– The Of

d was rewriting the rules of his orderly existence without even trying. She was everywhere, yet nowhere. She anticipated his needs, challenged h

Tuesday, he realized,

floor. Leonard sipped his coffee, his gaze flicking toward the corner where Stephanie was already at work, arranging documents wit

could feel the tension simmering inside him, a mixture of

wed the Henderson proposal. I noticed a discrepancy in the projected revenu

d detailed. It wasn't something a typical assistant would notice.

e you?" he asked, his

gaze evenly. "I've also prepared an alternative approach

irritation. She was efficient. Too efficient. "Twenty minutes,"

s part of the job, Mr. Cross. Esp

. Strategy. These were qualities he respected in competitors, not a

ds to discuss ongoing projects. He was curious to see how Stephanie would hand

owever, how Stephanie subtly corrected minor misstatements, discreetly organized the flow of discussion, and eve

fessional. Precise.

quietly through the room, straightening papers, returning pens to their holders, and

" he said, finally b

t him, her expression neutra

e said, his tone low. "It's...

miles. "Some things deserve attention, Mr. Cro

r tone, her choice of words, that hinted at more than professionalism. Observation

. No-he would not let the

h a potential investor. It was informal, meant to gauge personality and confidence. He didn

arrived first, scanning the room, noting the ambient lighting, the positions of staff, and the behavior of o

ing a folder and a tablet. "I've prepared notes on th

You didn't need to bri

s steadily. "Informal d

spect it. And yet, a part of him bristled at her intru

phanie remained in the background, offering insights only when necessary, and her observations were sharp, calculated, and precise

ears ago-one that had ended disastrously for a smaller competitor. A ripple of tension pa

the data and subsequent market trends, the risk associated with that project was mitig

ng him directly, vindicating him without making him appear defensi

versation, in his territory, and yet she had done it flawless

nie, sensing his mood, said nothing. She didn't need to. Her presence alone seemed to provoke a

ing for her to sit. "You're extraordinary," he said fina

thout hesitation. "I'm competent at what I do.

anticipate everything. You know what's coming b

ss. Not to you personally-but to patterns. Habits. Behavior. It's h

. Patterns. Observation. Behavior. Words that reminded him too much

nsettling efficiency, her eerie understanding of him, was n

nancial projections. But he was distracted by the growing tension he felt-

posture graceful, her focus intense. She was the perfect assistant-the perfect observation of wh

e himself. "Stephanie," he began, his

sionally," she admitted calmly. "But I try to m

han any accusation. She was probing, testing him, an

e was no answer that would satisfy

movement, every glance, every carefully chosen word-it all felt deliberate, calculated. And he re

es, but the harder he tried, the more elusive she became. He opened the folder she had left on his desk e

was more than competent. She was extraordinary. And that realizat

atterns, Mr. Cross," she said softly, almost to herself.

et they were. He felt the unspoken warning, the subtle challenge. H

ly personal, hinting that she may know more about him-and his