A Forbidden Affair - The Hot New Neighbor

“Jayden…” Lena said, her eyes widening.

“Lena… is this where you stay?” he asked, looking around briefly.

Before he could say anything else, she grabbed his wrist, dragged him inside, and slammed the door shut behind them.

“Start talking,” she snapped, anger evident in her voice.

Jayden blinked, caught off guard. “I don’t understand.”

“You’re full of shit,” Lena said, eyeing him up and down with pure irritation. “You now stalk me? Let me get something straight—the next time I see you up in my face, I’m calling the cops.”

Jayden frowned, confusion settling deeper on his face.

“Don’t you get it?” she continued, her voice rising. “You and your dad ruined my life. What more do you want from me? Showing up everywhere I go—I can’t even sleep peacefully anymore!”

“Lena…” Jayden tried to speak, his tone calmer than hers.

“And now you show up at my house? What do you expect? That we make peace and fuck each other? Go find a fuck buddy.”

“Lena! That’s enough,” Jayden snapped, his voice firm.

Lena’s chest rose and fell as she breathed in and out, trying to steady herself.

Jayden watched her for a moment, disappointment flickering in his eyes. Then he slowly shook his head, turned, and walked out without another word.

The door clicked shut.

Lena stood there, frozen.

“What just happened?” she whispered to herself.

She dragged her fingers through her hair in frustration, pacing the room. Her heart was still racing, her head spinning.

Later that evening, she went downstairs to throw out her trash. The hallway was quiet.

“Hey, Lena,” Rosie cooed when she spotted her.

“Hey,” Lena replied casually, though her mind was still elsewhere.

“So… what do you think about the new hottie?” Rosie asked, wiggling her brows.

“Errm… I haven’t met him,” Lena said.

Rosie frowned. “Huh? He didn’t come to your apartment?”

“No,” Lena said shortly.

“Well, that’s strange. He came knocking on each door, greeting everyone.”

Lena held her breath.

“Can you describe him?” she asked carefully.

Rosie placed a dramatic hand on her chest. “My pleasure. He’s tall, he’s hot, his eyes are beautiful, his lips…”

She paused, biting her lip.

“Sexy,” she whispered.

Lena rolled her eyes, though her stomach tightened.

“Does he have a tattoo?” Lena asked.

“Hell, yeah. And they are so cool.”

“Oh my God!” Lena gasped, covering her mouth.

“I know, right? I feel the same, sis." Rosie giggled before walking away.

“Fuck…” Lena muttered under her breath. “Jayden’s the new neighbor.”

She froze.

“Hold on… that’s the reason he came to my apartment.”

Her shoulders dropped.

“I’m such a meanie,” she said, lightly hitting her mouth. “Now he won’t even want to look at me. How am I supposed to apologize?”

When she stepped into the elevator, she found herself hoping to see him.

But he was nowhere in sight.

That night, sleeping was so difficult.

She tossed and turned, replaying everything she said over and over again.

“He probably thinks I’m a bitch,” she muttered, staring at the ceiling.

Saturday morning came slower than usual.

Lena decided to take a day off.

She wanted a day to herself.

But her mind was a turmoil.

Her mind kept circling back to one thing.

Jayden.

By noon, a message popped up on the building’s residents’ group chat.

Home meeting. 2 PM. Ground floor lounge. Mandatory.

Lena groaned, tossing her phone aside “Great,” she muttered. “Just great.”

By 2 PM, the lounge was filled with low chatter and scattered laughter. Residents gathered in small groups, discussing.

Lena stood by the corner, arms folded, scanning the room.

And then she saw him.

Leaning casually against the wall, hands in his pockets, looking completely unbothered—like yesterday never happened.

Her stomach tightened.

Okay… Just go talk to him.

She took a step forward.

Then another.

“Jayden”

He turned.

For a split second, their eyes met.

Then he looked away.

Like she wasn’t even there.

Lena froze.

Did he just—

She swallowed, forcing herself to move closer again.

“Jayden, I—”

“Hey!” Suzy’s voice cut in brightly.

Jayden turned instantly.

“Hi,” he said, a small smile forming on his lips.

Lena blinked.

Wait.

He… responded?

“Oh my God, you’re the new neighbor, right?” Suzy said, flipping her hair. “I’m Suzy.”

“Jayden,” he replied, his tone polite… warm.

Lena felt something twist in her chest.

She stood there, awkwardly, like she didn’t belong in the conversation.

“So where did you move from?” Suzy continued, clearly enjoying the attention.

“Not too far,” Jayden said.

He chuckled softly at something she said next.

Lena’s fingers curled slightly.

But when she tried again

“Jayden”

He didn’t even look at her.

That hurt more than she expected.

She stepped back slowly, retreating into herself.

The meeting started shortly after, but Lena barely heard a word. Her mind was too loud, her chest too tight.

As soon as it ended, people began to disperse.

Lena didn’t wait.

She spotted him heading toward the exit and hurried after him.

“Jayden!”

He stopped.

Slowly, he turned around.

Up close, his expression was unreadable.

“Can we talk?” Lena asked, slightly out of breath.

He didn’t respond immediately.

Just looked at her.

Lena swallowed.

“I… I’m sorry,” she said.

The words felt strange coming out of her mouth.

“I didn’t know you were the new neighbor. I thought…” she trailed off, shaking her head. “I thought you were following me.”

Jayden’s brows lifted slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

“I overreacted,” she continued. “I said things I shouldn’t have.”

Silence.

“I didn’t mean all that,” she added softly.

For a moment, he just stared at her.

Then—

He nodded.

No reassurance, just a nod.

And then he walked past her.

Lena stood there, unable to move.

The apology she had rehearsed all morning suddenly felt insignificant.

She turned slowly, watching his retreating figure until he disappeared down the hallway.

Her chest tightened.

“I deserved that,” she whispered to herself.

I probably should have listened to him.