Marcus sat in the meeting room on the fourth floor, staring at the presentation on the wall. Numbers. Charts. Graphs showing sales from last quarter.
Someone was talking. A woman from the sales department. Her voice was steady and professional, explaining percentages and growth rates.
Marcus heard none of it.
His mind kept going back to last night. To Ryan's text. *Busy right now. Talk tomorrow?*
What had Ryan been doing? Why was he busy so late? And why did he think "be safe" made sense as a response?
Marcus realized he didn't actually know much about Ryan. Where he lived. What he did after work. Who his friends were.
"Mr Marcus.."
But he wanted to know, he wanted to know everything.
"Marcus?"
He blinked. Everyone was looking at him.
Ethan, sitting next to him, had his hand raised slightly. Like he'd been trying to get Marcus's attention for a while.
"Sorry," Marcus said. "What was the question?"
The woman from sales repeated herself. "I asked if the advertising campaign timeline works with your department's schedule."
Marcus hadn't been listening. Had no idea what timeline she meant. He looked down at the papers in front of him, trying to find something helpful.
"Yes," he said, hoping that was the right answer. "That should be fine."
The woman nodded and moved on to the next slide.
Ethan leaned closer and whispered, "You okay? That's the third time you've zoned out today."
"I'm fine."
"You sure? Because you look like someone who stayed up too late thinking about a cute guy."
Marcus shot him a look. Ethan just grinned.
The meeting kept going. More slides. More voices. More numbers that Marcus didn't really care about right now.
He checked his watch. Only fifteen minutes had passed, but it felt like an hour.
Finally, they got a break. Ten minutes before the next section started.
Marcus stood up fast. "I need some air."
He walked out into the hallway and pulled out his phone. His fingers moved across the screen.
*Marcus: You awake?*
He waited. Stared at the screen. No response.
Maybe Ryan was still sleeping. Or busy at the restaurant. Or just didn't want to talk.
Marcus was about to put his phone away when it buzzed.
*Ryan: Yeah. Tired tho*
*Marcus: Late night?*
*Ryan: Something like that*
*Marcus: The restaurant kept you that long?*
There was a pause. The three dots appeared, then disappeared, then appeared again.
*Ryan: Yeah. Busy night.*
Something felt off about that answer. But Marcus couldn't figure out what.
*Marcus: Want to grab lunch later? I know a place with great mac and cheese.*
*Ryan: Can't today. Rain check?*
*Marcus: Sure. Tomorrow?*
*Ryan: Maybe. I'll let you know.*
Marcus stared at the messages. Ryan's answers were short. Distracted. Different from yesterday.
*Marcus: Everything okay?*
*Ryan: Yeah. Just tired. Talk later?*
*Marcus: Okay. Get some rest.*
Marcus put his phone away. The good feeling from yesterday is gone now. Replaced by something else. Worry, maybe. Or confusion.
"Marcus!" Ethan called from the meeting room doorway. "We're starting again."
Marcus walked back inside and sat down. The second half of the meeting started. More presentations. More discussions.
His phone buzzed once during the next hour. He checked it under the table.
*Ryan: Sorry if I'm being weird. I just had a rough night. Talk soon okay?*
Marcus felt some of the worry ease. He typed back quickly.
*Marcus: No worries. Take care of yourself.*
When the meeting finally ended, Marcus gathered his papers and stood up. His whole body felt stiff from sitting so long.
Ethan walked beside him as they headed back toward their offices.
"So," Ethan said. "The guy. The one you met at the café. Things going well?"
"I think so. Maybe. I don't know."
"That's very clear."
Marcus sighed. "He's been a little distant today. Short texts. Said he's tired."
"Maybe he really is just tired."
"Maybe."
They reached Marcus's office. Ethan stopped and looked at him seriously. "Don't overthink it. You just met him a few days ago. Give it time."
"You're right."
"I'm always right," Ethan said with a grin.
Marcus laughed, went inside his office and closed the door. He sat down at his desk and tried to focus on work.
Files needed reading. Emails needed answering. Reports needed reviewing.
He got through maybe three emails before someone knocked on his door.
"Come in."
Victoria Chen stepped inside. She looked perfect as always. Dark hair pulled back. Gray suit without a single wrinkle. A professional smile on her face.
