Breach of Boundaries

The hum of engines in the design lab was like a heartbeat. Maria loved this space, with its walls lined with blueprints and sketches of sleek car bodies, intricate details brought to life with coloured pencils and graphite. It was a place of innovation and creation, a place where she found comfort between her psychology sessions and her moments of solitude.

Today, though, her focus was punctuated by the strange encounter from the day before—the first and only meeting with Leonard Damarias. Every time she thought about it, about him, a strange warmth crept up her cheeks. She was, after all, only an employee, someone whose job it was to listen, not to make an impression. Yet she couldn't shake the intensity of his gaze or the subtle curiosity that had flickered in his eyes.

Maria was lost in thought when her friend Samia, a graphic designer with a knack for spotting Maria's moods, sidled up to her. "You met him, didn't you?" Samia's grin was mischievous, her voice dropping to a whisper even though they were alone. "The boss himself."

Maria blinked, surprised. "How did you know?"

"Oh, please. People talk. I heard he was scheduled for a wellness check," Samia said, clearly delighted by the unfolding office gossip. "But what everyone wants to know is—what was it like?" She leaned closer, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Was he as icy as they say?"

For a moment, Maria didn't know how to answer. She replayed Leonard's face in her mind, the way he had seemed almost uncomfortable yet steadfastly composed. There was a certain allure in his presence, something intense and controlled. "He was... polite. A bit distant, I suppose. But he wasn't cold. He wasn't like the rumours at all." Her cheeks grew warm, and she cleared her throat. "He's just... reserved."

"Right," Samia smirked knowingly, leaning back. "So, he's the strong, silent type who's impossible to read. That makes sense."

Maria smiled, more to herself than to Samia, feeling a small thrill at the thought of having glimpsed the man behind the title. But she quickly brushed it away. Her work wasn't about making connections with executives, least of all with her boss.

Yet the next week, when her phone buzzed with a message from HR, Maria felt her heart leap. It was a request for a follow-up session with Mr. Damarias.

...

This time, Leonard's entrance felt even more commanding. His movements were careful, his suit perfectly tailored, and his gaze more direct than before, holding her attention as if she were the only thing in the room.

"Good morning, Ms. Maria " he said, his voice calm but sharper than she remembered.

"Good morning, Mr. Damarias." She gestured for him to take a seat and sat down across from him. "How have things been since our last meeting?"

Leonard hesitated, glancing down as if gathering his thoughts. For a split second, Maria saw a flicker of hesitation in his expression, something almost vulnerable.

"Things are... complicated," he admitted, his voice quieter. He didn't look at her as he spoke, his gaze focused on his clasped hands. "Work, mostly. This expansion into Europe... it's been challenging."

Maria  nodded, understanding the pressure of his position but fascinated by this side of him. She never thought in a million years that this CEO, rumoured to be so reserved yet notorious, would actually open up, to her of all people. Here, in her small office, he seemed less like the untouchable CEO and more like someone simply carrying an enormous weight. "You have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders," she said softly. "Do you get any time to just... be yourself?"

He looked up, genuinely surprised by the question, as though he hadn't considered it in years. "I... don't know if I'd even recognise myself outside of work," he admitted, a hint of regret seeping into his words. "This company, SERVAL—it's everything I've built."

She nodded, offering a reassuring smile. "Well, it's natural to feel that way. But balance is important. Even someone as dedicated as you can benefit from taking a step back sometimes."

He studied her carefully, a hint of interest sparking in his gaze. "And do you take that advice, Ms. Maria? Do you step back?"

She was caught off guard by the question, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I do my best," she answered, finding it odd yet endearing that he was suddenly curious about her own life. "Outside of work, I spend a lot of time designing. I'm not as involved with the projects here, but it's... it's something I love."

"Designing?" he repeated, the faintest trace of a smile tugging at his lips. "I would have guessed psychology was your passion."

"Oh, it is," she assured him, her eyes lighting up. "But designing is where I can lose myself, express myself... it's my quiet escape."

Leonard's gaze softened, and for the first time, his stern demeanour seemed to melt away entirely. In that moment, Maria felt as though she were seeing him—not as her boss, but as Leonard, a man who perhaps yearned for the same quiet escape.

The silence between them grew comfortable, the air charged with an unspoken connection. And though neither said anything more, the bond between them deepened, as quiet and unassuming as Maria herself.

...

After Leonard left, Maria tried to resume her day as usual, but his presence lingered in her mind, an enigmatic puzzle she couldn't quite solve. She returned to the design lab to focus on the campaign she'd been working on for the new line of luxury cars, her fingers sketching out ideas as she thought about his words, about the lonely life he seemed to lead despite his wealth and status.

Later, as she was adjusting some final details on her latest project, a soft knock sounded at the lab door. Startled, she turned, surprised to see Leonard standing there, watching her.

"Mr. Damarias?" She straightened, feeling an odd thrill run through her. "Is everything all right?"

He hesitated, then nodded, a rare smile breaking his serious expression. "I just... wanted to see what you're working on." His gaze shifted to the sketches on her desk, and he took a step closer. "You're... very talented," he added quietly.

Maria felt a surge of pride mixed with an unfamiliar warmth at his compliment. "Thank you, Mr. Damarias. It's something I love."

"I can see that." His voice softened, his gaze intent. He seemed to linger, studying her with a new kind of interest, one that felt both intimidating and intoxicating. "And... if it's not too forward," he added, voice low, "perhaps you could call me Leo. Mr. Damarias is too long."

Her breath caught in her throat. "Leo..." She repeated his name, looking around the room awkwardly, savouring the sound, her pulse quickening.

As he stepped back, a look passed between them, unspoken but unmistakable. It was as if, in that instant, something had shifted—something neither of them could deny nor explain.

And as Maria watched him walk away, she began to realise one thing: her life at SERVAL was beginning to change.