Will productivity be affected by love in the office?

'What is wrong with me?'

Gnosis sat at his desk, sighing out with frustration. He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose while closing his eyes to try to calm himself.

'Why can't I stop these thoughts?'

He couldn't believe he hadn't gotten any work done whatsoever.

Putting his glasses back on, he looked down at the accumulation of papers on the table. It was all work he should have done but couldn't, due to...

His own intrusive thoughts.

He leaned back into his chair.

'Why am I thinking of her so much?'

The thought felt so foreign to him. For the longest time, Gnosis had never once been interested in anybody. Even when girls had approached him, he usually brushed them off, saying relationships would get in the way of what he desired to achieve.

Being at the top.

One after another, girls would confess to him, and he would reject them over and over again, stating the same thing every time. It came to the point that rumors around the Rhodes Island office began to spread about him being a heartbreaker and to be wary of him. With some even calling him 'Ice heart' for not being more considerate about other people's feelings.

It didn't bother him. He thought it was for the best. Without any more girls being interested in him, he could proceed on with his work, just as he always had.

But then... someone came along, someone who would change all his feelings.

Shining.

When first introduced to her and getting to know her, he only thought of her as an excellent scholar. She was somebody who had the brains, the capacity to actually step and carry her share fair of work. She was one of the only people he felt he could count on.

But then...they went to the beach.

It had been the company's idea to make sure everyone had a nice and relaxing break. At first, he had considered not going, but the company had insisted that everyone be obliged to participate in the get-together.

He gave in. Perhaps it would be a good way to advance on projects while everyone else goofed off.

Then, he saw her.

He had been sitting on a towel under a parasol when she walked up. Her long hair tied in a long ponytail, and her one-piece black bathing suit.

A warm sensation spread in his face as he discreetly looked at her. Never once had he seen her dressed in such a manner. Shining had always been so distant and conservative, wearing her black hood at all times.

That was the first time he had seen her as a true woman.

From that point on, she was all he could think about. Even when working, he still found himself glancing over at her from time to time. He began to realize much more about her than just her physical appearance. The sound of her voice, the way she expressed caring and consideration for him without being intrusive of his space, the way she would stay after work just to help him when she knew he was overworking. Even when he was sure she had also known about the rumors going on about him, she didn't seem to mind.

There were so many things he had never realized before, and it drove him mad.

He sighed.

'But is it really a good idea to say anything about these feelings?'

He wasn't sure. He had never thought much about the idea of falling for someone. He had worn his badge as a heartbreaker on his sleeve and never thought once about removing it.

'Could it even work out?'

What if it didn't?

He looked to the side. If it didn't, there would always be the potential of ruining a work relationship and for them not to be able to cooperate on further projects.

He didn't want that either.

"Excuse me?"

A voice caught his attention, and he found himself looking up at the same person who had been wandering around in his mind all day.

"Oh, Shining. Did you need anything?" He tried to give off his same attitude as ever, fixing his glasses as he looked at her.

Her face was as serious and nonchalant, as ever. She handed him some papers.

"I've completed the report that we needed to compile. I wanted to ask you to look over it before I hand it in."

The report!

It had been due today.

'Curse it all.' He cussed mentally as he took the paper from him. He had been intending to help her with the report, but unfortunately, he had been distracted.

"My apologies for not helping out more with it." He nodded at her as he skimmed over it. "So far, it looks good to me. If any problems arise, feel free to pin any defaults on me. I will take full responsibility for my inaction."

She shook her head.

"It is quite alright, Gnosis. There's no need for that." Even through her unemotional face, he could see her eyes burning with a caring feeling. "You have been looking distracted today. There's no need for you to push yourself. You have done more than enough."

He could feel his heart skip a beat.

She wasn't angry like others would have been, nor did she yell at him for not being able to pull his weight.

The understanding felt so different to him.

She had just turned around, ready to leave, when he decided to speak up again.

"Shining."

She turned back to him.

"Yes, Gnosis?"

Her look was filled with confusion, accentuated more when she saw him stand up, and walk up to her.

His heart beating fast in his chest.

Was this really okay?

What if something went wrong?

The thoughts were still fluttering around in his head. Part of his brain was telling him not to do this, that it was a bad idea, and that it would ruin everything. In normal situations, Gnosis would have listened to it, as it felt like the more reasonable side of himself

But...

"After you've given the reporting, do you want to head out? Office hours are over, and I would like to take you out for coffee. As a way of thanking you for the hard work."

Even though on the outside, he seemed cool and composed, his insides felt like they were burning up. Never once had he asked someone out like that. The feeling felt new and surreal.

She nodded, and for a moment, Gnosis thought he saw even the tiniest smile appear on her face.

"Sure, I would like that." She said softly as she turned around and walked off. The sound of her boots as she did seem to echo in his mind, almost as if in symphony with his beating heart.

Part of him still wondered if he had done the right thing. If worse came to worse, he would lose not only a valuable partner in the office but someone he had grown to care about, as well.

But it didn't matter anymore.

As she returned from giving the report, she grasped her things, and they walked together to the door. They talked about their projects and about their lives.

For the first time in a long time, Gnosis felt happy.

He had rejected so many girls before as a way to protect his productivity.

But now, sitting here with Shining, he felt like it didn't matter.

Even if it didn't work out, even if he had to be alone at the office with no one to understand, he would accept it all. He knew the risks, and he was okay with it.

'Maybe another reason I didn't go out with other girls was because I didn't think I would get along with them.'

The thought made sense to him.

Not many would be okay with his professional and distant demeanor. He felt like most fell for his looks before getting to truly know him, the man who seemed to have a heart covered in ice.

But now, this was different

Shining seemed to understand. She didn't judge him for overworking or getting angry when he couldn't meet his ends. She reached her caring hand to him and did her best to help him, even if it meant taking on more responsibilities herself.

And even if it meant risking all of that because of his sudden development of feelings in such a woman, he thought it would be okay.

Because he knew in his heart that he'd rather take the plunge with the possibility of failure than never try and regret it forever.

If it meant...he could have the slightest chance of being with her.

With Shining.

The only girl that could maybe melt the snow in his heart that no one else could.