Cracks in the Armor

Zane's POVI wish I could say the tension between Ash and me went away after our little talk, but it didn't. Sure, we smoothed over the awkwardness from dinner, but there's still this... distance. And I can't figure out why.Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm overthinking it, letting that night get to me more than it should. I mean, who cares what his dad thinks? I'm just his secretary. It's not like I have anything to prove to his family. But there's this nagging feeling that something's changed, and I hate that I can't shake it.The morning rushes by, filled with meetings, emails, and an endless amount of paperwork. By the time I get a chance to look up from my desk, it's almost noon, and I'm starving.I'm just about to head out for lunch when my phone buzzes. It's a message from Ash.Ash: Can you meet me in the boardroom? Got something I need your help with.I stare at the text for a moment, my stomach sinking. Why does this feel like more than just work?I make my way to the boardroom, trying to keep my thoughts in check. The door is ajar when I arrive, and I can see Ash sitting at the far end of the long conference table, his laptop open in front of him. He looks... different. Tired, maybe? There's a tension in his shoulders, a heaviness in his expression that I haven't seen before."Hey," I say as I step inside. "What's up?"Ash glances up at me, his face unreadable. "Close the door."I do as he asks, the weight of his words making the room feel smaller. Something's definitely up.He gestures to the chair beside him, and I take a seat, waiting for him to speak."I need you to look over some contracts," he says, sliding a few documents across the table. "There's a clause I'm not sure about, and I want to make sure we're not missing anything."I blink, a little caught off guard. "You brought me in here to review contracts?"Ash leans back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "Is that a problem?""No, it's just... you usually handle stuff like this on your own." I study his face, trying to figure out what's really going on. "What's this really about?"For a moment, Ash just stares at me, his dark eyes searching mine like he's debating whether or not to tell me the truth. Then, with a heavy sigh, he leans forward, resting his elbows on the table."My father called me last night," he says, his voice low. "After you left."I raise an eyebrow, my stomach twisting into knots. "Okay... and?""And he had a lot to say," Ash continues, his tone growing sharper. "Mostly about you."Great. Just what I need."What did he say?" I ask, even though I'm not sure I want to know the answer.Ash runs a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every movement. "He thinks you're a distraction. That I'm getting too... close."I blink, the words hitting me like a punch to the gut. A distraction? Close? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"And what do you think?" I ask carefully, my pulse quickening.Ash meets my gaze, and for a moment, I see something flicker in his eyes—something almost vulnerable. "I think he's wrong," he says quietly, but there's a hesitation in his voice, like he's not entirely convinced.I swallow hard, trying to make sense of all this. Why does his dad care so much about me? I'm just the secretary. It's not like I'm some threat to Ash's business or family. But the way Ash is acting... it's like there's more to it."Do you agree with him?" I ask, my voice steady even though my heart is racing.Ash shakes his head, but there's a tightness to his jaw. "No. But it doesn't matter. He'll always find something to criticize."I can't help but feel a little relieved at that, but the tension between us still lingers. "Look, if I'm causing problems—""You're not," Ash cuts me off, his voice firm. "This has nothing to do with you, Zane. It's him. He's always been like this—always trying to control every aspect of my life."I sit back in my chair, letting out a slow breath. "So, what do we do?"Ash rubs the back of his neck, looking more stressed than I've ever seen him. "We keep doing our jobs. That's it."Right. Easier said than done.For the next few minutes, we go over the contracts, but my mind isn't really on the work. I can't stop thinking about what Ash's father said, about the way Ash is acting. There's more going on here, I'm sure of it. And as much as I hate to admit it, I can't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, his dad's right.Ash's POVI knew bringing up my father's call would mess with Zane's head, but I had to say something. I can't just keep pretending like everything's normal when it's not.The truth is, my father's always been a thorn in my side, always meddling in my business. But this time, he's gotten into my head. I can't stop thinking about what he said, about how I'm "getting too close."Am I?I glance over at Zane as he scribbles notes on the contract, completely focused on the task at hand. He's good at his job—better than I expected, if I'm being honest. But that's not the problem.The problem is... I don't know where the line is anymore.I've always been good at keeping people at arm's length. Employees, friends, even family—I keep them all in their neat little boxes. But Zane... he's different. I don't know when it happened, but somewhere along the way, he's started to get under my skin.And I hate it."Everything looks good," Zane says, pulling me out of my thoughts. "No red flags here."I nod, barely registering his words. "Thanks."Zane stands, gathering the papers and straightening them into a neat pile. "If you need anything else, just let me know."I watch him for a moment, wondering if I should say something more. But I don't. Instead, I just nod again. "I will."As he walks out of the boardroom, I'm left with a sinking feeling in my chest. The kind of feeling that tells me I'm in deeper than I want to admit.