chapter 4: The unspoken

Talia walked through the dimly lit hallway, her footsteps echoing in the silence of the building. The evening had been long, but the approval of the project was a win for everyone. Her thoughts were swirling—work, family, the future, and, most of all, Reagan.

It had been a strange day. What started with the usual tension of dealing with deadlines and project meetings had morphed into something more. Reagan's presence at the meeting had affected her more than she cared to admit. The way he had looked at her, his words hanging in the air like an unspoken promise—he was different, but then again, so was she.

Talia rubbed her temples as she approached her door. She needed space, time to process everything. She had no idea why she was even considering the idea of feelings for him. She had only just met him this morning, and yet, there was something undeniable between them. It wasn't just the way he smiled or the way he was effortlessly intelligent—it was something deeper, more primal, and she couldn't shake the feeling that it was mutual.

As she opened the door to her room, the familiar scent of lavender and vanilla greeted her, a comfort after the chaos of the day. She stepped inside, kicked off her heels, and collapsed onto the bed. Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a text from Taji.

Taji: "How's the night going? Still thinking about Reagan?"

Talia chuckled, typing back quickly.

Talia: "It's been a long day. Work approved. But yeah, there's something about him. I'm not sure what to do with it yet."

She sighed, staring at the screen as Taji's response came almost immediately.

Taji: "Girl, I'm just saying, you deserve someone who gets you. If Reagan's the one, then go for it. But don't rush into anything. You've got enough going on."

Talia smiled at her best friend's words. Taji always had a way of cutting to the heart of the matter. Still, there was the nagging uncertainty. Was she just getting swept up in the rush of the day, or was there something more? She set her phone down and pulled the blanket over her, closing her eyes in an attempt to clear her mind.

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Meanwhile, Reagan sat at his desk in the office, the quiet hum of the late hour enveloping him. His mind kept drifting back to Talia—her confident demeanor, her sharp intelligence, the way she had handled herself in the meeting. She had been composed, professional, and yet there had been a flicker in her eyes that told him there was more to her than just business.

He hadn't expected their encounter to affect him the way it had. They had barely exchanged words before today, but now... now he couldn't stop thinking about her. Reagan knew better than to rush into things. He'd learned the hard way that sometimes, timing was everything. And yet, there was an undeniable attraction between them that neither of them could ignore.

As he stood up from his desk, stretching his arms, his thoughts turned to Annalise. She had been in the meeting too, her presence a stark reminder of the past. Annalise and Reagan used to have a thing, but that was years ago, and nothing had come of it. She had moved on, and so had he—at least, he thought he had. He didn't have time for distractions, especially ones like Talia, who seemed to draw him in like a magnet.

But here he was, thinking about her. It wasn't just the way she looked, though that certainly didn't hurt. It was something in the way she spoke, the way she challenged him without even trying. He had always been drawn to strong women, and Talia was no exception.

He shook his head as if trying to clear his thoughts. He needed to get some rest. He was scheduled for an early meeting tomorrow, and he had to be at the top of his game.

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Talia couldn't sleep. The bed felt too big, too empty. Her thoughts kept returning to Reagan, despite her best efforts to push them away. She wanted to believe it was just the excitement of the day that was clouding her judgment, but deep down, she knew it was more. There was something between them, something unspoken yet palpable.

Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from her mother, Natasha.

Natasha: "You did well today. I'm proud of you. Keep it up."

Talia smiled softly at the message. Her mother had always been a driving force in her life, pushing her to be the best, always expecting greatness. But tonight, it wasn't her mother's praise that she sought. It was something else. It was the warmth of someone who saw her for more than just the person she was in the office.

Her thoughts drifted back to Reagan. She had no reason to feel this way, no logical explanation for the pull she felt toward him. Yet, here she was, unable to stop herself from thinking about the man she had only just met.

She had no intention of acting on this. Not yet. But a small part of her—one that she couldn't quite suppress—wondered if maybe, just maybe, he felt the same way.

***************************************

The next morning, Talia entered the office early, as was her usual routine. She had to clear her head, and the quiet of the office in the early hours always helped with that. As she stepped off the elevator, she was surprised to see Reagan standing by the reception desk, speaking with Annalise.

Reagan glanced up when he heard the elevator doors open, his eyes locking onto hers instantly. There was a brief moment of silence as the air between them seemed to hum with an unspoken understanding. Annalise, sensing the tension, excused herself and walked away with a knowing look.

Talia couldn't help but feel the heat of Reagan's gaze on her as she approached. She forced herself to focus, to remind herself that they were colleagues, and she couldn't let anything else interfere with that.

"Morning," Reagan said, his voice smooth but carrying a hint of something deeper. Something personal.

"Morning," Talia replied, her voice betraying none of the emotions she felt stirring inside her.

"Everything all set for today's presentation?" Reagan asked, his tone professional, but there was an underlying warmth that made her stomach flutter.

"Yes, I think so," she answered, trying to focus on the task at hand. "I'll be ready."

There was a moment of silence as they both stood there, neither quite sure how to move forward. But then, Reagan stepped closer, his proximity making her heart race.

"Talia," he began, his voice low and sincere, "I just wanted to say… yesterday, you were amazing. You handled everything so well."

Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected this, hadn't expected him to acknowledge her like this. "Thank you," she said, surprised at how much his words meant. "I couldn't have done it without the team."

Reagan smiled softly, the kind of smile that made her feel like they were the only two people in the room. "Still," he said, his eyes meeting hers, "you stood out."

Talia felt the weight of his gaze, and for a moment, she forgot to breathe. It was as if time had stopped, leaving just the two of them standing there in a quiet understanding. But before she could say anything else, Annalise returned, pulling Talia back into reality.

"I'll leave you two to it," Annalise said, giving Reagan a pointed look before walking away. Talia could see the flicker of something between them, but whatever it was, it didn't concern her. Not anymore.

As Reagan turned back to Talia, there was a shift in the air. He seemed to hesitate, his hand almost reaching for her before he pulled it back, his expression a mix of determination and uncertainty.

Talia felt a pang of disappointment, but she pushed it aside, reminding herself that this was complicated. Reagan had been through a lot, and she didn't know if he was ready to take that next step. She didn't know if she was ready either.

"Maybe we'll talk later?" he said, his voice soft but hopeful.

"Yeah," Talia replied, her own heart pounding. "Maybe."

As Reagan walked away, Talia couldn't help but feel that things were just beginning to unfold, and the attraction between them was something that neither of them could deny forever.

For now, though, she would wait. Just a little longer.