Page 14 of He Sees You When You’re Sleeping

“So,” I say, desperate to change the vibe of the room, “the recent designs lately are amazing. I’m excited to show them off. In fact, I’m going to go live as soon as you leave.”

The intensity in his gaze makes me squirm so I stand and head toward the door. This is not the same Tyler from the office, the one who blushes when someone tells a slightly off-color joke. This Tyler is... different. But not different in a good way. Different in a way that tells me I need to gracefully get him out my door.

Tyler takes a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “Going live? That sounds interesting. Maybe I could stick around and watch?”

The air in the room suddenly feels thick, oppressive. I take an involuntary step back, bumping into the bookshelf behind me.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ll get too nervous knowing someone is watching.”

He doesn’t move.

“Thanks for stopping by, though.”

For a long moment, he stares at me, his expression unreadable. Then, just as suddenly as his demeanor changed, the mask of the affable executive slips back into place.

“Of course,” he says, forcing a laugh that doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m sure you have a lot to do.”

I nod, relief washing over me as Tyler sets down his coffee mug and moves toward the door. But as he reaches for the handle, he pauses and turns back to me.

“If you change your mind about the party...”

As he finally exits, I close the door behind him and lean against it. Why was that so weird?

I shake off the unsettling feeling and double-check that I’ve locked the door. Something about that interaction has left me rattled, but I can’t quite put my finger on why. Maybe I’m just paranoid after recent years of living alone.

Trying to push Tyler out of my mind, I focus on setting up for my livestream. I arrange the latest Moth to the Flame designs on my desk, adjusting the lighting to showcase them perfectly.

I take a deep breath, centering myself before going live. This is my element. This is where I shine.

“Hey everyone!” I say brightly as the red light blinks on. “Thanks for joining me tonight. I’ve got some exciting new pieces to show you...”