Heartprints in the Void

Just as Cade said, Krina spent the better part of the afternoon teaching me how to implement firewall rules. Because of this, I had to stay later to finish up all the work I fell behind on since the time I typically would've used was allocated to Krina. It's almost 6PM, and as I glance around the office, I realize that everyone except Cade and I have gone home.

*Great. This is perfect. Juuuuust perfect.*

Being alone with him, even if it's just in a professional setting, always seems to set me on edge. I try to focus on wrapping up my work, but my mind keeps drifting to the man in the office across from mine.

I can't help but steal a pair of glances at him through the glass walls, watching as he types away on his computer, concentrated, his eyebrows furrowed. He seems utterly unfazed by the fact that we're the only ones left, his demeanor as stoic and professional as ever.

*Must be nice to be able to act like nothing happened between us.*

Finishing up the last of my tasks, my eyes strained from staring at the computer screen for so long, I stretch my arms above my head, feeling the satisfying pop of my joints. I can't wait to get home, take a hot shower, and curl up on the couch with Bubbles.

In the next moment, I'm standing from my desk, straightening on my feet as I gather my things. It's as though he'd been waiting for me to get up because as I step away from my desk, throwing my backpack onto my shoulder, he quickly gathers his things and makes his way out of his office.

*You've gotta be kidding me...*

Avoiding his gaze, I head for the elevator, my heart beating faster with each step. As I wait for the elevator to arrive, I can't shake the feeling of Cade's presence behind me, his gaze burning into the back of my head.

I feel myself growing impatient by the second, my anxiety shooting through the roof. When the elevator finally dings, my heart skips a beat, and I step inside, quickly pressing the button for the garage level as though the doors will close fast enough.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as Cade steps into the elevator, my breath catching in my lungs as his tall frame fills the small space beside me. With his arms loose at his side, he wears an unreadable expression, looking straight ahead. The tension between us feels heavy, the air thick and suffocating.

I try to focus on the numbers ticking down on the display, but I can feel the heat of his body next to mine, smalling the faint scent of his cologne. It's overwhelming too overwhelming.

The elevator ride feels like it's never ending, the silence between us growing heavier with each passing second. I feel like I can hardly breathe, my heart pounding so loudly I'm sure he can hear it.

Finally, the elevator dings, and the doors slide open. I practically bolt out, my sneakers tapping against the concrete, determined to put as much distance between him and me. I make my way towards my car or at least, I *try* to, because I only make it a few steps before his voice stops me dead in my tracks.

"Elysian."

His tone is firm, authoritative, and it sends a string of shivers down the base of my spine. I freeze, my back still turned to him.

"The next time you try to make the office your playground to lay out our personal shit, I'll have you fired on the spot," he says, his words dripping with disdain.

For a moment, I'm stunned by the harshness of his threat, the coldness in his voice. I feel like I've been slapped, my mind reeling as I try to process his words. My eyebrows furrow as I turn to face him, my heart at my throat as I ask, my voice shakier than I'd like, "What are you talking about?"

He scoffs, taking a step towards me, the look in his eyes hardening, his authority unyielding. "Don't play dumb with me."

It's as though he's added gasoline to the flame I didn't know was burning inside me, my anger flaring. My hands ball into fists at my sides, and though I'm tempted to apologize, to just give in for the sake of *maybe* keeping the peace between us by cowering away the way I have been, I've had enough.

I'm tired of walking on eggshells around him. I'm tired of apologizing for something I don't even know I did. I'm tired of him using his authority and our history to bully me. I'm done. I'm over it.

I square my shoulders and meet his gaze head-on, my chin lifted. "I'll tell you what *this* sounds like to me: you're making assumptions about what I was referring to, which isn't grounds for you firing me. On the contrary, it's grounds for me to file a harassment suit against *you* and your father's company."

He raises an eyebrow, a mocking smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Harassment?" he muses, his tone dripping with condescension.

"Exactly. Harassment," I reiterate, my voice growing stronger with each word. "You've taken every opportunity to come at *me* with our *personal shit*. I didn't start any of this. *You* approached *me*, and I don't appreciate you threatening me because you're pissed off that now you have to work with me."

His eyes flash with anger, his jaw clenching as he takes another step towards me. "So this is what you wanted, huh? You came back into my life to do this."

I feel like I've been punched in the gut, his accusation knocking the wind out of me. I nearly stumble back a step, my eyes widening in disbelief, my jaw going slack, my lips ajar.

*How can he think so little of me after everything we've been through..?*

The pain of his words mixes with the anger simming beneath my skin, and I feel my anger rising to the surface, boiling over. "Oh, get over yourself, Cade. Not everything is about y-"

"I told you to watch yourself," he cuts me off, his voice menacingly low. "Quit now or "

"Or what?!" I snap, shouting, my voice echoing through the empty garage. "What, Cade? What are you gonna do?! Fire me? Go right the fuck ahead! If you could've done that without raising any red flags and making yourself look like shit, you would've done it already!"

*That's right. I know. No manager in the world looks good firing or losing their staff after taking on the job less than a month ago.*

I spin on my heel, ready to storm off, but his hand clamps down on my arm, yanking me back towards him. "Don't you dare walk away from me when I'm talking to you!" he snarls, his grip tight enough to bruise me.

I wrench my arm out of his grasp, my eyes blazing with fury. "Fuck off! I don't owe you a damn thing. While we're outside the walls of *that* building, I don't have to listen to a damn thing you say!"

With that, I turn and stride away, my heart pounding in my ears. I can feel his eyes on me as I get into my car, but I don't look back. I won't.

*Who the fuck does he think he is?!*

I start the engine and peel out of the parking lot, speeding past him and leaving him standing there, in my rearview mirror.

My hands tremble with adrenaline on the steering wheel as I drive home, my mind racing in the silence of the car. I know I shouldn't have lost my temper, shouldn't have pushed back so hard, but damn, did it feel good?

As the miles stretch between Cade and me, the adrenaline begins to fade, replaced by a creeping sense of unease that settles in the pit of my stomach. What's going to happen now? Will he retaliate at work, making my life even harder? Or will he take this as a challenge and actually fire me?

I take a deep, shaky breath, trying to calm my nerves, but ultimately, it does little to settle the anxiety rising at my throat. My hands grip the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white as I drive through the familiar streets leading to my apartment.

As I pull into my designated parking spot, I feel tears welling in my eyes, and all I can do is cry-cry tears of frustration as I rest my forehead against the steering wheel, my shoulders shaking with silent sobs. *I hate him. I fucking hate him.*