Silas’s cold attitude

Silas lifted his gaze, meeting hers with a questioning squint. 'Why the surprise, Esme?' he thought with a silent sigh. 'You wanted to maintain a professional relationship at the office, and here it is.' He flicked his eyes back down to his laptop.

"Is there any problem, Miss Shaw?" he asked indifferently. 

Esme blinked, momentarily disoriented. "No," she stammered, forcing the word out. Grasping the diary tighter, she launched into a hurried recitation of the day's schedule, her voice trembling slightly despite her best efforts.

"Today's schedule includes a meeting with the marketing team at ten o'clock, followed by a presentation to potential investors at eleven," she said mechanically.

The silence fell momentarily. 

Silas's gaze remained fixated on the laptop. Esme felt her heart race faster, her palms growing sweaty as she waited for him to say something.

Silas finally broke the silence. "Thank you, Miss Shaw. That will be all for now."