The next morning

The next morning, Amelia awoke to the soft glow of her phone screen. She had an unread message from Dane. With a mix of excitement and curiosity, she opened it. Her eyes widened as she saw a shirtless pic, his message accompanying it: "I felt that I owed you something after you shared your picture. I hope this makes up for it."

This was the first time Amelia had seen Dane shirtless, and he looked every bit as she had imagined. His broad shoulders and well-defined abs were highlighted by the early morning light. A dusting of grey hair covered his chest, giving him a distinguished yet rugged appeal. Amelia's breath caught in her throat as she studied the photo, her mind swirling with thoughts and emotions. Gathering herself, she decided to reply with a teasing tone. "Boss, you’re quite the sight. Those abs are impressive, but I have to say, the grey hair on your chest is incredibly sexy."

She hesitated for a moment before adding, "I’d love to see it in person sometime."

The thrill of her own boldness sent a shiver down her spine. She hit send and waited, her heart racing. It wasn't long before Dane responded with a single word that set her imagination alight: "Soon."

Amelia lay back on her bed, her mind spinning. What did he mean by "soon"? Was he planning to see her outside of work? The possibilities were endless, and the anticipation was almost too much to bear.