Whispers and Dares
The next morning, the café downstairs buzzed with energy as the staff prepped for another busy day. Muri had just grabbed her coffee when she heard her name in a familiar voice.
"Aha! Speak of the devil," said Jules, one of the event planners, grinning over her mug.
Muri raised an eyebrow. "What now?"
"Oh, nothing," said Lila, smirking beside her. "Just wondering which lucky guy will bring you gifts today. Gold pens? Jewelry next?"
"Maybe a kissogram?" Jules added dramatically. "Delivered by a mystery man in a tux."
Muri rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips. "You two need lives."
"Oh, we have lives. But yours is way more entertaining," Lila said, winking. "Especially when Lex looks like he's about to combust every time Mix walks into a room."
At that exact moment, Lex passed by the doorway, pausing just long enough to hear the tail end of the sentence. Muri didn't even turn—she knew he was there.
Later that day, Muri waited until she saw Lex talking with a guest at the bar before sliding into the seat next to him with calculated nonchalance.
"So," she said sweetly, "I've been thinking about who that 'mystery man' was."
Lex's jaw tensed. "You mean the one you announced to the entire staff room yesterday?"
"Some people guessed it might be Mix," she said, tilting her head. "I didn't correct them."
"Why not?" he asked, voice low.
"Because it's more fun this way," she whispered. Then she turned to the bartender. "Could you make a drink that's... sweet but dangerous?"
Lex leaned in, tension simmering beneath his calm tone. "Muri."
She sipped her drink, eyes dancing with mischief. "Yes?"
He exhaled slowly. "You really want to see how far I'll go?"
"I'm just curious what it takes to make you lose control."
Lex's fingers wrapped gently around her wrist, holding her gaze. "Keep pushing, Muri. I might just show you."
Across the room, Jules nudged Lila. "Told you. He's about to lose it."
Lila grinned. "This is better than any romance novel."
Later that evening, after most of the team had left for the night, Muri lingered in the event room, pretending to rearrange centerpieces. Lex walked in, his expression unreadable, but his eyes never left her.
"You really enjoyed that little audience today, didn't you?" he said quietly.
She didn't turn. "Maybe. You seemed to enjoy watching."
He was behind her in seconds, close enough that she could feel the heat of his breath. "You're playing with fire."
She spun around, heart hammering, but refusing to flinch. "And you're acting like you won't get burned."
In one smooth motion, Lex backed her into the far corner of the room—shielded by tall floral arrangements and the shadows of dusk seeping through the windows. His hands rested on either side of her against the wall.
"No one's watching now," he said, voice thick with restraint.
"Are you going to kiss me?" she whispered.
"I haven't decided yet," he said. "You've been testing me all day."
"And?"
Lex leaned in until their noses almost brushed. "And I'm right at the edge, Muri."
She gave a wicked smile. "Then jump."
His mouth was a breath away from hers when a loud voice echoed down the hallway. "Lex? Muri? You guys still here?"
They froze.
It was Jules.
Lex pulled back just enough, his forehead resting on hers, breathing ragged.
"Saved by the gossip queens," Muri whispered.
Lex chuckled darkly. "For now."
She slipped away from the corner with a final glance over her shoulder. "You're not the only one with limits, Lex."
As she walked away, Lex stayed rooted, watching her like a man trying to keep his control from unraveling completely.
From down the hall, Lila's voice joined in: "Muri! We're heading out—unless you're busy hiding in dark corners...?"
Muri smiled to herself and called back innocently, "Just fixing flowers!"