Alex’s povDinner ended on a strange note, very strange, but not in a bad way. The tension lingered around and it was as thick as smoke. Every time I thought Emily would pull back completely, she surprised me by leaning just close enough which made me have these crazy thoughts.We ate, though neither of us could pretend to be focused on the food. I barely tasted my meal. All I could think about was her hand brushing mine earlier, the way her lips had parted like she was on the verge of confessing something but she backed out at the last minute.When she excused herself to the restroom, I found myself watching the clock, restless. My chest tightened with the urge to follow her, to keep her within reach. By the time she returned, I had already decided something……I wasn’t letting her leave tonight without knowing that things had changed between us.She slid back into her seat, her cheeks a little flushed, her lipstick faintly smudged. My fingers twitched with the impulse to fix it for
Alex’s PovThe dinner was going…..well. That’s one way to put it. I could see how she resisted putting in her all.She doesn't even want to be here.“And who am I?” I asked herShe hesitated, looking into my eyes. “A man who doesn’t take no for an answer.”I smirked. “Maybe I just don’t want your no.”She froze with her drink in her hands, her head bent, as she blushed hard.“When did you turn to a flirt?” “Am I?” I asked her, while she stirred her drink. Her eyes looked at me so seductively. She licked her lips and that action alone did a lot to me that she doesn't know. I wanted to be the one to do that.“Let’s order…..” she said, shying away from the question.“Yeah, let's order. Waiter!” The waiter came and we made our order. Emily ordered something simple, I also did. The waiter was gone and then came the quiet awkwardness. “So, what is going on with you? I haven't seen you and Ava around.” I tried to kill the tension.“Ava? Oh, yeah. She has been around but truly, I hadn't s
Emily’s povBy the time evening rolled around, I was exhausted, but not from work, from him. I was tired of the constant battle between wanting to push him away and wanting to fall into the dangerous pull he seemed to have over me.When I finally returned home, the city lights were already twinkling against the dark sky. I set my bag down, kicked off my heels, and collapsed onto the couch. Luna jumped up beside me, curling into a warm ball, purring as if sensing my turmoil.Realizing I hadn't seen Ava around for a while now and reminding myself to check up on her. I stared at the ceiling, phone heavy in my hand. His message still sat open, the last words we exchanged glowing back at me.Alex: Have you thought about Me : I have.Alex: And?Me: I will let you know in the morning.Well, morning had come and gone, and I still hadn’t given him an answer.I bit my lip, nerves fluttering like restless wings in my chest. Dinner wasn’t just dinner. It was stepping closer to him instead o
Emily’s povSleep didn’t come easily.Even after I placed my phone face down on the nightstand and whispered “goodnight” to Alex, my mind refused to rest. His words replayed in my head like a song on repeat, each one pushing against the threads of my thoughts until the silence of my apartment felt too loud, too heavy.I turned on my side, pulling the blanket up around my shoulders. My cat, Luna, was curled at my feet, her steady purr the only real comfort but even she couldn’t keep me from remembering the sharp twist in my chest when Alex asked if books felt “safer” than him.He hadn’t meant it lightly, I could tell and I hadn’t answered lightly either.Safer.Yes, books were safer. Stories never hurt you. They ended where they were supposed to. Characters didn’t betray you with broken promises or cold silences. Pages didn’t leave scars but Alex? He was the opposite of safe. He was chaos wrapped in control, temptation disguised as sharp suits and colder words.And yet…I rolled o
Alex Pov The quietness followed me to my penthouse. It always was quiet, but tonight the silence seemed sharper, like the echo of my own thoughts was bouncing off the walls. Usually, I loved the stillness of this place, the glass walls that gave me a view of the city stretched out below, the minimal lines of expensive furniture that no one else ever touched, the clean order of it all but tonight, the order didn’t soothe me. I had taken a shower, pulled on a fresh shirt, even poured myself another glass of scotch, but none of it helped. Sleep wasn’t coming easily, not with Emily running through my mind like she had been since the office. The whole forgiveness process had me on edge. Her words kept repeating, threading themselves into every thought until they formed something I couldn’t ignore.
Alex’s POVThe office was quiet long after the sun had set, the kind of quiet that pressed against your ears and made even the hum of the air conditioner sound loud. Everyone had gone home hours ago, but I stayed behind to do some work but now I just sat down, staring at the city lights through the glass. The city glittered in its usual arrogance, a thousand windows lit like stars, but tonight it all felt quiet.It was muted because of her.Emily.I dragged a hand over my face and leaned back in the leather chair, the weight of her voice still echoing in my head. “Forgiveness isn’t a one-time thing. It’s a process.”She had said it with that quiet, resolute strength I’d always admired but never admitted to myself. That strength was one of the first things that had caught my attention about her, back before everything spiraled, back before I let her down in ways I shouldn’t have.I apologi