiting.