By Wednesday morning, the edge was starting to show.
Lamija and Emir had been out of office for two days—site visits, client meetings, and a few too many social posts I didn't look too closely at. Always side-by-side. Always smiling.
It should've been me.
Emir was good at his job. Sharp, quick, presentable. But I was better. I'd built half the systems he was now explaining to clients. And still, he was the one beside her—filling the space I thought I was finally earning back.
I hadn't seen her since Sunday.
Not really. A glance in the hall. An update over email. Nothing more.
I told myself it was just logistics. Scheduling. Work.
I didn't want to be jealous.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡti3DI3pjcC
But I was.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aXGWJ7QUm
And the worst part?6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtU3270dPaG
I wasn't sure if it was about the job—or her.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPgER2A74O
Maybe both.
Because I wanted both.
Jasmina had dragged her chair over to my desk sometime after ten, balancing a coffee mug on one knee and her tablet on the other as we reviewed her latest budget adjustments.
"You know Lamija's going to slice this in half before it even hits procurement," I said, highlighting two bloated expense lines.
Jasmina sighed. "Yeah, but Emir told me to include everything upfront. Even the ideal version."
"Then maybe send her the version that doesn't make her ask who's embezzling."
That made her laugh—soft, but genuine.
Still, her eyes lingered. A little too long. A little too aware.
"Or," she said, tapping her pen against her lip, "you could pitch it. She listens to you."
I didn't answer. Just scrolled to the next section and started recalculating. A few formulas needed cleaning up—easy fixes.
Jasmina didn't move. She just watched. Coffee forgotten. Legs crossed. That tilt of her head that always meant she was about to flirt, even if she pretended not to.
"You're kind of scary when you work," she murmured. "In a good way."
I kept my eyes on the screen. "That's not really the goal."
"Still," she said. "It's... impressive."
She meant it.
And I knew it.
I could feel the shift—the way her attention lingered longer, the way her compliments landed softer, edged with something else now. Something intentional.
She was smart. Capable. Beautiful, even.
But she wasn't the woman I wanted watching me like that.
Because the only one I wanted hadn't looked at me in three days.
And even if she had—
It wouldn't have looked like that.
That's when I saw them.
Lamija and Emir, stepping into the office. They were still mid-conversation, both smiling—hers smaller, his looser. She had a clipboard in one hand, her blazer draped over her arm like she hadn't stopped moving long enough to put it back on.
They passed by the desk area, and I saw it again—that casual synchronicity. Emir leaned in to say something low, and she laughed.
She gave us a quick nod—polite, unreadable. Then disappeared into her office with him.
And I was left staring at a screen I couldn't read anymore.
Jasmina nudged me with her elbow. "Guess Emir survived Monday and Tuesday."
I didn't answer. Just went back to the spreadsheet.
But my jaw was tight.
I hated hearing her laugh with him.
We'd had a moment. Sunday afternoon. Inside Imran's office—when she stepped into my space and did something I didn't expect. She apologized.
"I wasn't trying to hurt you. Or make it worse."
I told her it was fine. That she didn't owe me anything.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOXqe4KF8s
But then I asked her—quietly, stupidly—"Go easy on me, okay?"
She nodded.
But she couldn't have known.
Couldn't have known that even seeing her smiling at another man would wreck me like this. That two days of barely seeing her could shake something loose in my chest.
I didn't need anything from her.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinklqA7ObA
Didn't expect anything.
But it still did something to me.
And now she was behind that glass wall, laughing with someone else.
"You're not even listening," Jasmina said.
I blinked out of it. "What?"
"You've scrolled past the same column four times. You good?"
I looked down. The cell I was staring at was empty.
"Fine," I said. "Just tired."
She leaned back, watching me for a long moment. "You know... if you're into her, you should probably just say it."
I looked at her. Jaw tight. "I'm not—"
"Sure," she said, cutting me off before I could finish. Her voice was lighter now, but her eyes weren't.
"Just let me know if I'm wasting my time."
Before I could respond, Lamija's voice called out from across the room.
"Ayub? Can you step into my office for a second?"
Jasmina gave me a look. One brow raised. Then scooted her chair back to her desk.
I stood and crossed the room.
Emir was still seated across from her, a tablet on his knee. He looked up as I entered, offered a tight smile.
Selma entered right behind me, already talking. "You've got back-to-back strategy reviews until three, and Zlata pushed the ESG audit to Thursday. Also, Kemal's assistant emailed—he wants you on that panel next month."
Lamija didn't look up. "Tell him no. He talks too much."
Selma didn't blink. "Already did."
She took her usual seat near the window, typing something out one-handed as I stepped inside.
"What's the delay on the Bravaco shipment?" Lamija asked.
"Holiday backup," I said. "Dock workers running at seventy percent staffing. One of the containers flagged for inspection. Should clear by Thursday."
She nodded. "Can we reroute through the Niš hub if it doesn't?"
"Already started the paperwork. Shouldn't need it, though."
She finally looked up at me.
Just a glance—6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmIGCCWBGM
but her eyes lingered.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavHvQHWgUJ
Took me in. Slower than they needed to.
I felt it.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTgOhvrwty
And I hated that it made me forget what we were talking about.
Selma glanced up from her tablet. "You've got that dinner tonight—Mr. Catic and his wife, seven o'clock at Devetka."
Lamija exhaled. "Right."
"I'll confirm the driver."
"I'm free," Emir offered. "Happy to join if you need coverage."
Lamija didn't even look at him.
"No," she said. "Ayub, you're coming instead."
Silence.
Even I didn't hide the surprise fast enough.
Across the room, Selma's stylus paused for half a second against the screen.
Then she kept typing. A small smile on her face.
Like she already knew this was coming.
"You free tonight?"
I paused. "For you? Yeah."
Emir nodded once, closing his tablet.
"Selma has the reservation details," Lamija added. "I'll forward you the brief. Wear something sharp."
I nodded once. Too fast.
Lamija barely looked up from her folder.
"The olive suit," she added. "The one you wore to the Ramić meeting. You looked good in it."
My pulse stuttered.
"No tie. Open collar. Black belt with the brushed gold buckle."6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5AEoCvTu9
A pause.
"And the shoes I gave you last Eid."Silence.
My pulse skipped.
Even Emir didn't bother pretending this was normal.
Selma's stylus paused mid-swipe. A slow grin curved at the edge of her mouth—like she was trying not to be entertained.
And Lamija?
She didn't smile. Didn't tease. Didn't soften.
Just flipped to the next page in her folder and dismissed me without another glance.
She told me Sunday she'd go easy on me.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm80SewXbDP
This wasn't that.
This was choosing me in front of him. Curating the shirt. Controlling the story.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8fdCRfyFY
This was her hand on the back of my neck—without ever touching me.
I left the office with my jaw clenched and my heart somewhere in my throat.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3VCuj0KYZ
Because somehow, being chosen by her felt like a win.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdwn7H31sC
And I knew damn well it was a warning. One I wasn't sure I'd survive.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He asked her to go easy on him.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBoC7JCnn5
She picked his outfit, scheduled the dinner, and told him he looked good. In front of everyone.
That's not "easy." That's warfare in silk gloves.
Ayub? Wrecked.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSozlA64D5P
Lamija? Unbothered.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EsrAv94Iy
Selma? Watching like it's her favorite show.
-Ash&Olive
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhS9kGwlXE9
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