LOVE IN CONTRACT

Maya's POV

The next day at work, I told myself that I won't think about it.

I sat at my desk, laptop open, fingers hovering over the keyboard, pretending to review yesterday's notes. The newsroom was ready alive with phones ringing and chairs scraping against the floor.

Except my head wasn't normal.

Ryan Hart.

I shook my head slightly and clicked on another tab. 

"Okay", I whispered to myself, "let's think properly".

I scrolled again.

There was Leo Hartman,a famous actor. Handsome and loved by the public,always smiling. But the more I read it,the more I shook my head. Too many interviews and too many people watching him closely.

"Too exposed",I murmured,drawing a line through his name.

Next was Dr.Philp Raines,philanthropist,always donating money,always giving speeches about ethics and leadership. Clean image,yes but also boring.

"Nothing there",I said to myself,closing his tab.

My phone vibrated softly beside my laptop. A notification.

Someone had replied to my last post on my anonymous account. 

"Power never looks like power until it's too late."

I swallowed.

I created the account as a place to write without filters and without my editor's voice in my head.

I locked my phone and slid it into my bag.

Across the room, Nina walked past my desk, heels clicking sharply against the floor. She stopped and just stood right there.

"Any progress?" she asked.

Her tone wasn't harsh. That made it worse. 

"I'm...still sorting through options," i said carefully.

She nodded once. "Good. Take your time but not too much of it."

Then as if it was an afterthought, she added, 

"Clean stories are boring, Maya. Dig where people don't look."

She walked away before I could respond. 

Dig where people don't look.

I turned back to my laptop and with one click, Ryan Hart's profile filled the screen.

I skimmed through articles I'd already read last night.

Awards, business, expansions, charity dinners and interviews that said everything and nothing at the same time. 

Nothing stuck out. That was the problem.

By the time I left work, my head felt heavy.

I got home tired in a quiet way, the kind that sits in your shoulders and refused to leave. 

Only Lily was around. She sprawled on the floor with her sketch pad, humming to herself.

"Mummy's not back?" I asked.

She shook her head without looking up.

"Restaurant."

I nodded and went straight to my room. I showered quickly, changed into something loose, and tied my hair back the way I always did when I wanted to think clearly.

I opened my laptop and went straight to the document that I created.

What caught my attention was how often Emma Lane appeared beside him.

His secretary.

She was always close, always standing just a step behind him, dressed neatly, smiling lightly.  They liked good together in that polished way, like they belonged in the same picture. 

I thought about Nina words, about headlines and risk.

Maybe I needed to follow him. I needed to see him in real life, outside press photos and articles. 

I pushed my laptop slightly away from me.

I needed air.

I didn't bother closing the screen. Ryan Hart's face stayed there, his name hold beneath it, like he was watching me make up my mind. I grabbed my phone and slipped out of the house, telling Lily I'd be back soon.

I grabbed my jacket and stepped outside. The evening breeze hit my face,cool and calming. I walked without thinking, letting my feet guide me down the street.

I stopped at a small convenience store and went inside,heading straight for the drinks fridge.

As I reached out for an energy drink,another hand reached for the same thing at the same time.

Our fingers brushed.

"Oh sorry",I said quickly,pulling back my hand

The guy laughed softly "My fault. Go ahead".

I looked up

He was tall,causal,wearing a hoodie and jeans,holding a paper bag like he had just come from the same store.

His look was easy and warm

"No harm done", I added.

"I'm Ethan", he said, adjusting the grip on the bag.

"You live around here,right? I've seen you before"

I hesitated then nodded "Yeah. I'm Maya".

"Nice to finally meet you properly", he said,like that meant something.

Something about the way he looked at me made me shift on my feet. Not uncomfortable but maybe noticed.

After paying,we walked together,talking about nothing important like work stress,the neighborhood,bad coffee places nearby. He listened when I spoke,really listened and I found myself relaxing without meaning to. 

"I really enjoyed talking to you", he said suddenly. "Would it be weird if I ask for your number?"

I hesitated for half a second,then shook my head "No. it wouldn't".

We exchanged phones. His name popped up on my screen.

"There", he said. "Now we're officially neighbors".

I laughed softly. "Looks like it"

When we reached my building,I stopped.

"This is me", I said 

"Right", he replied,smiling again. "Maybe I'll see you around?"

"Yeah,Maybe".

"Oh okay", he replied,clearly not ready for the walk to end. "Good night Maya".

"Goodnight,Ethan".

I walked away,feeling his eyes on my back for a while.

When I got home,I locked the door and leaned against it,breathing out slowly.

Ethan was...nice and easy.

But as I dropped my bag and walked back to the table,my eyes went straight to my laptop.

Still open.

Still waiting.

Ryan Hart's name stared back at me from the screen.

If I did this,there would be no room for error and one wrong move, everything would be a disaster.

"Okay", I whispered to myself. "If I'm doing this...I'm doing it properly". 

I opened the chat, my thumb resting on Nina's name.

"Stop overthinking," I told myself. "It's just work."

I typed slowly.

Maya:I've decided to go ahead with the Ryan Hart story.

I stared at the message, then added another one before fear could catch up with me.

Maya: But i want to be careful. I don't want to jump into anything that isn't verified.

I sent it and dropped the phone on the table. "Now we wait," i sighed, rubbing my palms together. 

The screen lit up a few minutes later.

Nina: Good. That's exactly what I wanted to hear.

I sat up straighter.

Nina: You can start by watching him. Where he goes and who keeps around him.

I frowned slightly, "Watching him how?" I whispered, thrb typed it out.

Maya: you mean background research or... following him?

The reply came almost immediately.

Nina:Both. But don't rush. Be smart about it.

I exhaled slowly.

Maya: okay. I'll move carefully. 

Nina: you're doing well, Maya. Just observe. Patterns always reveal something.

I locked my phone and leaned back, my eyes drifting to my laptop screen where his name was still open. 

"So I'm officially doing this," I murmured. "Watching Ryan Hart."