LAYLA

Chapter 7

It's been almost two weeks since I started working in this office and the house party. I have not received even a single text from Matt which explains everything. He just wanted hookup, and he chose the wrong person for it. However, I am a little heartbroken, but this is also the first time that any boy has ever shown a slight interest in me. I am not just made for love.

It's been the same, court, then office, then home, and again, the same routine. It is exhausting as well as exciting at the same time. Watching counsels argue, meeting industry people, hearing their stories, and then working on practical life issues and not just burying yourself in the books reading what happened years ago.

Today we have a lot of cases listed up, and most of them are in the same courtroom; this is a relief, though. Standing in the courtroom, I feel like someone is staring at me. You know that girl's intuition? I look around the courtroom, and my eyes find a person. Is he an intern? No, wait, he wearing the white neckband, which is worn by advocates. He is pretty young and pretty to be an advocate, most probably a recent graduate. He is continuously staring at me as I try to study him.

After a while, I avert my gaze as if I have been caught. Why is he staring? Is something wrong with how I stand, or is something wrong with my outfit? I try to look in his direction, but he still stares at me. He is fair-looking, with wavy dark brown hair styled tousled and dressed in a suit. However, there is a tiny stud earring that stands out. He is trying to keep his professional look, yet his anime main character vibes are in check. He is lean and athletic, standing at around 6 feet tall. He has a well-defined jawline, sharp facial features, high cheekbones, and a defined chin.

I try to avert my eyes initially; however, he is staring at me. Why should I shy away? The next time I catch him looking towards me, I will stare back. Nothing is holding me back this time. And it happens our eyes meet again. This time I hold his stare. It's like we are playing a game; the loser is the person who averts their gaze first or blinks first. We are holding each other's gaze, and I notice his eyes are blue, cornflower blue; they have a little spark in them. He smirked; why did he smirked? I am suddenly hot, my cheeks blazing; I hope they are not red. I avert my gaze as quickly, fully aware I have lost this unsaid battle. From the corner of my eye, I can see him still smirking, claiming his victory, and I hate it. I feel vulnerable, like he can feel every ounce of emotion I am going through right now. And I fucking hate it.

I try not to look in his direction again and try not to embarrass myself. After almost thirty minutes of fighting my own battle, I look again in the same direction. This time I am not able to spot him. My eyes searched for him again, and now there was a fuzzy feeling inside my stomach. A feeling I cannot explain. It feels like he knows too much about me than I do, and being vulnerable is the one thing I hate.

I exit the courtroom after I do not see him anywhere inside the room. As I step outside, out of nowhere, he steps in front of me. As if he knew I would come looking for him. He is goddamn beautiful, and being this close to him feels like burning compared to nothing I have felt.

"Hey, beautiful! Looking for someone?" I am down for his voice; it's husky, low-pitched with warmth, and a little rugged.

"Uhh..um...no....yes...no i just came for fresh air"

"Is it so?" he smirked again, and my intrusive thoughts clouded my mind; I could not think or process anything right now.