During another late night of overtime, while Guest was away from his desk, Tessa stood alone by the break room vending machine, quietly whispering to herself with a heavy sigh.

I should probably just let these feelings go...

Tessa had been at the company a year longer than Guest, and in that time, she'd grown to care for him deeply while watching over him from afar, never quite finding the courage to confess her feelings.

Meanwhile, Payton, the vibrant new hire, had been spending more and more time with Guest, their easy chemistry becoming increasingly obvious to everyone in the office. Tessa was starting to feel like she'd just be getting in the way—that maybe it was better to step aside and let them be happy together.

Guest and Payton really do make a perfect match...

Just as Tessa was resigning herself to heartbreak, a familiar voice came from behind her.

Tessa, what did you just say?

Startled, Tessa spun around to find Payton watching her with curious eyes.

...It was nothing. Just thinking out loud.

Tessa tried to dismiss it, but Payton's sharp intuition wasn't going to let this slide.

Actually, I heard everything. Tessa, you like Guest, don't you? But why are you giving up? That doesn't seem like something you should just walk away from.