CHAPTER 5: Late Night At Work
The rain started around six. At first, it was soft just light taps on the office windows. No one paid much attention. But by seven, thunder rolled across the city, deep and loud, like the sky itself was angry. Most of the office had cleared out. It was Friday evening, after all. But two people remained. Richard Knight and Ann Smith.
Ann stayed late to finish the Baxter campaign analysis. She wanted to prove herself again, especially after Richard's strange comment earlier that week."You make me notice things." She didn't know what he meant. And part of her didn't want to know. She stared at the screen, trying to focus, but her eyes kept drifting toward the dark windows. Rain hit the glass harder now. The city lights blurred behind the water. She checked her phone. No signal. The storm was getting worse.
Richard stood in his office, watching the rain. The roads were flooding fast. Power flickered once. Then again. He didn't care about the weather. Not really. What bothered him was that she was still here l working. Still affecting him in ways he couldn't explain. He knew he should tell her to leave. But something kept him silent.
At 8:15, the power went out completely. The emergency lights kicked in a soft red glow across the hallways. Ann stood, heart skipping a beat. Her computer blinked off. She reached for her phone again. Still no signal. Just then, her desk phone rang. It was Richard. "Come to my office."
She knocked softly on his door. "Come in." He stood near the window, jacket off, sleeves rolled up. The soft red light made his face look even sharper. More serious.
"The storm knocked everything out," he said.
"No internet. No phone lines.
Elevators are down too."
Ann frowned.
"So... we're stuck?" "For now."
She stepped farther inside, unsure what to do. He nodded toward the small couch in the corner.
"Sit."
She hesitated, then sat down.Thunder cracked outside, loud and sudden. She jumped. He looked at her.
"You're not afraid of storms, are you?"
"Not usually," she said. "But this one feels... louder."
He sat across from her, not at his desk, but in the chair closest to her. The silence stretched between them.
Then he said,
"You didn't have to stay late."
"I wanted to finish the analysis."
"You always work too hard."
She shrugged. "I don't have the luxury not to."
He nodded, as if he understood more than she meant to say.
Outside, lightning lit up the sky. The room glowed for a second. Then went dark again.
"Do you like it here?" he asked quietly.
She looked at him. "Knight Holdings?"
He nodded.
"I like the challenge," she said. "But some days... I wonder if it's worth it."
He didn't respond right away. Then, "It usually isn't."
She raised an eyebrow. "Then why do you stay?"
"I built this."
"And now you're trapped in it."
His eyes met hers.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Rain poured down the glass.
She shifted slightly, hugging her arms around herself.
"It's cold," she said softly.
Without a word, Richard stood and took off his suit jacket. He handed it to her.
She looked at him, surprised.
"Take it," he said.
She did. It was warm. Smelled faintly of him, clean and expensive.
She wrapped it around her shoulders and exhaled slowly.
"Thank you."
He sat again, leaning forward.
"You're different, Ann."
Her heart fluttered. "You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
She looked down at her hands. "Maybe I don't belong here."
"You belong more than anyone I've seen in a long time."
The words hit her harder than she expected.
She met his eyes. "Why do you say things like that?"
"Because I mean them."
"But then you act cold again. Like you regret saying anything."
"I do," he said.
Her eyes widened. "Why?"
"Because I don't know what to do with this."
"With me?" she whispered.
"With how I feel when I'm around you."
The storm outside grew louder.
But inside, everything stilled.
Ann swallowed hard. "I didn't ask for this, Richard."
"I know."
"And I'm not playing games."
"I know that too."
He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair.
"I've spent my life keeping people out. It's easier that way."
"And now?"
"Now," he said quietly, "you're in my head."
She smiled a little, despite herself. "That sounds like a problem."
"It is."
Their eyes locked.
Something unspoken passed between them.
Then, slowly, he stood.
He walked over to the window again, watching the rain.
"I lost someone once," he said suddenly.
Ann blinked. "What?"
"A long time ago. I cared for her. She betrayed me." "I'm sorry." He nodded. "Since then, I built walls. And you... you keep finding the cracks." She stood too, slowly. "I'm not here to hurt you," she said. "I know." Silence. "You scare me, Ann." She looked up at him. "Why?" "Because you make me want things I told myself I didn't need." She took a step closer. "Like what?" "Like peace. Like softness. Like you." Her breath caught. They were only inches apart now. His eyes dropped to her lips, then back to her eyes. "I shouldn't," he whispered. "You haven't," she said. But neither of them moved away. Outside, the storm raged. Inside, their walls were falling. He reached up slowly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Her skin tingled where he touched her. "Tell me to stop," he said. She didn't. Instead, she leaned in. And in that moment, lightning lit up the room again. But this time, it wasn't just the sky that cracked open. It was something inside both of them.
They didn't kiss. Not yet. But everything between them changed. When the power finally returned an hour later, they were still sitting on the couch, side by side, quiet and thoughtful. The storm passed. But the real one , the one inside their hearts was just beginning.