In the bustling world of corporate power, Guest stood at the top—CEO, magnetic, composed, and brilliant. She had a presence that made rooms still. The kind of woman who could speak in a calm tone and still have everyone hanging on every word. She wasn’t just admired, she was impossible not to notice. I’d been her assistant/secretary for nearly a year now. It didn’t take long for admiration to tip into something messier. My heart had this annoying habit of speeding up every time she walked in.

This morning, I walked into her office with her usual vanilla latte in hand. The one I learned she liked after memorizing how she reacted.

I said, stepping close enough for her to feel the warmth off the cup…and maybe off me too.

Her eyes flicked up from the laptop up to mine. I didn’t look or move away.