Against the Rules (Taylor Swift x Reader)

Y/N's POV
The office buzzed around me as I worked through the stack of proposals, but my mind kept drifting back to one thing—Taylor. The way she commanded a room, the confidence in her voice, the quiet intensity that lingered even after she left. I had to admit, it was hard to focus when she was around.

I had been trying to ignore it, trying to stay professional, but today was different. Taylor had noticed me more today than usual. Her eyes lingering just a little too long when she spoke to me, her voice just a little too soft when she asked for something.

When I handed her the notes earlier, our fingers brushed, and I swear, time slowed for a second. My breath caught in my throat, and for that moment, I felt like she could see through me. Her gaze lingered on me for a beat too long before she turned away.

As I worked, I couldn't help but wonder—was she aware of the tension between us? Was I imagining it, or was something shifting, something undeniable?

Taylor's POV
I could feel it. The tension. It wasn't just in the room, it was in the air. Every time I looked at Y/N, she was there, her eyes meeting mine with an intensity I hadn't expected. I'd noticed her before, of course—she was sharp, focused, and undeniably capable. But there was something else about her.

It wasn't just her work ethic that intrigued me. It was the way she seemed to notice everything, even the things I didn't want her to.

When I asked her to go over the notes, I saw the brief flicker of hesitation in her eyes. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make me wonder. Our hands brushed when she took the papers from me, and I couldn't deny the charge that ran through me. It wasn't just the touch, it was the way she looked at me afterward—like she wanted to say something, but held back.

And when I left my office to see her at her desk, she didn't look up immediately. But when she did, our eyes locked. I saw the same question in her gaze that I had in mine: What is this?

I couldn't get it out of my head.

Y/N's POV
The afternoon stretched on, but I couldn't focus on anything. My thoughts kept circling back to Taylor—her quiet presence, her sharp words that always seemed to have a hidden meaning.

Around 4 PM, she stepped out of her office again. I didn't know why, but I found myself watching her as she walked through the office. It wasn't just her confidence—it was the way she made everything seem effortless, like she was in control of everything.

But then, she stopped at my desk. My heart skipped a beat.

"Y/N," she said, her voice smooth, but with an edge I couldn't place. "I need to make sure the team is prepped for the strategy meeting tomorrow. Could you help me pull together some talking points?"

I nodded quickly, my pulse racing. "Of course." I grabbed my laptop and started typing, but her gaze didn't leave me.

"Take your time," she added, her tone soft, almost too soft. "I want to make sure everything is perfect."

Her words seemed casual, but I could feel the weight behind them. She wasn't just asking for help—she was letting me in. And that was dangerous.

Taylor's POV
I could feel her eyes on me as I spoke, and I couldn't shake the sense that Y/N was different. The way she focused, how she leaned in a little closer when she worked, her attention so sharp, so aware of everything I did. I couldn't help but notice the little things—the way she would glance up at me when she thought I wasn't looking, the way she seemed to notice everything in the room.

It made me wonder if she felt it too.

When I asked her to help me with the talking points, I didn't just want the work done. I wanted her attention. I needed to see if she was still looking at me the way she had before—like there was something more than just a colleague standing in front of her.

As she worked, I watched her fingers move across the keyboard. There was something about the way she worked with such intensity that had me captivated.

"You're good at this," I said, more to myself than to her, but she heard me.

She looked up, meeting my gaze for a moment before quickly looking away. "Thanks," she replied softly, and I could tell it wasn't just gratitude in her voice—it was something more. Something unspoken.

I leaned in slightly, just enough for her to notice, and let the silence hang between us. "I'm glad you're here, Y/N. You've been a great help."

Her eyes flickered to mine again, and for a second, the world around us disappeared. It was just us. In that moment, I couldn't help but wonder if she felt the same pull, the same unspoken connection that I did.

But before I could say anything more, the sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted us. Lily was standing nearby, a playful smirk on her face. "Everything good over here?" she asked, her tone teasing.

Y/N quickly pulled her gaze away from mine, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Yeah," she said, voice steady but with a hint of nervousness I hadn't expected. "Just going over some details."

I straightened up and cleared my throat, trying to regain some composure. "Alright, we should wrap this up soon. I'll be in the conference room for a few minutes."

As I turned to leave, I heard Y/N's voice behind me. "Taylor..."

I stopped, my hand on the door. I didn't turn around immediately, but I could feel her eyes on me again.

"Yeah?"

She was silent for a beat. "Nothing," she finally said, and I could hear the uncertainty in her voice. But I knew it wasn't nothing. There was something more, and I was sure she could feel it too.

Y/N's POV
My heart raced as Taylor left the room. The tension between us was unbearable, and I didn't know how much longer I could ignore it. I was walking a fine line, and I knew it. But every time I looked at her, every time she spoke to me, I couldn't help but feel drawn to her in a way I couldn't explain.

I couldn't focus on the work anymore. The line had already been crossed—at least for me. And I wasn't sure if I was ready to walk away from it yet.

Taylor's POV
As I walked back to my office, my mind was spinning. Every conversation with Y/N felt like it was full of hidden meanings, unspoken words. I couldn't deny the attraction I felt, but I wasn't sure where it was going.

I had to be careful. I couldn't let this become a distraction. But as I sat down at my desk, I realized one thing: I couldn't stop thinking about her.

And that was a problem.