08:
The hum of the lab was punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter and chatter. Amelia sat at her workstation, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she reviewed the latest data. Around her, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement and anticipation for the new project. She took a sip of her coffee, the bitter taste grounding her amidst the chaos.
Across the room, a group of her female colleagues huddled together, their voices low but animated. Amelia didn't have to strain to catch snippets of their conversation.
"Did you see Sebastian today?" one of them whispered, her eyes wide with admiration. "He's looking so rugged lately."
"Seriously," another chimed in, "those glasses make him look so intellectual. And that messy hair? Totally adds to his charm."
Amelia's fingers paused over the keyboard, her mind wandering. She couldn't help but silently agree with their observations. Sebastian had always been handsome, but there was something different about him now. He had a ruggedness that hadn't been there before, a raw intensity that made him even more magnetic.
She remembered their time together years ago. He was ridiculously good at math, able to solve complex equations with ease. It had always impressed her, even if she rarely showed it. It wasn't surprising that he had turned out this way, a brilliant scientist with an edge of unpredictability.
But there was something else about him now. He seemed... unstable. Easily pissed off, his temper flaring at the slightest provocation. Amelia found herself intrigued by this new side of him, even as it unsettled her.
"He walked right past me in the hall this morning," one of the women continued, "and I swear, I almost swooned. He's just so... intense."
Amelia fought the urge to roll her eyes. Instead, she focused on her screen, trying to ignore the fluttering in her chest. She wasn't supposed to be affected by him, not after everything that had happened. But there was no denying it—Sebastian had a presence that was hard to ignore.
"Amelia, have you noticed?" one of her colleagues asked, pulling her out of her thoughts. "Sebastian seems really on edge lately. Do you think it’s the new project?"
Amelia looked up, her eyes meeting theirs. "Maybe," she said noncommittally. "It's a big project, lots of pressure."
They nodded, accepting her answer, but she could see the curiosity in their eyes. They wanted to know more, to understand the enigmatic figure that Sebastian had become. And truthfully, so did she.
As the day wore on, Amelia couldn't shake the image of Sebastian from her mind. His rugged appearance, his piercing gaze, the way he commanded the room even when he wasn't trying. She had seen glimpses of the man he could become years ago, but now, standing before her, he was a puzzle she couldn't quite piece together.
Her thoughts drifted back to their recent interactions. The way he had looked at her, the intensity in his eyes. He seemed almost... possessive, a stark contrast to the detached demeanor he usually projected. It was confusing, and Amelia didn't like feeling confused.
She sighed, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. She had work to do, and she couldn't afford to let her mind wander. But even as she tried to focus, a part of her couldn't help but wonder what had changed in Sebastian. What had made him this way? And more importantly, what did it mean for them, working together again after all these years?
As the day drew to a close, Amelia gathered her things, preparing to leave. She caught sight of Sebastian across the lab, his brow furrowed in concentration as he worked on a complex equation. She paused, watching him for a moment longer than necessary.
"Good night, Dr. Knight," one of her colleagues called, breaking her reverie.
"Good night," she replied, forcing a smile. She glanced back at Sebastian one last time before heading out the door.
The questions lingered in her mind. Sebastian was a mystery, one she was determined to solve, even if it meant confronting the past she had tried so hard to forget. And as much as she hated to admit it, a part of her was looking forward to the challenge.
On her way to the hallway to grab another coffee, Amelia found herself muttering, "Why do I even care about him? Is it a biological response? Right, chemicals in the brain... dopamine, oxytocin, all that jazz. Is my brain trying to trick me into thinking I'm interested in him just because he looks like he stepped out of a rugged hot-guy catalog?"
She paused, frowning. "Maybe it's the pheromones. Ugh, damn you, pheromones! Making me think he's all that just because he smells nice and looks like a disgruntled professor."
Amelia stopped short and facepalmed. "This is ridiculous. I'm a scientist, not some hormone-driven teenager like these idiots around me. Get it together, Amelia."
She was so caught up in her self-reprimand that she didn't notice Sebastian standing right beside her, his eyebrow raised in bemusement.
"Talking to yourself again, Amelia?" he asked, his voice a perfect mix of amusement and curiosity.
Amelia jumped, her cheeks flushing. "What? No! I was just... doing some mental calculations."
Sebastian smirked, adjusting his glasses. "Sure you were."
Amelia gave him a withering look. "Don't you have some equations to solve or something?"
"I could ask you the same thing," he retorted, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Amelia huffed, turning on her heel. "Whatever, Mathemagician. I've got work to do."
As she walked away, she couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, her brain had a point. But she shoved the thought aside, determined not to let Sebastian get under her skin any more than he already had.
Amelia marched down the hallway, her mind still racing from her encounter with Sebastian. As she approached the exit, she suddenly remembered something important—the experiment. The kiss experiment, to be exact. She stopped in her tracks and spun around, searching for Sebastian.
She spotted him heading toward his office, and without thinking, she called out, "Hey, Sebastian!"
He turned, his expression one of mild curiosity. "Yes, Amelia?"
She walked up to him, a mix of confusion and determination on her face. "What did you mean earlier about me testing the experiment on you as a test subject?"
Sebastian’s lips curled into a small, almost mischievous smile. "I'll explain everything once everyone has gone home. It’s too chaotic to discuss it properly right now."
Amelia furrowed her brow, clearly perplexed. "What? Why wait? Why can’t you just tell me now?"
Sebastian’s smile widened, but he kept his tone calm and authoritative. "Because it’s a complex explanation, and I want to make sure you understand it fully without any interruptions. Trust me, it'll be worth the wait."
Amelia's curiosity was piqued, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she nodded slowly, trying to mask her confusion. "Fine, but this better not be some elaborate joke."
Sebastian chuckled softly, adjusting his glasses. "I assure you, it’s not a joke. See you later, Amelia."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Amelia standing in the hallway, her mind buzzing with questions. She watched him go, the conflicting emotions swirling within her.
As she stood there, she couldn’t help but wonder what he had planned and why it had to be discussed in private. Part of her was irritated by his cryptic behavior, but another part of her was undeniably intrigued. She sighed, resigning herself to the wait, and headed back to her office to finish her work, her thoughts now firmly fixed on the mysterious meeting that awaited her.
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