Page 4 of Big Built Boss

She steps to my side, standing close enough that I catch a whiff of her perfume—subtle and floral, nothing overwhelming, but it lingers in the air between us. I focus on the computer, showing her where the passwords are stored. She makes a note to herself, probably already thinking about improving our setup.

By the time I’m walking her through the books—a simple Excel sheet—I can tell she’s got it. She’s sharp, and I already know she’s going to have ideas to streamline things.

“Josh just finished our reports for the last quarter,” I say, glancing over my shoulder at her. “So you’ll have plenty of time to get acclimated.”

She’s standing so close, and when I look up, our eyes meet again. This time, the air feels heavier, charged.

“Then what’d you hire me for?” she says, a teasing lilt in her voice, though there’s something almost breathless about it.

I smirk, leaning back in the chair a little. “We needed a pretty face around here.”

She holds my gaze, not flinching, her expression steady even as her cheeks flush a little deeper. “You really think I’m qualified for that?”

My eyes drift over her—her posture, the way her slacks fit just right, her blouse hinting at her curves without being obvious. She’s beautiful, and the confidence in her stance makes her more so.

“I believe you’re more than qualified,” I say, my voice lower than I intend.

She shudders, just slightly, and I know she’s trying to hide it. It sends a thrill through me, one I shouldn’t feel. I look away, breaking the moment. “I knew I was going to hire you the minute I saw you.”

The words hang in the air, and for a second, it feels like we’re teetering on the edge of something. But I know better. This isn’t a line I can cross.

I push back from the desk and stand. “Anyway, I’ll let you get comfortable with this for the rest of the day.”

She blinks, snapping out of whatever she was thinking, and nods. “Okay. Is there anything else I need to know before I dive in here?”

“Not really. If you find ways to make things better, go for it—just take notes so Josh and I can keep up.”

“Sounds good,” she says, settling into the chair as I walk to the door.

I glance back once, seeing her already absorbed in the screen. The tension from earlier lingers in my chest as I step out, closing the door behind me.

I need to be careful. Whatever just happened between us...I can’t let it happen again.

Chapter Two

Olivia

I sit at my desk, typing furiously as I merge data into more manageable spreadsheets. My fingers fly across the keyboard, the familiar rhythm grounding me. This is my zone, where everything makes sense—unlike my interactions with Alex these past few days.

Since our first charged moment in his office, every encounter with him has been thick with unspoken tension. His bright green eyes linger just a bit too long, his voice lowers whenever he speaks to me, and the way he looks at me when he thinks I’m not paying attention? It’s intoxicating and terrifying all at once.

Intoxicating because I think he feels it, too—this weird pull that drags me to him like a planet in orbit. I felt it at the interview. I feel it now, sitting here as I wish I could be outside this office, watching him work. But it’s terrifying in the same degree because it can’t happen. It shouldn’t happen. Alex is my boss. Crossing that line is messy, unprofessional, and asking for trouble.

I shake off the thought, refocusing on the spreadsheet in front of me. Numbers. Rows. Columns. These are safe. Concrete. They don’t make my heart race or leave me questioning my sanity.

After an hour, I lean back and stretch, my back cracking as I twist side to side. I glance at the time and realize I’ve been at it longer than I thought. Lunch break. I need one.

I grab my yoga mat from the corner of the office, roll it out in the gym’s quieter area, and settle into some stretches. Moving through a series of poses, I let my mind quiet, each breath sinking me deeper into focus.

“Hey, nice warrior pose!” a cheerful voice cuts through my solitude.

I glance over to see a bubbly brunette in workout leggings and a cropped hoodie. She looks like the poster child for a fitness ad—bright eyes, a confident smile, and an energy that’s infectious.

“Thanks,” I reply, adjusting my stance.

“I’m Erica,” she says, sitting on a nearby bench. “You’re new here, right? I’ve seen you around the past few days.”

“Olivia,” I offer with a nod. “I just started.”

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