NOAH
I sat down, the leather chair sighing under me. This was a real job. Not just a project, not just a whim. I was actually expected to do things.
I opened my laptop and began diving into the reports, the sheer volume of work acting as a distraction from the lingering "home" feelings I was trying to suppress.
About an hour into a particularly dense financial summary, my phone buzzed.
Cassian: Are you settling in alright?
I stared at the screen. Five words. That was it. But my brain came to a screeching halt. He was in a high-level meeting with the Ministry of Finance, and he had taken five seconds to check on me.
The warmth I'd been suppressing flooded back, hot and embarrassing.
I typed.
"Yes! Thank you for asking ;)"
No. Too eager. Way too eager. Did I just sound like a manic puppy? Delete.
"Fine, thanks."
Cold. Cold like a frozen turkey. Might upset him. Might be insulting. Delete.
"Yes, I'm settling in, the workload is as brutal as expected but I'm managing."
