His Assistant, His Secret

PTE

o years, I have worked at Elvis Company a

charm. He simply exists in them-tall, composed, impeccably dressed-and somehow that's enough. His suits are always tailored just right,

his life

ls matter and which ones can wait. I attend most meetings with him, sitting slightly to the side, taking notes, wat

ross is

t never intrusive. A woman with effortless elegance, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. A little girl beside her, smi

orking this closely with hi

le relax. Lately, that version of him feels distant. He's quieter now. Withdrawn. As if somethin

my place

, Lena, wou

said, sprawled dramatically across our

k up from my lapt

d. "Relax. Married m

ghs first in a crisis and figures out the plan later. Where I hes

of college under circumstance

e for an exam, when I collided with another

ediately, crouching to

t of my top. "Watch

," I replied, try

st be s

spond, someone st

firm voice said. "Th

ssed, completely unbothered. The other girl mutt

at me. "You

't even know

we kept running into each other-shared classes, overlapping schedules, late-night study sessions. Talking beca

arted like any

it d

es before the office filled up. I'd barely

es to my offic

knocked once, a

mornin

orning,

smi

on his face, and for a brief moment, it felt like something had shifted-som

later, my ph

ooks Investme

o his office. This time, I didn't knoc

fr

was stand

in the room was unmistakable. The air felt tight, charged, like I had

didn't realize you had someone

lowly, her expression

knock?" s

aid immediately. "

come in. You can go. We'll fi

disbelief flashin

e asked. Then her gaze returned to me

st tig

my voice. I did

I said evenly, "I'm not

uments on the de

esk, my thou

rossed

is affec

I apo

an email notification

led until Monday. You

even mid

uter, gathered my t

nd. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying t

I tex

in my

log

ar the fron

ir

cut through t

lled back. "Why are

her hips. "Because I've been knockin

hy are you home so early?

le," I said. "I go

ent. "Then you've been los

e me. "Want t

Then I told h

nished, s

g serious

ult her. You didn't raise your voice. You stated

led me a

." Her voice softened. "You did nothin

in my ches

ly. "You're spir

to the living roo

tension had dr

, sleep ca

y. So did Sunday. No e

y doorframe. "Tomorrow, act normal. Do

odd

a hug. "You're okay