Asher wasn't distracted.
He just… paused more than usual.
The morning meeting moved smoothly. Slides changed. Numbers were discussed. Deadlines confirmed.
He contributed when needed. Listened when appropriate. Took notes.
Calm. Focused.
But somewhere in between a budget projection and a timeline adjustment, his mind drifted.
Not far.
Just briefly.
He remembered the way Elara had stood beside her desk yesterday shoulders straight, voice clear.
You look like you own this place.
He hadn't meant to think about that again.
Yet here he was.
"Everything alright?" his colleague Marcus asked quietly after the meeting ended.
Asher blinked once. "Yeah."
"You looked like you were solving world peace in your head."
He gave a small breath of a laugh. "Just thinking."
Marcus nodded and walked off.
Asher remained seated for a second longer.
Thinking.
He wasn't someone who got easily caught up in people.
He appreciated personalities. Respected intelligence. Enjoyed good company.
But this felt different.
Not intense.
Not overwhelming.
Just… steady.
He returned to his office and closed the door behind him. The space was minimal — dark desk, large window, neatly arranged files.
He liked order.
Structure.
Predictability.
But Elara had introduced something subtle into that structure.
A softness.
He opened his laptop, intending to respond to emails. His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before he leaned back instead.
He remembered her laugh in the rain.
It wasn't quiet or reserved.
It was bright.
Unfiltered.
And she hadn't been embarrassed by it.
That stayed with him.
He respected people who were comfortable in their own reactions.
He stood up and walked toward the window. The city stretched out below, busy as always.
He wondered what she was doing right now.
Probably working. Probably focused. Probably calm.
He imagined her adjusting papers on her desk, tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear.
The image made him exhale slowly.
He didn't rush to text her.
He didn't feel the need to constantly check in.
That wasn't what this was.
He just liked knowing she existed in his day.
Like a quiet presence in the background.
Later, during lunch, he found himself glancing at his phone.
No new messages.
He didn't expect one.
But still.
He set the phone down and shook his head lightly at himself.
"You're thoughtful today," Marcus commented from across the table.
"As always," Asher replied.
"Not like this."
Asher didn't answer.
Because he wasn't sure how to explain it.
It wasn't distraction.
It wasn't infatuation.
It was awareness.
He was aware of her now.
Aware of how she spoke. How she carried herself. How she listened more than she talked.
He liked that she didn't demand attention.
She simply earned it.
By the time evening approached, he felt the quiet pull again.
Not urgency.
Just interest.
He picked up his phone.
Opened their chat.
Then paused.
Instead of typing immediately, he leaned back in his chair.
He didn't want to text just because he was thinking about her.
He wanted it to feel natural.
Unforced.
He closed the chat.
Smiled faintly to himself.
He would see her soon enough.
And the thought didn't make his heart race.
It made him calm.