Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Hidden Flame

After the boardroom storm had quieted and the executives dispersed into the maze of the Sterling headquarters, Marcus lingered in the shadows of the polished corridor. His mind, usually sharp with business strategy, now wandered to a different realm—a realm where numbers and projections gave way to something far more delicate.

Every time Ivanna spoke with that confident, measured tone, her eyes alight with determination and vulnerability, Marcus felt an ache deep within him. He had long hidden his secret admiration—a quiet, burning crush that had grown over years of watching her lead, inspire, and defy expectations. In the midst of crisis meetings and heated debates, he found himself stealing glances at her, each look a silent confession of the feelings he dared not voice.

As he watched Ivanna stride confidently down the corridor, Marcus's heart fluttered in a way that no business success ever could. Her passion for her work, the subtle strength in her every gesture, stirred a hidden longing within him—a longing to be more than just her trusted advisor and friend. In private moments when the clamor of the day had faded, he allowed himself to dream of a future where she might see him as more than a reliable pillar during turbulent times.

Yet, Marcus kept his secret carefully guarded. He feared that the revelation of his true feelings might complicate the delicate balance of their professional relationship or distract her from the fierce battles she fought daily. So, behind his calm, calculated exterior, he nurtured his hidden flame—a precious, unspoken treasure that burned steadily in the quiet recesses of his heart.

In that silent corridor, as the echoes of the day's challenges faded into a soft murmur, Marcus vowed to continue standing by her side, even if only as a silent admirer. For now, his role was to guide and support, to be the steady hand in the midst of corporate chaos. But beneath the surface of every strategic plan and every reassuring word, his secret crush on Ivanna glowed—a hidden light, waiting for the day when perhaps, one day, the truth could be shared.