Another day at the office was quieter than Beatrice could have imagined. She had buried herself in her work these past few days, a looming deadline driving her focus. 

Deep into a particularly challenging spreadsheet, she hit an obstacle. An error in the formula had derailed all her progress, leaving her work in disarray. The longer tried to fix it, the more the problem seemed to grow larger.

With a discontented sigh, she swept her long, brown hair up and out of her face. Alas, she knew that admitting defeat was the last resort and she wasn't ready to lose this battle just yet. After all, she had been raised to be independent. Growing up with three brilliant sisters and a mother who had uprooted their lives to start anew in this town after a divorce, Beatrice had learned to admire strength and self-reliance.

Still, her resolve faltered for a moment as she glanced in River's direction. He was sitting there, intently focused on his own work, but every so often, he would dial up, his eyes meeting hers for a brief moment. Their recent interactions had been friendly but professional, and she didn't want to overstep any boundaries. Still, Beatrice couldn't deny that a part of her wished she could turn to him for help.

She was learning to hate this part of her. 

She returned back to her work unwillingly, not quite knowing where to start. River stood there, his dark curls slightly disheveled and his light eyes curious. Without waiting for a disapproval, he knelt down beside her desk, his proximity oddly calming her down notably. 

"Mind if I take a look?" he asked, his voice calm and steady.

Beatrice hesitated, feeling a mix of annoyance and relief. 

"I appreciate the offer, River, but I'd really like to figure this out myself."

River's smile didn't waver. "I understand. Sometimes we all need a little help, though. Let me just take a quick look, and if I can't fix it, you'll still have the chance to solve it yourself."

His casual approach softened her irritation. She reluctantly agreed, his close proximity was influencing. As he began to review the spreadsheet, Beatrice tried to focus on keeping her frustration in check. 

Just as River was getting into the groove of fixing the issue, Rowan, a smaller, older coworker with short dark hair and soft features, wandered over. He wore a rough, scruffy beard along his jaw, clearly not concerned with neatness, but it suited him—just shy of disheveled. Rowan was typically quiet and somewhat closed off, blending into the background of office life. His presence was usually understated, but today he seemed unusually intent on inserting himself into the situation.

"Hey, River," Rowan said, his tone carrying a hint of detachment. "You know, I don't think you're scheduled to be on-hand assistance for the office today. I can step in if needed." There was a gentle lightness to his tone, like he spoke just above a whisper but with precision. 

River's posture tensed next to me ever so slightly, and a flicker of irritation crossed his face. His normally easy-going demeanor gave way to a more guarded expression. "I'm fine, thanks. I've got this under control," he replied, his voice firm but laced with an edge.

Rowan raised an eyebrow, seemingly unfazed by River's reaction. "Just thought I'd offer."

Beatrice watched the exchange with curiosity, sensing an undercurrent of tension between them. It was clear that there was some history, though the details were beyond her. River's reaction was unexpectedly defensive, and Rowan's comment seemed to hit a nerve.

"Thanks, Rowan," Beatrice said quickly, trying to defuse the situation. "But River's help is appreciated. I'm just about finished."

Rowan gave a nonchalant shrug, casting a final glance at River before turning away. "Sure thing. Just don't let him get too caught up in your mess."

As Rowan walked off, River let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing. He continued working on the spreadsheet with a quiet determination, though his earlier irritation seemed to linger. Beatrice couldn't help but notice the way River's fingers moved with a practiced efficiency, as if channeling his frustration into a focused effort.

"Looks like you've got a circular reference issue here," River said after a moment, his tone returning to its usual calm. "It's causing the data to loop incorrectly. Let me fix that for you."

Beatrice watched him work, feeling a mix of gratitude and annoyance. He was persistent, she had to give him that. It was clear that he wasn't going to let her struggle alone if he could help, even when she had tried to decline his assistance.

"Thanks for doing this," Beatrice said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I didn't realize how tangled this had become."

River shrugged, a casual gesture that seemed to convey both ease and willingness. "No problem. I know it sounds funny, but I've had my share of digging myself into a data disaster too. It's all part of the job."

Beatrice squinted at the comment suspiciously and refrained from protesting. Some things are better left unsaid. 

