Sasha Reynolds had never been the type to fall for her boss. She was practical, focused, and way too busy climbing the corporate ladder to indulge in such clichés. Yet, every time she walked into Ryan Cole’s office, her heart skipped a beat.
Ryan wasn’t just any boss. He was tall, with sandy brown hair that always looked perfectly tousled, and a smile that could make anyone’s day better. His voice—deep, smooth—had a way of calming the most stressful situations. And the way he handled business with confidence and grace? It made Sasha weak in the knees.
But she was determined to keep her feelings locked away, especially since Ryan had never given her any indication he thought of her as anything more than a great employee. So, Sasha kept it professional, always hiding her crush behind sharp presentations and quick problem-solving.
Today, however, felt different.
Sasha had spent the better part of the afternoon in Ryan’s office, going over the details for a big client pitch. Ryan sat across from her, his usual charm dialed down to serious CEO mode as they worked through strategy. But every once in a while, she caught him glancing at her, his gaze lingering a little too long.
She tried to ignore the flutter in her stomach, focusing on the slides in front of her. “So, I’ll take point on the first half of the presentation, and you can follow up with—”
“Sasha,” Ryan interrupted, leaning back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “Can I ask you something?”
Her heart quickened. “Of course.”
“Have you ever thought about... doing something outside of work? With me, I mean?” His words were casual, but the look in his eyes wasn’t.
Sasha blinked, trying to process what he was asking. Was he… suggesting what she thought he was?
“I—I’m not sure what you mean,” she stammered, her pulse racing.
Ryan smiled softly, the kind of smile that made it impossible to think straight. “I mean, I’ve been wanting to ask you out for a while now. But I didn’t want to complicate things at work.”
Sasha’s breath caught in her throat. For months, she had convinced herself that her crush was one-sided, a secret she would never dare reveal. But here he was, standing on the very line she thought she’d only imagined.
“Really?” she finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ryan leaned forward, his gaze never leaving hers. “Really. I know it’s complicated, but I like you, Sasha. More than just as my employee.”
Her heart was pounding so loud, she was sure he could hear it. “I… I like you too,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing with the weight of the confession.
A grin spread across Ryan’s face, and the tension in the room melted into something warmer, softer. “Then how about we make this less complicated?” he suggested. “Dinner, tonight?”
Sasha smiled, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling inside her. “I’d like that.”
As she gathered her things to leave his office, their eyes met one more time, and for the first time, Sasha didn’t feel the need to hide her feelings. Maybe, just maybe, her secret crush didn’t need to stay a secret any longer.
© 2024 Abrar Nayeem. All rights reserved.
Comments
Post a Comment