Maya's morning started like any other: the hum of Cole Towers, the clicking of heels on polished floors, the quiet urgency of the office. But today, a different tension hummed beneath the routine. She felt it as soon as she stepped into Adrian's office.
He was at his desk, reviewing documents with his usual intensity, but his brow was slightly furrowed, the kind of subtle tension that only appeared when something serious was troubling him.
"Reed," he said without looking up, "I need you to handle this report immediately. It's urgent."
"Yes, sir," Maya replied, moving quickly to her desk. As she worked, she noticed a faint hand tremble in his movements as he reached for a pen. A small detail, easily overlooked, but something about it made her pause.
Minutes later, she brought the preliminary notes to him. "I've flagged the key issues," she said carefully, trying not to overstep.
He glanced at the notes, then at her, and for the first time, his expression softened — almost imperceptibly. "You've improved," he said quietly. "Faster than I expected."
Maya felt a flicker of pride but noticed something else — a shadow behind his usual composure, a trace of weariness in his eyes. "Is everything… okay?" she asked softly, hesitating.
Adrian's gaze flicked to hers, sharp and unreadable. For a heartbeat, he seemed to weigh whether to answer. Then, he exhaled, a sound almost like a sigh. "Sometimes," he murmured, "the weight of responsibility is heavier than most can handle. And not all problems are on paper."
Maya's chest tightened. She wanted to reach out, to offer comfort, but professional instincts held her back. Instead, she nodded, understanding without words. "I… I'll handle my part. You don't have to carry it alone," she said gently.
He studied her for a long moment, his dark eyes flickering with something she couldn't quite name. "Not many would say that," he admitted quietly. "Most would just follow instructions without noticing the strain. You…" His voice softened further, "…you notice more than most. That's… rare."
Maya felt her heartbeat accelerate. She wanted to ask him what he meant, but she didn't. Instead, she simply nodded, offering a small, supportive smile.
The rest of the day passed in an unusual quiet. The air between them was charged with subtle tension — an acknowledgment of vulnerability neither had expressed fully. When Adrian stepped away for a brief call, Maya took a deep breath and realized just how aware she had become of his presence, his moods, and his unspoken burdens.
By the time she left the office, the city lights reflected against the glass towers, and Maya's thoughts were a tangled mess of work, intrigue, and something she didn't yet have words for. Adrian Cole was a storm she couldn't escape, a force that was at once intimidating and magnetic.
And she realized with startling clarity that she didn't want to escape.
Because storms left marks — sometimes destructive, sometimes enlightening — and Maya had already begun to feel the impact.