As soon as Elliot left the room, my shoulders relaxed with relief. But the moment I turned back to the table, Mia was already grinning at me like a cat that just found a bowl of cream.
"Oh. My. God," she whispered dramatically, stepping closer. "Sophie, did you just...did you just give Mr. Hayes your cake? Like, personally? With your own two hands?"
I groaned, hiding my face behind my hands. "Mia, please...."
"Oh no, no, no." She grabbed my wrist, pulling my hands down. "You don't get to act all shy after doing something so bold! You were blushing like crazy, and did you see the way he looked at you? Girl, you're done for."
I shook my head furiously. "I wasn't blushing!"
Mia raised an eyebrow. "Sophie, your face was redder than the cherries on that cake."
I let out a long sigh, my heart still pounding. "It was just a birthday gesture! I mean, wouldn't it be rude if I didn't offer him a slice when he was right there?"
Mia folded her arms, smirking. "Right. And that's why you looked like you were about to pass out when he took it."
I groaned again, covering my face, while the other staff members chuckled.
Mia patted my shoulder. "Relax, you're not the first one to get flustered around him. Mr Hayes just has that effect on people."
I peeked at her between my fingers. "You mean… he always makes people nervous?"
She shook her head. "No, actually. That's the weird thing about him. He's strict when he needs to be, but he's never unreasonable. He doesn't yell, he just expects you to do your job well. And if you do, he's really chill."
I lowered my hands, considering her words.
Mia smiled. "He makes us feel comfortable, you know? Even though he's the CEO, it never feels like he's some untouchable figure. But at the same time…" She leaned in, whispering, "He's so mysterious. No one really knows much about his personal life. Which, honestly, just makes him even more attractive."
I swallowed, my mind replaying the way he'd smirked at me just minutes ago. The warmth in his gaze when he thanked me.
Was I really that obvious?
Mia poked my side. "You totally have a crush on him."
I gasped. "Mia!"
She just laughed. "Don't worry, Soph. If you do, you're definitely not alone."
I wasn't sure how to respond to that, so I just focused on cutting the rest of the cake, pretending my heart wasn't still racing.
Elliot....
It was time to do an orientation for my new interns. I usually did to give them proper knowledge of the company because i didn't like poor performances.
I stood at the front of the conference room, looking at the group of interns seated before me. Some looked nervous, others excited. And then there were a few who weren't even paying attention, too busy trying to make an impression.
I leaned slightly against the table, my voice firm. "At Sterling Enterprises, we believe in hard work and results. This internship is your chance to prove yourselves. Your performance will decide if you stay here or not."
As I spoke, my eyes moved over the room, and landed on her.
Sophie...
She sat quietly, hands resting on her lap, listening so intently. Unlike the others, who were either trying too hard to impress me or barely pretending to care, she was just… there. Innocent. Genuine. And for some reason, that did something to me.
I noticed the way some of the other women in the room looked at me, flirty smiles, teasing glances. I was used to it. It never meant anything. But Sophie wasn't even trying, and yet, she was the one distracting me the most.
I cleared my throat, forcing myself to focus. "Work hard, show dedication, and make the most of this opportunity."
But then Sophie tilted her head slightly, like she wanted to ask something. Her lips parted just a little, and for a second, I imagined what it would feel like beneath mine…
To kiss her.
Damn it...
I looked away quickly. This was going to be a long day.
Sophie...
I sat there, trying my best to look professional, but it was impossible not to notice him standing there in front of the room. Elliot. His broad shoulders, the way his suit fit perfectly, and the strong jawline I couldn't stop staring at.
I could feel my cheeks getting warm, and I quickly looked down at my hands in my lap, trying to focus. But all I could think about was how his voice made me shiver. It wasn't just his voice, though, everything about him pulled me in.
I tried to push the thoughts away, but it was like they were on a loop in my mind. What would it be like to be close to him? To feel the heat of his body next to mine? The idea was enough to make my heart race and my face burn.
I felt like I was the only one in the room who wasn't focused on what he was saying. The others were listening, nodding, but my mind… it was all over the place.
Then, Elliot stopped talking, and for a moment, everything went still. My thoughts rushed back to me. I had to ask him something. A question.
I took a deep breath, trying to push down the nerves that made my voice tremble. I raised my hand slightly, and when his eyes landed on me, I almost froze.
"Um… Sir?" I asked quietly, my voice not sounding nearly as confident as I wanted it to. "Could you explain what kind of projects we'll be working on?"
He didn't answer right away, his gaze stayed on me a moment longer than it probably should have. My heart skipped. I was sure he noticed how nervous I was.
Elliot's eyes lingered on me for a moment, and I could feel the heat of his gaze like it was physically touching me. My heart pounded in my chest, and I forced myself to keep eye contact, trying to stay calm, but my palms were sweating. I could feel the entire room watching, but all I could focus on was him.
He finally nodded, his lips curling into a small, almost amused smile. "You'll be assigned to projects based on your department. We'll assess your performance and see where your strengths lie. But I'll personally make sure that you're given the opportunity to prove yourself."
His voice was steady, confident, and yet somehow it still sent a shiver through me. I couldn't believe how badly I was reacting to him, especially after everything I had promised myself.
Before I could gather my thoughts to say something else, he shifted his attention away, continuing to address the other interns. I felt both relieved and disappointed at the same time. He hadn't said much, but the fact that he had looked at me...really looked at me...made me feel things I wasn't ready to deal with.
After the meeting, I went back to my desk. My head was still spinning from everything that happened. I couldn't stop thinking about Elliot. The way he looked at me, his voice, the way he stood and commanded the room. It felt like something was different today, and I couldn't shake it.
I tried to focus on work, but my mind kept wandering back to him. Every time I thought about how he smiled or how his eyes locked with mine, my heart skipped a beat.
It felt like time was moving so slowly. I glanced at the clock, wishing for the day to be over. But then, I closed my eyes for a moment, and everything changed....
.
.
I found myself in a dark, quiet room. It was warm, and I could hear soft music playing. Elliot was standing in front of me, and his eyes were focused on me. I could feel his hands on my waist, pulling me closer. His touch made my heart race.
He was so close to me, his lips almost touching mine. I wanted him. I couldn't explain it, but I needed to feel him close.
His hand brushed my skin, sending heat all through my body. I felt like I was melting. I couldn't look away, and neither could he.
Then, without a word, he kissed me, softly, but with so much intensity. It felt so real, so perfect.
I woke up quickly, my heart pounding. I realized it was just a dream, but it felt so real. I could still feel the warmth on my skin from his touch.
I shook my head, trying to forget the dream, but it was hard. The feeling still lingered, and I couldn't get rid of it.