Crimson shadows

family, and then New Year's with Abuela, whose presence brought tears to my eyes. I had missed her

th a mix of excitement and surrealism. Working closely with my boss, a dedicated workaholic w

ssional. He never spoke about the club incident or anything outside work. Until a rare moment of personal inquiry caught me off guard, one day. "H

rkly contrasted with his fierce demeanor at work. It made me wonder sometimes: was he incapabl

mony, leaving behind uneasy whispers. I can still vividly remember Edith's tea

mong the female staff. They admired him from afar, wa

cision sharp. "That would be all for now," he declared one afternoon, dismissing the h

you were distracted," he remarked, his tone probi

g to shake off the discomfort of hi

ard: "I noticed your paychecks com

reezed in, a welcome interruption. Her arrival brought a

a stark contrast to her brother's rigid demeano

r unspoken understanding, their twin-like connection, spoke volumes. Especially when

eave, I interjected softly,

inished business. A curt nod signaled my dismissal, yet I couldn't shake the feeli

," I managed, offering a small, gratef

ble-I had a crush, a massive one. I shouldn't be having these thoughts. Taking a deep breath, I turned to leave, only to find his piercing green e

attentive, hadn't reached out all day. Lately, our relationship had shown promise, but tonight, silence echoed where his presen

ion growing with each unanswered attempt. With a heavy sigh, I

eside me as we waited for the elevator to descend, though he had his own private one

n "Don't" halted me. The descent was uncomfortably silent, made worse by his unwavering stare reflected in the mirrored pan

I'd never seen before, I had never been to this part of the hotel before. I'd never had a reason to. This is a stark contrast to my usual

familiarity, reminding me of our first encounter at the club. Straightenin

assumed you knew that. Call me Lamar; we're not at work anymore." His use

y, my eyes shifting momentarily to the G-wagon w

d matter-of-factly, dispelling my

curiosity tugging at me. "I appreciat

ara, unless you want to walk home in the r

efensively, "He's 25! And how wou

tered, his frustration evident. "I don't ha

into the luxurious vehicle, m

thout a word. I considered giving Felix my address, but

my apartment, noticing the lights were on. James is home. Curiosity and concern

s he used the nickname that caught me off guard. Blushing, I managed a

lap that reverberated through the room. Staggering back from the force and surprise, I found mysel