The next few days were awkward.
Weird.
Damon tried to tell himself it was normal.
That this was just business.
That he was just doing his job.
But nothing about the way his chest tightened whenever Lila entered the room felt normal.
Damon sat behind his desk, trying to focus on a report, but his mind kept drifting to the night of the gala.
Why the hell did you react like that?
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Lila —
In that dress.
Laughing at Caleb's stupid jokes.
Leaning into him, shoulders brushing.
He gritted his teeth, pushing the thought away.
She was just doing her job.
She wasn't trying to get attention.
She wasn't trying to make him lose his mind.
But even as the words echoed in his mind, he knew it was a lie.
Lila was confused.
And annoyed with herself.
She tried to ignore the fact that Damon had barely spoken to her since the gala.
That he had pulled away.
She could tell he was avoiding her.
She had seen it in the way he would leave meetings early, or pass her in the hallway without making eye contact.
At first, Lila chalked it up to business — maybe he was just swamped with work.
But now?
It felt like something else.
And it was bugging her.
"Did I do something wrong?" she asked Marissa one afternoon, fiddling with the hem of her sleeve.
Marissa paused.
"No. Why would you think that?"
"I don't know. He's been... weird."
Marissa raised an eyebrow.
"Are we talking about Damon Cross?" she asked, incredulous.
"Maybe he's jealous? Are you two—"
Lila flushed.
"No! No, nothing like that."
"Uh-huh," Marissa said, clearly not buying it.
"You should talk to him, Lila. He's been sulking since the gala."
Lila crossed her arms.
"He's not sulking. I don't know what he's doing, but he's definitely avoiding me."
The next afternoon, Lila was pulling a pile of paperwork together when she saw a familiar figure step into the floral shop.
Caleb.
"Hey, Lila! I thought you could use a break."
He grinned, holding up a coffee cup. "My treat."
Lila smiled, grateful for the distraction.
"Thanks, Caleb. I could use a little break from... everything."
"Busy day?" he asked, sitting across from her.
"You could say that."
Lila sighed. "It's been kind of weird around here lately. I think I pissed off Damon somehow. He's barely even talking to me anymore."
Caleb tilted his head, his gaze flickering with curiosity.
"Huh. Sounds like someone might have a little crush."
Lila laughed nervously. "No way. He's Damon Cross. He doesn't even have time for that kind of thing."
"Maybe," Caleb said, "but he sure looked pissed off at the gala when we were dancing."
Lila's eyebrows furrowed.
"What do you mean?"
Caleb shrugged casually, as if it were no big deal.
"He just didn't look too happy about you being so... friendly with me."
He paused. "I thought maybe you two had something going on."
Lila's eyes widened.
"What? No, Caleb. We're just colleagues. Nothing else."
Caleb leaned back, watching her intently.
"Well, I don't know, but... just know I'm here if you want to hang out. No weirdness."
Lila appreciated the offer, even though a small part of her was still confused.
But the idea of Caleb being her "distraction" wasn't entirely unpleasant.
That evening.
Lila texted Damon twice and got no response.
She shouldn't have been surprised, but the sting was there nonetheless.
Maybe Marissa was right.
Maybe Damon was just avoiding her.
She sighed and grabbed her phone to call Caleb.
They'd hang out. Maybe catch a movie or grab dinner. Anything to get her mind off of work, and off Damon.
Meanwhile, Damon's Hell.
Damon stormed into the office the next morning, eyes bloodshot, head throbbing.
He barely slept after the chaos of the afterparty.
He couldn't stop thinking about the way Lila had looked in that damn dress.
Couldn't stop thinking about her laugh, the way her eyes lit up every time Caleb made her smile.
It drove him crazy.
He wanted to demand that she stay away from Caleb.
He wanted to pull her close, make her realize that no one else could touch her like that.
But he couldn't.
He was Damon Cross. He didn't get attached.
And certainly not to someone like Lila Hart.
So, what the hell was wrong with him?
Lila was at lunch when Damon's assistant called her phone.
"Ms. Hart, Mr. Cross is requesting your presence in his office."
Lila froze mid-bite.
"Now?" she asked.
"Yes, immediately."
Her stomach dropped.
What the hell was going on?
Lila knocked hesitantly before pushing the door open.
Damon was standing by the window, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.
"Sit down," he said, without turning.
Lila obeyed, but the silence felt too heavy.
Finally, Damon spoke.
"I need you to stop... spending time with Caleb."
His voice was rough, like it had been dragged over gravel.
"He's a distraction."
Lila blinked, unsure if she'd heard right.
"What are you talking about?"
Damon finally faced her, his eyes burning with something she couldn't quite name.
"Stay away from him," he repeated, his voice low.
"He's not good for you."
Lila opened her mouth to argue, but the words died on her tongue.
She looked at him, really looked at him, and the confusion inside her grew deeper.
What the hell was this?