about how you can be a little nicer next time."

Soren raised an eyebrow, amused by her remark. "Oh, but where's the fun in that?" he replied, a playful glint in his eyes. Tara rolled her own, exasperated by his antics.

"You really should take things more seriously," she insisted, crossing her arms.

He leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile still plastered on his face. "And miss out on the joy of teasing you? Never."

Tara shook her head, unable to suppress a smile despite her irritation. It was infuriating how he could make her feel so flustered and yet warm at the same time.

"Just... try to keep it professional," she said, her voice softening.

"Professional?" Soren echoed, leaning closer as if sharing a secret. "But I find you far too interesting to be just professional."

Tara felt her cheeks flush as she turned to leave, desperate to escape the intensity of his gaze. "I’ll see you later, Mr. Farrell," she said over her shoulder, trying to maintain her composure.

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As she walked away, she couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement mixed with apprehension. There was something undeniably magnetic about Soren, and the more she tried to resist it, the stronger it seemed to grow.

In the hallway, she encountered Stella again, who was waiting with a smug expression on her face. "You two looked cozy," she remarked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Tara sighed, knowing she was about to enter into another round of Stella's teasing. "It’s not like that," she protested, though her heart raced at the thought of Soren's lingering presence.

"Sure it isn't," Stella replied with a knowing smile. "But you can't deny there's something there."

Tara felt a wave of frustration wash over her. "Can we please not do this right now?"

Stella raised her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I won't push—yet."

As they continued down the hallway, Tara couldn't shake the feeling that her interactions with Soren were changing her in ways she didn't fully understand. She glanced back toward his room, a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty swirling in her mind. What was she getting herself into?

Little did she know, this was just the beginning of a much deeper connection that would challenge her perceptions and ultimately reshape her world.