Chapter 13: The Almost Kiss

Elliot's POV

The next day at work felt weird. Aiden barely looked at me all morning, when he did his face was blank like nothing happened last night. I tried to focus on my work but all I could think about was how close we were to kissing before the call ruined.

By afternoon I had given up pretending I could concentrate. I kept messing up simple tasks and had to redo reports twice because I typed the wrong numbers. Aiden did not say anything about it but I could tell he noticed.

Around six everyone started leaving for the day. The office emptied out until it was just me and Aiden left on our floor. I should have gone home too but something kept me at my desk pretending to work on a spreadsheet that did not actually need fixing.

"Elliot," Aiden said from his office doorway. I looked up to see him standing there with his sleeves rolled up and his tie loose. "Come here."

I got up then walked to his office on legs that felt shaky. He closed the door behind me which made the room feel smaller somehow.

"We need to finish going over these contracts," he said while gesturing to a pile of papers on his desk. "It might take a few hours."

"Okay," I said even though we both knew the contracts could wait until tomorrow. This was an excuse to be alone together and we both knew it.

We sat at his desk going through papers for the next hour.

Every time our hands touched passing documents I felt that same electric feeling from last night. Aiden's jaw kept getting tight like he was fighting to stay focused.

"This section needs to be rewritten," he said while pointing at a paragraph. I leaned closer to read it and suddenly we were inches apart again just like last night.

"Yeah," I said quietly. "I can fix that tomorrow."

"Good," he said but did not move away. Neither did I.

The office was so quiet I could hear the clock ticking on the wall. Outside the windows the city lights were coming on as the sky got dark. We were completely alone up here.

"Elliot," Aiden said while turning to face me. "About last night."

"We do not have to talk about it," I said fast because I was scared of what he might say.

"Yes we do," he said. "Because I cannot stop thinking about it."

My heart started racing. "Me neither."

"This is complicated," he said while running his hand through his hair. "There are so many reasons why we should not do this."

"I know," I said.

"My father, the board, your job. The rumors," he listed off. "Any one of those things should be enough to stop this."

"But?" I asked because there had to be a but.

"But I do not care," he said while looking at me with those intense eyes. "I should care. I have spent my whole life being careful and controlled. But with you I do not want to be careful anymore."

He reached out then touched my face just like he did last night. His hand was warm and gentle. I leaned into his touch without thinking.

"Tell me you feel this too," he said. "Tell me I am not going crazy."

"You are not crazy," I whispered. "I feel it."

His thumb brushed across my cheek. We were so close I could count his eyelashes, my eyes started to close as he leaned in.

This was really happening. After weeks of tension and almost moments we were finally going to kiss. I could feel his breath on my lips.

Then his phone rang.

"Ignore it," I said but he was already pulling away to check who was calling.

"It is the head of security," he said while frowning at his screen. "I have to take this."

He answered the phone. "What is it?"

I watched his face go hard as he listened to whoever was talking. "When did this happen?" he asked. "I will be there in twenty minutes."

He hung up then looked at me with frustration written all over his face. "There is a security breach at the data center. I have to go deal with it right now."

"Is it serious?" I asked.

"Someone tried to hack into our servers," he said while grabbing his jacket. "They did not get in but we need to figure out who it was and make sure all our systems are secure."

"Okay," I said while trying not to show how disappointed I felt. We were so close to finally crossing that line.

Aiden walked to the door then stopped with his hand on the handle. He turned back to look at me.

"This is not over," he said quiet but firm. "You and me. Whatever this is. It is not over."

"Okay," I said again because my brain could not form better words.

He stared at me for another long moment like he was memorizing my face. Then he opened the door and left.

I stood there in his empty office feeling frustrated and confused and wanting him so badly it hurt. My lips were tingling from the almost kiss. My face was warm where he touched it.

I grabbed my stuff then left the office. The subway ride home felt longer than usual. When I finally got to my apartment I collapsed on my couch and stared at the ceiling.

My phone buzzed with a text from Aiden. "The security breach was Vivian. She tried to access confidential files about the board vote. We have proof."

I sat up fast then typed back "What are you going to do?"

"Fire her tomorrow," he replied. "She has gone too far this time."

Another text came through. "I meant what I said. This is not over. We will finish what we started."

I read his message three times before responding "I know."

I put my phone down then touched my face where his hand had been. Everything was falling apart around us. The board vote was in a few days. Vivian was actively trying to sabotage Aiden. My family was closing in. And we still had not even kissed yet.

But Aiden said this was not over which meant he was not giving up on whatever was happening between us. That had to mean something. That had to be worth fighting for.

My phone buzzed again but this time it was from an unknown number. I opened it feeling my stomach drop.

"Vivian is not your only problem. Your past is catching up."

I deleted the message but my hands were shaking. Someone knew something. Someone was watching. And time was running out before everything exploded.