Strictly business (until it wasn't) - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Nat's POV
I don't have time to make friends, I usually didn't have time to date, nothing more than a casual hook up, and I certainly don't have time to be having the thoughts I have swirling around my head at the moment. I needed to be thinking of anything but Y/N. Most days I found myself watching her, mesmerised. When I got her email this afternoon I realised I had told her off for eating at her desk, but she was eating there to help me with my work. I felt bad, but I needed to keep it clear that what I say goes.
I didn't even know I was suddenly emailing her back, asking her to come in to the office tomorrow. But I felt something I didn't feel often, anticipation.
———
I waited at my desk, going over the presentation again, waiting for Y/N. She walked in minutes later wearing tight and short bike shorts, black runners and an oversized white tshirt. She wore her hair up, I liked it like that, her slender neck on display. I shook the thoughts away as she approached my desk.
"Thank you for coming in on a Saturday, I'll keep this short." I started. "The work you did-" I started saying but was cut off.
"I'm sorry if I over stepped, I was just trying to help." Y/N said, looking slightly concerned.
"I'm not mad at you. You're work, well it's actually really appreciated and what you did to the presentation was exactly what I needed. Although I appreciate your work, just ask me next time." I explained.
Y/N nodded in response.
We looked over a few of the slides and discussed opinions on them. It wasn't until I looked at the clock that I noticed we had been here for almost two hours. Although I don't mind being at work, it wasn't fair to ask Y/N to be here on the weekend.
"Alright, that's it for today. I will see you on Monday." I said.
Y/N stood but didn't leave. She was waiting for me. I was actually going to stay longer, but I knew that I should go home. I grabbed my jacket and headed out. Seeing Y/N walk out of my office almost made me moan. The tight bike shorts looked good on her.
My car was in the basement but I knew Y/N would get off at the ground floor. When the lift stopped at the ground floor, Y/N didn't move, she was looking at her phone. My hand touched her lower back to usher her out, that's when I swear she made a little gasp noise.
What kind of effect did I have on her?
That little reaction made me smile, a smile I quickly wiped from my face.
"Do you need me to call you a taxi?" I asked. Hating myself for not just offering her a lift.
Y/N smiled "thank you but I'm okay, I'm heading out for a run. Thank you for this morning. I'll see you Monday." She said as she gave a little wave and turned away, heading down the street.
I groaned in frustration as I headed down to the basement.
Every day, Y/N found new ways to surprise me.
Unlike my previous assistants, Y/N didn't just follow instructions, she anticipated them. Emails were answered before I could draft a reply. Calls were rerouted before they could become interruptions. Appointments were shifted with precision that rivalled a tactical operation.
———
It had been three months since Y/N started, and I was beginning to feel something unfamiliar.
Reliance.
Y/N was dependable in a way I wasn't used to. Everyone else eventually cracked under the pressure of working for me, the long hours, the high stakes, my expectations. But not Y/N. If anything, the challenge only seemed to sharpen her. She thrived in it. And me? I caught myself watching her too much.
At first, it was subtle. My gaze would linger for a second longer than necessary as Y/N handed me a file. I had notice the way Y/N's fingers brushed the edge of her desk when she was thinking or the way she tapped her pen against her lip when reading something important.
Stop staring, I told myself more times than I could count. But it wasn't that easy.
The attraction had snuck up on me. Y/N wasn't just smart and competent, she was sharp-witted, unshakeably calm, and beautiful. It was the kind of beauty that wasn't just in her appearance, but in her presence. The way she moved, spoke, and stood her ground.
It wasn't just respect anymore. It was something more.
That Morning, I walked into my office at 7 a.m. sharp, prepared for another long day. The moment I stepped in, I noticed two things.
First, the familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee. That was expected. Y/N had been bringing me coffee every morning like clockwork. But next to the coffee, there was a small brown paper bag.
