Chapter 4 Jealousy Unveiled

The following week was a blur of emails, conference calls, and the constant hum of office life. Alexis was getting used to the pace, the relentless schedule, the high expectations that Sebastian Steele seemed to expect of her at all times. The work didn't faze her. What bothered her now, more than anything, was the growing emotional complexity of their relationship.

There were moments when she caught him looking at her in ways that felt... different. At times, his eyes softened just slightly, almost as if he was seeing her as more than just an assistant. And then, there were the other moments, the ones that left her feeling uneasy, like when she walked into a meeting and saw him instantly tense, his gaze fixed on someone who wasn't her. The possessiveness was subtle, but Alexis couldn't ignore it. It all came to a head one Friday afternoon.

The office was quieter than usual, with most of the staff out for the company retreat. Alexis had stayed behind to finalize the financial projections for the next quarter. She was just about to shut her laptop when her phone buzzed with a text.

"Hey, are you free for lunch? Let's grab a bite – I know a great place."

It was from Ryan, a colleague who had always been friendly toward her. They had briefly spoken at a few company functions, but they were just colleagues nothing more.

Before Alexis could respond, she saw Sebastian walking down the hall toward her. Her stomach dropped, a mixture of anxiety and something else she couldn't identify. She quickly tucked her phone into her bag as he stopped by her desk, looking down at her papers without speaking.

"Still here, Alexis?" he asked, his tone as clipped as ever, but there was a slight edge to it today, a tension that Alexis couldn't quite place.

"Just finishing up," she said, trying to sound casual, though she felt like he was already reading her mind.

Sebastian leaned against the edge of her desk, his eyes flicking to the phone she had just tucked away. It didn't escape her notice that his gaze lingered on it longer than necessary before returning to her. "You have a lot to finish, don't you?" he asked, his voice low, almost with a hint of challenge.

Alexis looked up, caught off guard. His words were sharp, but there was something about the way he said them that made her feel small almost as if he were trying to control her time, as if he were controlling her every move.

"I've almost got it under control," she said, keeping her voice steady, but inside, something was shifting. Was he... jealous?

There was a long pause before Sebastian finally looked away, his eyes returning to the files on her desk. "Good," he said flatly, "But don't forget where your priorities lie, Alexis."

The way he said it, as if he were reminding her, unsettled her more than she wanted to admit. His tone was colder than usual, and she couldn't help but feel as if there was more to it. Was he angry? Was it because of her plans with Ryan? She tried to dismiss it, but the words lingered as he left her office without another word.

Later that afternoon, as Alexis prepared to leave for lunch, she ran into Ryan in the hallway.

"Hey," Ryan said, his smile warm as always. "Are you still up for grabbing a bite? I know this little café just down the street. It's quiet perfect for a lunch break."

Alexis hesitated. She had planned to meet him for lunch, but something about Sebastian's words echoed in her mind. Was it wrong to spend time with a colleague? Why did she suddenly feel so uneasy about it?

Before she could respond, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the hall. Alexis turned and immediately saw Sebastian, striding toward them with an air of authority. His gaze flicked between her and Ryan, his jaw tightening ever so slightly.

Ryan, noticing the tension in the air, cleared his throat. "I'll let you two get back to it," he said with a quick smile before retreating down the hallway.

Sebastian stood there for a moment, his posture rigid as he glanced at Alexis. There was no warmth in his gaze. Just cold scrutiny.

"You're going to lunch?" he asked, his voice almost clipped, though it wasn't directed at Ryan anymore. It was directed at her.

Alexis felt her throat tighten. "Yes. Just a quick lunch with Ryan. We're working on a project together."

His eyes narrowed. "I don't like it when my employees go off alone with others from the company. It gives the wrong impression." The words hung in the air like a thick fog, and for a moment, Alexis could feel the weight of his words pressing down on her. She had been so careful about maintaining professionalism, and yet, there was something about the way he said it that felt more like possession than protection.

"I-I didn't realize it would be an issue," Alexis said, trying to regain control of the situation. "It's just lunch. We're talking about work."

Sebastian's gaze didn't soften. Instead, it grew more intense, more penetrating, as if he were reading into something he hadn't yet deciphered.

"I don't like surprises," he said, his voice low but firm. "If you're going to do something, make sure it's clear where your loyalties lie."

The word "loyalties" cut through Alexis like a knife. It wasn't just about work it wasn't just about lunch. This was something deeper, something more personal.

And then, as quickly as it came, Sebastian Steele turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Alexis standing in the hallway, her heart pounding in her chest.

The remainder of the day felt like an emotional rollercoaster for Alexis. She couldn't shake the feeling that something between her and Sebastian had shifted. What had started as professional distance was now slowly becoming something more complicated.

Sebastian's words echoed in her mind: "Make sure it's clear where your loyalties lie." She wasn't sure what he meant by it, but the implication was impossible to ignore. Did Sebastian Steele see her as just another one of his employees or was there something more going on?

As she sat at her desk that afternoon, reviewing documents for a client meeting, her thoughts were interrupted once again by Sebastian's presence. He appeared in the doorway of her office, looking as calm and composed as ever.

"I need those figures by the end of the day," he said, his voice still firm, but with that underlying possessive tone that she couldn't escape.

Alexis nodded, doing her best to keep her emotions in check. But Sebastian's gaze lingered just a little longer this time, almost as though he were trying to see beneath her calm exterior.

"Don't forget what I said earlier," he added quietly, his words carrying a subtle threat. "You're mine to manage. Don't forget your place."

Alexis' heart skipped a beat as he turned and walked away, the finality of his words hanging in the air.