Don’t Walk Away

Emily didn’t answer him because she couldn’t. If she did, she wasn’t sure what she would say.

The silence stretched between them, heavy and fragile at the same time. Adrian didn’t move. He didn’t look away. He was waiting—for her, for something.

Emily took a slow breath, trying to steady herself. “This doesn’t change anything,” she said finally.

His gaze didn’t soften. “It already has.”

Her chest tightened. “No. You don’t get to decide that just because you suddenly feel something.”

“Suddenly?” Adrian repeated.

“Yes, suddenly,” she said, her voice sharpening. “You set the rules. You made it clear what this was. And now—what? You just change your mind?”

Adrian’s jaw tightened slightly. “I’m not changing anything.”

“You are.”

Their eyes locked again. “Then what do you call this?” she asked, gesturing between them. “Because this—this isn’t part of the deal.”

“No,” he said quietly. “It isn’t.”

That answer didn’t help. If anything, it made things worse.

Emily took another step back. “I don’t want this to get complicated.”

“It already is.”

She shook her head. “Then we fix it.”

“How?” he asked.

The question wasn’t challenging. It was real.

Emily hesitated because she didn’t have an answer—not one that didn’t hurt. “We go back,” she said finally. “To how it was.”

Adrian’s expression didn’t change, but something in his eyes did. “You think that’s possible?”

“It has to be.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s what we agreed on.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Her breath caught. “Then what are you asking?”

Adrian stepped closer, slower this time, careful—as if he knew one wrong move and she’d walk away again.

“Why do you want to go back?” he asked.

The question hit deeper than expected. Emily looked away. “Because it’s safer.”

“For who?”

“For both of us.”

“No,” Adrian said.

Her head snapped back toward him. “What?”

“It’s safer for you.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.”

Silence fell between them.

“Because if we don’t go back,” he continued, his voice lower now, “you’re not going to be able to pretend anymore. And neither am I.”

The truth landed hard.

Emily swallowed. “You’re wrong.”

But her voice wasn’t as steady as before.

Adrian noticed. Of course he did. “That’s why you keep pulling away,” he said quietly.

“I’m not pulling away.”

“You are. And every time you do…” He stepped closer again. “…you come back anyway.”

Her breath caught. Because that wasn’t entirely wrong.

“I’m here because of the company,” she said quickly.

“And I’m here because of you.”

Silence followed. Complete.

Emily’s heart pounded. “You shouldn’t be.”

“I know.”

Now there was barely any space between them.

“Then stop,” she said.

“I tried.”

The answer came without hesitation.

That scared her.

She stepped back again. This time, he didn’t follow.

“You’re making this harder than it needs to be,” she said.

“Then make it easier.”

“How?”

“Stop walking away.”

Emily shook her head. “I can’t do that.”

“Why?”

Because if she stayed, she wouldn’t be able to leave.

But she didn’t say that.

“Because I don’t want to get hurt,” she said instead.

Adrian’s expression shifted slightly. “I won’t hurt you.”

The words were quiet. Certain.

Emily looked at him, really looked at him. And for a moment, she almost believed him.

That was the problem.

“You already are,” she said softly.

This time, Adrian didn’t have an answer.

Because she was right.

Silence filled the room again, fragile and unsteady.

Emily took one last step back. “I need space.”

A pause.

“Take it.”

The answer surprised her.

She hesitated for a second, then turned and walked away.

This time, he didn’t stop her.

Not because he wanted to—but because he understood something now.

Chasing her too hard would push her further away.

And that was the one thing he couldn’t afford.