"Marcus," she said. "Do you have a minute?"
"Sure. What do you need?"
Victoria closed the door behind her and sat down across from him. "I wanted to talk about the spring campaign. I think we should coordinate our departments more closely."
"Okay. What do you have in mind?"
"Dinner. Tomorrow night. There's a new place downtown that's supposed to be excellent. We could discuss strategy in a more relaxed setting."
Marcus understood what this was. He'd seen it before. The professional excuse wrapped around something personal.
"I appreciate the offer," Marcus said carefully. "But I don't think that's necessary. We can discuss it here."
"It would be easier outside the office. Less formal." Victoria smiled. "Just a working dinner. Nothing more."
"I have plans tomorrow."
"What about Thursday then?"
"I'm busy Thursday too."
Victoria's smile didn't change, but something shifted in her eyes. "I see. Well, if your schedule opens up, let me know."
"I will. Thank you, Victoria."
She stood up and walked to the door. Paused with her hand on the handle. "The rumors are true then."
Marcus looked up. "What rumors?"
"That you're seeing someone." She said it lightly. Like she was just curious.
Marcus could deny it, say there was no one, keep things simple and professional.
But he didn't want to.
"I am," Marcus said.
Victoria nodded slowly. "Lucky person." Then she opened the door and left.
Marcus sat back in his chair. His phone sat on the desk in front of him. No new messages.
He wanted to text Ryan again. Ask him what he was doing. If he was okay. When they could see each other.
But he didn't want to seem pushy. Clingy. Too much.
So he forced himself to focus on work instead. Read through reports. Answered emails. Reviewed budget proposals.
The afternoon crawled by. Slow. Boring. Every minute felt like five.
At four-thirty, Marcus checked his watch. He usually stayed until six. Sometimes later.
But today he didn't want to be here. The office felt too small. Too quiet. Too empty.
He stood up and grabbed his jacket.
He walked out of his office and down the hall. Passed Ethan's desk.
"Leaving early?" Ethan looked up, surprised.
"Yeah."
"You never leave early."
"I do now." Marcus replied without stopping to hear more.
Ethan smiled. "Strange..."
Marcus took the elevator down to the lobby. Stepped outside into the late afternoon sun. The city was busy around him. People walking. Cars honking. The usual noise.
But Marcus barely noticed. He pulled out his phone and looked at his last message to Ryan. *Take care of yourself.*
No response yet.
He started walking. Didn't really know where he was going. He just needed to move. To do something besides sit in that office and think.
His phone buzzed. He looked at it so fast he almost dropped it.
*Ryan: Hi, still at work?*
*Marcus: Nope. Just left.*
*Ryan: Early for you right?*
*Marcus: How did you know?*
*Ryan: Just guessing. You seem like someone who works late.*
Marcus smiled at his phone.
*Marcus: What are you doing right now?*
*Ryan: Nothing much. Just woke up actually.*
*Marcus: At 4:30 in the afternoon?*
*Ryan: Told you it was a rough night.*
*Marcus: Want some company? I could bring coffee.*
There was a long pause. Marcus kept walking, staring at his phone, waiting.
*Ryan: Better not. I look terrible right now.*
*Marcus: I don't care what you look like.*
*Ryan: I care.*
*Marcus: Tomorrow then?*
*Ryan: Yeah. Tomorrow. I promise.*
*Marcus: Okay. Get some more rest.*
*Ryan: Yea..thanks.*
Marcus put his phone away. He was standing on a street corner, no idea how he'd gotten there. People walked around him. The light changed. Cars moved through the intersection.
He felt something strange in his chest. Something warm and nervous and exciting all at once.
This was new. All of it. Leaving work early. Texting someone throughout the day. Thinking about someone constantly. Wanting to see them even when they looked terrible.
Marcus had dated before. Had relationships. But nothing that felt like this.
Like Ryan was pulling him somewhere new. Somewhere he'd never been.
And Marcus wanted to go, he wanted to follow that pull and see where it led.
Even if it scared him a little.
He turned and started walking back toward his apartment. The sun was warm on his face. The city moved around him. And for the first time in weeks, he felt something other than worry about his uncle.
He felt hope.