My eyes narrowed as I approached my desk, setting my bag down slowly. The paper bag was neatly folded at the top, the fold sharp and precise. I reached out, unfolding it, and the familiar, mouthwatering scent hit me. Egg sandwich with smoked cheddar, avocado, and sriracha mayo. My favourite. From my favourite café.
I glanced out the glass wall of my office. Y/N was already seated at her desk, typing away on her tablet, eyes focused, brow slightly furrowed in concentration.
I sat down, the bag and coffee in front of me. I opened it slowly, pulling out the sandwich. It was still fresh, as if Y/N had picked it up right before coming in.
For a moment, I just sat there, holding the sandwich, feeling... seen.
No one had ever noticed the details like that before. Sure, previous assistants knew my schedule, my preferences for how emails were drafted, or how I liked meetings run. But none of them had ever cared enough to notice the small things.
My coffee order. My breakfast. The way I liked the blinds half-open in the morning so the glare didn't hit my desk. Y/N noticed it all.
I stared at the sandwich for a moment longer, lips pressing into a line that slowly turned upward. I bit into it, eyes flickering shut briefly as the familiar taste hit her tongue. Perfect.
My heart did something unfamiliar, a small twist that made me sit back, eyes still on Y/N. You're dangerous, Y/N. I thought, taking another bite of the sandwich. Too dangerous.
-Later That Day-
"Miss Romanoff, I have the final numbers from the quarterly report," Y/N said as she entered my office without knocking, something no other assistant dared to do. But I didn't mind. I never mind when it's Y/N, I just couldn't tell her that.
Y/N set the tablet down in front of me and leaned just slightly over the desk, her blouse shifting enough to reveal the chain of a necklace tucked under the fabric. My eyes flicked to it for half a second before I forced them back to the screen.
"Everything's tracking as expected," Y/N said, pointing at a particular figure on the tablet. "The logistics delay in Prague was resolved, and the new timeline should keep us on track for Q4."
"Good," I replied, my eyes on the report, though my focus was slipping. Y/N was too close. Her perfume, fresh, clean, and just a hint of something floral, it was far too distracting.
Y/N stood straight, giving me space, but her presence lingered. I could feel it.
"Anything else you need?" Y/N asked.
I glanced up. Big mistake. Y/N was looking at me, eyes steady but curious, like she could tell my mind wasn't on the report. Our gazes locked. For a second, I wondered if Y/N could see through me.
My heart did that annoying twist again.
"No," I said, a little too quickly. "That's all."
Y/N gave a small nod. "Let me know if that changes."
She turned to leave, and I watched her go. I always watched her go. The sharp lines of Y/N's suit, the way she walked like she owned every space she entered. It was infuriating how aware I had become of it.
It was unlike me , but I appreciated her hard work. "Thank you for doing this" I called after her, gesturing to the report.
"I like to be organised and prepared." Y/N gave me one of her soft smiles I adored and then she slipped out the door.
You can't do this, I scolded myself. She's your assistant.
But logic didn't stop my eyes from drifting back to Y/N's desk, watching her as she sat, pulled her hair into a loose bun, and got back to work. I leaned back in my chair with a sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. This is a problem.
I glanced back at Y/N, she stretched as she sat at her desk. I could just see the small smirk on her face from the side. Her hair was illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the windows.
Prepared, I thought, echoing Y/N's words. No. You're something else entirely.
Every day, Y/N proved she wasn't like the others. She wasn't afraid of me, wasn't overwhelmed by the work, and she didn't hesitate to push back when she needed to.
Every day, I caught myself wanting her more.
Wanting to see her smile.
Wanting to know if that confidence would falter if I kissed her.
Don't. My mind was firm, but my heart was loud. Don't cross that line.
My eyes lingered on Y/N for a moment too long. She glanced up, catching my gaze. For a second, neither of us moved. Y/N tilted her head, just a fraction, her eyes flickering with curiosity. Her lips quirked like she knew exactly what I had been thinking.
I turned away, forcing myself back to my desk.
My hands rested on the surface, fingers curling into my palms.
This is a problem, I thought again, my jaw tightening.
