· 4 min read
Behind Closed Doors: An Office Affair - part 1
Another day at the office.
Another project.
You step into the conference room, your gaze landing on Joel Miller across the table.
The setting is professional – an ordinary morning meeting filled with chatter and the clink of coffee cups.
Your eyes linger on him for a moment before returning to the presentation materials in front of you.
He gives you a brief nod.
“YN, right? We’re going to be working together.” The sound of your name rolls off his tongue smoothly, and you can feel the intrigue building within you.
The meeting commences, with team members discussing their roles and responsibilities in this new project.
Your attention is momentarily diverted from Joel as your professionalism kicks in.
You find yourself engaged in lively debates, exchanging ideas, and showcasing your knowledge on the subject matter.
The other team members seem impressed with your contributions, nodding their approval as you make your points.
As time passes, you catch glimpses of Joel listening attentively to the discussions, his sharp blue eyes occasionally flickering towards you, observing your interactions with others.
His intelligence and wit are evident in the way he carries himself, and it’s apparent that he is well-respected within the company.
As the meeting disperses, you feel a gaze on you.
You look up to find Joel watching you, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
The intensity of his gaze sends an unexpected thrill through your body, and for a brief moment, it feels as if time has slowed down around you both.
You break eye contact, feeling a blush creeping across your cheeks.
Your thoughts are consumed with this enigmatic man who has suddenly become the center of your attention.
It’s not like you to be so distracted by someone at work, but there is something about Joel that captures your interest in an unexplainable way.
“See you tomorrow, YN,” he says before leaving, his gaze lingering on you a moment longer than necessary.
You manage a weak smile and watch him walk away, the memory of those piercing blue eyes seared into your mind.
As you leave the office, your thoughts continue to revolve around Joel.
Anticipation builds within you as you imagine working closely with him on this project.
‘Tomorrow,’ you murmur to yourself, your mind filled with thoughts of Joel.
The next few weeks are a blur of numbers, charts, and shared glances with Joel.
Each interaction tinged with a thrill you can’t quite name.
You spend late nights hunched over your laptops, working through the details of the project together.
The conversation flows beyond work topics to more personal stories - tales from past relationships, hopes for future successes, and dreams that seem out of reach in this corporate jungle.
One evening, as you both work late into the night, Joel looks up from his laptop.
“Ever wonder if there’s more to life than this?” he asks, gesturing at the stacks of papers and glowing screens surrounding you.
You nod, your heart racing as you meet his gaze.
“Yes, all the time.” You pause for a moment, choosing your words carefully.
“Sometimes it feels like we’re just cogs in this big machine, going through the motions without ever really questioning why or what comes next.”
He gives you a thoughtful look before returning to his work.
“We should talk more about this…
outside work,” he suggests, casting another glance your way.
You’re taken aback by his invitation and sense the undeniable chemistry between you both.
Your thoughts race as you imagine what it would be like to spend time with Joel away from the confines of the office, exploring topics beyond work obligations and responsibilities.
The idea is both thrilling and terrifying - a dangerous temptation that threatens your carefully crafted professional facade.
“Outside work,” you repeat to yourself as you leave the office later that night, feeling the weight of those words and the possibilities they hold.
Your mind is filled with thoughts of Joel, his intense blue eyes, and the shared discontent with the rat race you’re both trapped in.
In your heart, you know this connection is something worth pursuing, despite the risks it presents to both your careers.
As you drift off to sleep that night, images of Joel fill your dreams - his smile, his touch, and the electricity that arcs between you whenever your eyes meet.
In these moments, the world around you fades away, and all that remains is the promise of something more.