LAAVANYA HAD BEEN successful at avoiding Ryker for the next two weeks. While she still had to see him everyday and talk to him, she didn't indulge in any "friendly" behaviour. She treated him like a boss. She was distant and did what he asked her to do. He didn't seem to have a problem with it either. And since he had been leaving for home during the afternoon for the last two days, it was easier to breathe. It was tough not to look straight and find him working in his cabin. And harder for her to not keep looking.

But despite that, she was working her ass off in creating her reputation here. Mr. Edison was right, her style was different from what the rest did and while some of them still treated her like an outsider, Samuel and Jennifer had been the loveliest of them all. She had even gone out for drinks with them on the third day at Piper and Lawson in celebration of her first submission. She had submitted one more project of hers the other day but she hadn't received any feedback from Ryker.

As if on cue, she received an email pertaining to her question about the designs.

To: laavanyashaw202@ email.com

From: rykermorris88@ email.com

Subject: Re: Feedback of my recent projects

Dear Ms. Shaw,

Yes, I have received your submissions. However, I hadn't had the time to go through them yet. I'll get back to you once I have.

Regards,

Ryker Morris.

She glanced towards his cabin–only to find it empty. It seemed like Ryker had taken a leave today–but he still had answered her email. She was starting to grow concerned about him but she kept those feelings to herself. He was her boss, she kept repeating to herself. When she told Julie about the situation, her best friend started laughing–almost thinking that she was joking. Even Julia, his own cousin, found it surprising that he pursued what he enjoyed doing when he was a kid.

It still stunned Laavanya how close knit the Morris' were but not Ryker. He had disappeared completely from their lives and no one knew why. And if they did, no one was willing to talk.

"I have a date today," Samuel said, snapping her back to the present. He leaned on the wall that separated their desks. "What restaurant do you recommend?"

"With the same girl?" She asked as she continued to work on her illustrations.

"No, this time a different guy. I hooked up with him last night. Thought he was cool."

"You hook up before going on a date?" Laavanya arched her eyebrow in both curiosity and judgement.

"Oh, you have no idea how wild his dates are." Jennifer shook her head as she made her way towards them. She slid her purse over her slender shoulders and looked at them. "He has been on twice more dates than I have in my entire life. But hold up..." She turned back to Samuel. "Weren't you on a date with a girl yesterday?"

"Yeah." He brushed his hand through his long blond hair and scratched the back of his neck. "She didn't seem like she was into it. All she talked about was her ex and how he dumped her."

"Oof, red flag," Laavanya commented, her eyes focused on her screen.

"Why haven't you packed up yet?" Jennifer asked.

"Ah, I have these final touches to add. Might take a while."

"Alright then..." Samuel turned to Jennifer as they took as their cue to leave–continuing his conversation on places he could take his date out to eat. Laavanya continued to work on her project. She had the details of the project and in the morning pitch meeting with Ryker and the author, they had discussed what was expected but she still wasn't sure if it would attract the readers or reflect the story the author had written. Apart from designing the cover the author had anticipated—she was coming up with a couple more samples that she hoped the author would choose. To create a good impression and a respectable place for her talents in this firm, she was ready to put in the extra work. However long it takes.

The office had started to quieten down as most of the employees left. The janitor was cleaning the tiles and in the far end, she could see the light of Mr. Edison's cabin was on so she assumed they must be the only people here. It had been just nine at night. She wanted to finish her samples before she leaves for home. She leaned towards her screen further to take a closer look at her own illustrations when a voice boomed from above, startling her entirely.

"Why are you still working?" She gazed up to find Ryker towering over the compartment. His hair was dishevelled and his tie was knotted incorrectly. And although he looked handsome, he seemed a lot paler and tired.

"Needed some work to get done. What are you doing here? It's past nine."

"I have to answer some emails and approve the projects. Do you want to order food and discuss yours?"

"Sure. What should I order?"

"Anything you like." Saying this, he walked inside his cabin—almost like he was forcing himself to work.

An hour later, their takeout food had been finished and her sample had been approved. She dabbed the tissue on her lips and looked at Ryker—who was going through his computer, probably moving onto the next task. Carefully, she asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

"You don't look okay. Why did you come here? Couldn't you do this at your place or just...do it tomorrow?"

"No."

She was close to dropping the conversation when she saw a photo frame on his desk. She peeped in to take a look and found a picture of Ryker holding a little girl in his arms. The baby was dressed in a faint pink dress, her baby blue eyes facing the camera and Ryker's eyes on her—both of them having a smile on their face. "Who is that?" She asked.

"My goddaughter." He took a deep breath and finally pierced his gaze through hers. "It's getting late, Ms. Shaw. You should leave." It wasn't a soft request, but a harsh order. He had stiffened and looked past her towards the door.

"Right, sir." The last part came out as an insult more than as an address of respect. She clutched the sides on her chair and stood up with a huff. "I'll leave you alone. My bad." She took her folder and spun on her heels to leave. She took the handle of the door to twist it open when a warm hand grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

"Wait, no. Laav, I–" Within seconds he was in front of her, his back facing the door. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to be rude. I just...things have not been quite good, okay? And you know I am a private person." The touch of his hand left Laavanya and she already felt the missing warmth.

"No, it's okay. I am the one to apologise. I shouldn't have intruded. I forget that you're my boss. Sometimes, you're just...Ryker," she murmured–jolts of electricity sparkling down her spine. She knew damn well that they were standing closer than any boss and his employee should.

"It's hard for me too," He admitted. He seemed surprised too as he said it.

"Do they know we know each other?"

"Yes but as long as I don't show favouritism, we're good."

"We're good," she repeated. Her eyes dropped down to the floor before meeting his eyes again. She examined his face. He wasn't just tired. He looked exhausted. "You haven't been sleeping well, have you?"

He shook his head. "No."

"You are going home then."

"No, I am not."

"Yes, you are. I am not going to let you work anymore."

"I am the boss here," he said.

She chuckled smugly. "Not when it's just us." She took his hand in hers and slid her purse over her shoulders and almost dragged him downstairs. He had already let go of his driver and since she didn't know how to drive, she called a cab with two drop locations.

"I can't go home, Laav," He said as they sat in the cab. He shrugged his shoulders and relaxed. "My roommate has someone over."

"You live with a roommate?" She asked as she slid inside. Her eyes momentarily caught Ryker watching her intently but she ignored the fluttering of her heart and forced herself to unreasonably check her phone instead. She had a text from Cameron that she chose to ignore.

"Temporary roommate. My friend needed a place to stay."

"Fine, then you're coming to my apartment," she blurted and most immediately regretted saying it. But it was said now, and she wasn't the kind to take back what she said. Besides, Ryker did look awful—awfully perfect too. But she kept the last bit to herself.

She turned to him and saw him resting his head back, his eyes closed. His lips parted. "Why do you care so much?"

"Because you look horrible."

"Laav—" He opened his eyes and turned his head to her lazily. The cab was dark behind but the headlight of another car flashed on his exhausted face and for a moment—only for a millisecond, she saw something she couldn't quite decipher. "Why?"

"Because you're my...friend." She said the last word so softly, almost like a whisper.

He snickered and closed his eyes again. Something played on his lips again, but it wasn't a smile or a smug. "We are not friends or co-workers. We both know that."

"What are we then?"

"You can call it what you want."

TITLE DROP!!!!