But even as I sat, staring at the screen, my mind drifted. To the coffee. The breakfast. The way Y/N smile tugged at something I hadn't felt in a long, long time.
It was going to be a long day.
And, as usual, Y/N was the distraction I could never quite look away from.
It was well past 7 p.m., and the office building had grown quiet, the buzz of the workday fading into stillness. I sat at my desk, my pen moving across the stack of documents that needed my signature. I had planned to leave hours ago, but as usual, work had a way of piling up.
The door slowly opening pulled me from my thoughts. I went to tell whoever it was off for barging in here without politely knocking first. But when I looked up I saw Y/N's sweet smile.
"Miss Romanoff," Y/N began, her tone soft but firm, "I noticed you're still here. Is there anything I can help with? I'd hate for you to be stuck here all night alone."
I paused, my pen hovering over the page. The offer was genuine, and Y/N's willingness to help was unexpected yet appreciated.
"That's very thoughtful of you, Y/N," I replied, leaning back in my chair. "I'll be fine with all this. You don't need to be here late."
Y/N shrugged lightly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe not, but I don't mind. Besides, I'm not in a hurry to get home."
I hesitated, but eventually nodded. "All right. If you really don't mind, I could use an extra set of eyes on these reports."
Y/N moved to the other side of the desk, sitting gracefully in the chair across from me. As she began to read through the stack of documents I handed her, the room fell into a comfortable silence.
But for me, focus became increasingly difficult. Every time I glanced up, my gaze lingered too long on Y/N, the curve of her jaw, the way her lashes framed her eyes, the elegant movements of her hands as she flipped through the papers
I shifted in my seat, chastising myself silently. I tried to focus on my work, but Y/N's presence was a distraction I couldn't ignore.
I should have just told her to go home.
The problem wasn't just how gorgeous Y/N was, it was the ease with which she carried herself, the subtle confidence that drew me in like a magnet.
Y/N's POV
I sat on the opposite side of Natasha desk, finding myself very distracted. I offered to stay back and help for two reasons, 1) so Natasha wasn't stuck her all night and 2) I selfishly wanted to spend time with her. I admired Natasha's sharp intellect and commanding presence, but sitting this close to her now, I couldn't help but notice the finer details: the way Natasha's red hair framed her striking face, the intensity in her green eyes, the graceful lines of her posture.
I bit my lip as my gaze flicked up, stealing a glance at Natasha. She looked even more stunning than usual, her focus making her even more magnetic. My stomach did a small flip as I quickly returned my attention to the papers, hoping Natasha hadn't noticed me staring.
The hours ticked by, and eventually, Natasha cleared her throat, breaking the silence.
"You didn't have to stay," she said, her tone softer than usual. "I know late hours are in your contract if needed but you didn't have to stay back tonight, so thank you."
I looked up and met her gaze, a faint smile playing on my lips. "I know. But I wanted to."
It was late, I wanted to stay, just be around Natasha for a little longer, but I knew I would already regret this in the morning. I still had to walk home, get ready for bed, get everything organised to come straight back here in the morning and wake up early. I was tried just thinking about it.
As if she could see right through me, Nat spoke again. "You should go home. It's late."
I nodded, putting in the jacket I had with me and then collecting my bag.
"Please tell me you're leaving too. All of this" I said gesturing to the paper work on her desk. "Can wait until tomorrow."
"Oh, so now you're telling me what to do?" Natasha said.
For a second I didn't know how to take her words. But when that mischievous smirk formed on her face, I knew she playing with me.
I smiled. "Did you, the one and only, Natasha Romanoff, just make a joke?"
Natasha rolled her eyes but the smirk never disappeared. "Go home Y/N."
"Good night, Miss Romanoff. Don't be here too long." I said as I walked out of her office.
Something felt different, like maybe, just maybe she was comfortable around me. I had see her when she was in full focus, when she was frustrated. I had been on the receiving end of her cold demeanour many times. But tonight, I felt like I might have just seen the cracks of the person she hides beneath that tough exterior.