Chapter 17: An Unexpected Moment

Chapter 21: An Unexpected Moment

Blyaine's POV

The office was quiet, the hum of computers and rustle of papers long gone as the evening stretched into night. Most of the staff had already left, but Blyaine was no stranger to late hours. Tonight, however, she wasn’t alone.

Walking through the rows of desks with a cup of tea in hand, she spotted a familiar figure hunched over her work. Harper.

Her head rested on her folded arms atop the desk, her breathing steady and soft. A few stray papers were scattered around her, a pen still loosely held in her hand. Blyaine’s footsteps slowed as she approached, her sharp heels muffled on the carpet.

For a moment, she simply watched. The harsh office lighting softened Harper’s features, casting a warm glow over her face. The exhaustion was evident in the dark circles under her eyes, and Blyaine felt an ache in her chest. Harper worked so hard, often far beyond what was expected of her, and it was clear that it was taking a toll.

Blyaine set her cup down on the desk next to Harper’s papers, careful not to make a sound. Leaning down slightly, she tucked a stray strand of hair behind Harper’s ear. Her fingers hovered for a moment before she withdrew, her gaze lingering on Harper’s peaceful expression.

She couldn’t explain the pull she felt, the way Harper seemed to draw her in without even trying. Maybe it was her resilience, her quiet strength, or the vulnerability she tried so hard to hide. Whatever it was, Blyaine found herself leaning closer, almost without realizing it.

Before she could second-guess herself, she pressed a soft, fleeting kiss to Harper’s cheek. Her lips brushed lightly against the smooth skin, and she pulled back quickly, her heart pounding. Harper stirred slightly but didn’t wake, her breathing remaining steady.

Straightening, Blyaine took a step back, her mind racing. It had been impulsive, something she hadn’t planned, but she didn’t regret it. Not entirely.

Grabbing her tea, she slipped away as silently as she had come, leaving Harper to her rest.

---

Harper's POV

The morning sunlight streaming through the office windows felt harsh as Harper blinked awake. Her neck ached from the awkward position she’d slept in, and she groaned softly as she stretched.

The faint scent of tea lingered in the air, and she noticed her papers had been neatly stacked, her pen placed precisely on top of them. She frowned, glancing around the office, but it was empty.

Gathering her things, she made her way to the restroom to freshen up before the others arrived. Her reflection greeted her with a tired face, her hair slightly disheveled. She grabbed a paper towel to dab at her cheeks, hoping to wake herself up a bit.

That’s when she saw it.

A faint, smudged lipstick mark on her right cheek.

Harper froze, her mind racing. She stared at the mark, her hand hovering just below it as if touching it would make it disappear.

She didn’t wear lipstick—ever.

Her thoughts jumped to Blyaine, the only person who could have been in the office with her last night. The realization sent a wave of warmth rushing to her face, her cheeks turning crimson as her heart pounded in her chest.

Did Blyaine…?

Harper bit her lip, her mind spinning with questions and emotions she wasn’t ready to confront. The kiss—if that’s what it had been—felt like a quiet, unspoken confession.

Her fingers brushed the faint mark before she washed it away, her reflection staring back at her with wide, uncertain eyes.

Whatever had happened last night, one thing was clear: her relationship with Blyaine was shifting, and Harper wasn’t sure what to do about it.

Blyaine's POV

The morning bustle of the office hadn’t quite picked up yet as Blyaine stepped into the shared workspace with her coffee in hand. She moved toward her desk with her usual measured grace, but a faint prickle of unease nagged at the back of her mind.

She’d hardly slept, her thoughts looping endlessly around what had happened the previous evening. That impulsive kiss. The way Harper had stirred but hadn’t woken. Blyaine had convinced herself it was a harmless gesture, born of a moment of quiet fondness. Yet, the memory lingered in a way she couldn’t quite shake.

As she rounded the corner, she spotted Harper at her desk. The younger woman looked disheveled—her hair slightly tangled, her clothes from yesterday rumpled and wrinkled. Blyaine’s stomach tightened as she realized Harper hadn’t gone home at all.

Her steps slowed as she approached. “Harper.”

Harper startled, her head snapping up. Her wide eyes betrayed a flicker of guilt as she scrambled to gather her papers. “Ms. Walker—good morning,” she stammered, her voice overly cheerful.

Blyaine tilted her head, her gaze scanning Harper’s tired face. “You didn’t leave last night, did you?”

“I... I guess I dozed off,” Harper admitted sheepishly, glancing down at her desk.

Blyaine set her coffee cup down on the nearest surface, crossing her arms. “Harper, this isn’t healthy. You can’t keep pushing yourself like this.”

“I’m fine,” Harper insisted, though her voice lacked conviction.

“You’re not,” Blyaine said firmly. She paused, softening her tone. “Go home. Rest. You have night classes to attend later, and you’ll be useless if you’re running on fumes.”

Harper hesitated, clearly torn between her work ethic and the idea of taking a break. “I can handle it,” she murmured, but there was a hint of doubt in her voice.

“Harper,” Blyaine said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “That’s an order, not a suggestion.”

The younger woman bit her lip, glancing down at her rumpled clothes. “Okay,” she relented quietly, gathering her things.

---

As Harper stood, Blyaine’s eyes flicked to her face. The faint lipstick mark from last night was gone, and a small, unexpected pang of disappointment rippled through her. Of course, Harper wouldn’t have noticed its significance, but it was a subtle reminder of how close Blyaine had let herself get.

“Thank you,” Harper said softly, breaking Blyaine’s train of thought.

“For what?”

Harper hesitated, her eyes meeting Blyaine’s briefly before darting away. “For… looking out for me, I guess.”

Blyaine felt a flicker of warmth at Harper’s words but quickly masked it with a professional nod. “Just take care of yourself, Harper. That’s all I ask.”

Harper nodded and turned to leave, her movements slower than usual, weighed down by exhaustion. Blyaine watched her go, the faintest trace of a smile tugging at her lips.

When the door closed behind Harper, Blyaine exhaled, leaning against the edge of a desk. Her thoughts lingered on the younger woman, the quiet resilience she admired so much and the fragile vulnerability she’d caught glimpses of.

She shook her head, muttering to herself. “This is going to be complicated.”