As he worked, Beatrice found herself observing him more closely. He moved with a practiced efficiency, his face fixed into a almost frozen blankness as his fingers worked away at the keyboard. The small tattoos on his hands were visible as he gestured, adding a touch of personal detail to his otherwise polished appearance.

Finally, River leaned back, his task complete. "There you go. All fixed. You should be good to go now."

Beatrice glanced at the screen, seeing that the work was now accurate and aligned correctly. A genuine smile spread across her face despite herself. "Wow, that's a relief. I was really stuck on this."

"Glad I could help. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes is all it takes."

As he stood to leave, Beatrice felt a surge of gratitude mixed with lingering irritation. "I owe you one. Really. You don't give up easily, do you?"

River chuckled lightly, waving it off with a casual air. "Don't mention it. Just paying it forward."

She watched as he walked back to his desk, feeling a bit lighter and more reassured. River had come to her aid without a second thought, breaking the unspoken rule of office boundaries in a way that felt both generous and personal. It was a reminder that, despite the formalities of their workplace, there was a genuine connection forming between them.

Later, Beatrice found herself spiraling into a rabbit hole, and not just any rabbit hole—this one led straight to River Mason. A quick search on social media made it clear that finding him wasn't going to be a challenge; there weren't many River Masons around here. She stumbled across a bunch of videos where River was showing off his seriously sculpted physique. It was like watching a highlight reel of his best workout moments.

Just then, Emily's head popped up over her shoulder, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What's all this, Bea?" she asked, peering at the screen. "I think I recognize that face."

Trying to keep her cool while her cheeks turned a shade of pink, Beatrice replied with a laugh, "Oh, you know, just doing some essential research."

Emily's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Essential research, huh? I'm genuinely not shocked. With arms like those, I'd have thought for sure he'd be off the market at least." She covered her mouth with a giggle, clearly enjoying the moment.

"You can stop embarrassing me now, Em," Beatrice said, rolling her eyes as she set her phone aside. "My love life might be a never-ending cycle of awkwardness, but I would be just fine, living peacefully alone with my growing to-be-read list and my several cats."

Emily gave her a sympathetic look but couldn't resist a playful grin. "Oh, don't be so glum. You never know—River might just be charmed by your little romantic comedy library at home and your feline kingdom."

"I doubt it," Beatrice said with a sigh. "I'm all about cozy games, coffee, and watching Gilmore Girls, while he's all gym routines and work ethic. I don't see how we'd ever mesh."

She watched as Emily's face lit up with a sudden idea, her expression shifting as her plan took shape."Well, if every conversation between us is just me giving you pep talks on how-to's with River, you might as well let me contribute to the cause." Emily suggested with a mischievous grin.

"What cause?" 

"The cause of helping you get some." 

Beatrice gasped, her voice hitting a low note as she emphasized, "You. Would. Not. Dare." 

"Oh yes. I would, indeed." 

"And what exactly is your plan?" Beatrice asked, raising an eyebrow.

Emily leaned in with a grin. "Don't you worry bout a thing, my dear. You just keep focusing on that brilliant mind of yours."

Beatrice's heart started racing, matching the rhythm of Emily's heels clicking as she made her way to the copier. Her red curls bounced with each step, and she glanced back at Beatrice with a playful wink.

--------

A soft ping drew Beatrice's attention to her screen, and her heart gave a little jump when she saw River's name flash in her private work chat. Curiosity piqued, she clicked the message and found a screenshot attached. It was a text from Emily to River from earlier today, and Beatrice's eyes quickly scanned the words.

"I honestly adore the two of you together. I always thought you'd hit it off! The minute I met Bea, I already had a whole plan to set you up before you even met. You're perfect!"

River followed it with a message of his own. 

So, apparently, we've been part of Emily's master plan all along, he wrote, the familiar teasing tone coming through even over chat. Should we be flattered or slightly concerned?

Beatrice's cheeks flushed as she reread Emily's words, feeling a mix of amusement and embarrassment. River knew exactly how to stir things up without saying too much, and somehow, that made her stomach flip even more.

She could already feel the weight of impending trouble settling in.