Chapter 1: Introduction
Stepping out of the elevator every morning, Robert Wilson's eyes would sweep across the 27th floor of Alltown Industries headquarters and then with the inevitability of a solar eclipse, fall onto Lucy Smith. Her slim form, draped over her office chair, backlit by the sterile glow of fluorescent tube lighting, hair the color of liquid sunshine tumbling over her shoulders. Her green eyes, which flashed with intelligence and subtle mischief when they caught his.
He couldn't help but notice that she always seemed to be more alive than anyone else in this office jungle of theirs.
'Hey, Rob,' she greeted him one such ordinary morning as he approached with his steaming cup of coffee.
'Hey, Lucy,' he replied, taking in her freshly applied lipstick, the color a deep shade of wine. It sent a sudden hunger coursing through him. 'You look amazing today.'
Her laughter peeled out, pure and tinkling, drawing glances from nearby cubicles.
'Oh, stop it, Rob. I bet you say that to all the girls.'
He met her gaze levelly and felt another charge crackle between them like static electricity. 'Only the ones I genuinely mean it for,' he said before taking a slow sip of his coffee.
They shared a beat of silence, then Lucy glanced away, focusing on some paperwork in front of her. 'Work calls,' she murmured, but not before he saw the faint blush on her cheeks.
Fast forward to lunchtime, when they found themselves alone in the break room, just the two of them.
Robert observed how Lucy's hair cascaded down her back as she bent over her salad, tendrils curling around her neck. An unexpected longing to tangle his fingers in those silky strands surged through him. He shook himself mentally, returning to reality.
Lucy glanced up, meeting his gaze, and something unspoken passed between them. This mutual understanding had been growing stronger each day, unnoticed by others but not by them.
'I envy your salad,' he joked lamely, pointing at her plate piled high with colorful vegetables.
His own meal, a greasy burger and fries from the cafeteria, looked pathetic in comparison.
Lucy raised an eyebrow at him, amusement sparkling in her eyes. 'You can have some if you want.'
Robert chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through his chest at her kindness. She could laugh at his jokes and offer him her food - two simple gestures that made him feel seen and appreciated. Contrast this to his cold, distant marriage where such affectionate banter was non-existent.