All Chapters of ONE NIGHT, ONE ROOM, AND A BOSS : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

As the day dragged on, Avery's mind refused to stay present, drifting back to Nathaniel again and again.Each time she tried to focus on her work, she found herself staring at the corner of her desk, imagining his eyes on her, the memory of his closeness, the way he’d leaned over just enough to make her pulse race.Chloe had been watching her ever since she returned from his office and Avery made no effort to meet her gaze, keeping her attention fixed elsewhere and pretending not to notice.Since she’d been assigned to work with Nathaniel, her interactions with Chloe had grown brief and infrequent. She hadn’t called for a task nor caused her any trouble.Avery couldn't help but wonder if she was staying out of her way or quietly plotting something against her.She shut out every distraction and forced her attention back to the task in front of her.The proposal’s internal review was scheduled for tomorrow, and after days of late nights and quiet sacrifices, failure wasn’t an option.

When she stepped outside, she saw Ethan waiting.He stood a few feet away, hands tucked into his pockets. His crisp white shirt was perfectly fitted, sleeves rolled up to reveal his forearms, and his ripped blue jeans looked worn in all the right places. He looked the same. His eyes lifted the moment he saw her.“Hey, babe.”Her chest tightened. Of course, he would say that.“Don’t call me that.” Her voice was calm but firm. “I have a name.”He gritted his teeth, but he stepped closer anyway. “Avery… I know I messed up. I know. I’m sorry.”“Sorry doesn’t fix years of lies.” Avery took a step back, putting space between them.“I missed you,” he said quickly. “Every day. It’s been hell without you.”Avery felt her chest ache, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing it still hurt. Not after the betrayal.She crossed her arms, keeping her expression neutral. “Why are you here?”Ethan hesitated, shutting his eyes for a brief moment. “Because I want to fix this. I hurt you, a

The room was completely silent. The only sound was the occasional clatter of Avery's fingers on the keyboard.She had been working for hours, scrolling through spreadsheets, revising documents, and drafting emails she never intended to send. Anything to keep her mind from the intrusive thoughts threatening to engulf her.By the time the clock ticked past midnight, Avery’s vision had gone hazy, but she refused to stop. She couldn’t—not now. Not when her mind kept drifting back to Nathaniel.She buried her face in her palm, pressing gently as if it might ease the heaviness in her eyes. When her throat began to ache, she dragged herself to the restroom, drank some water, then returned to her desk and forced herself back to work.By the time the first rays of light crept in, Avery’s body ached from staying in one position for too long. Her eyes were heavy and unfocused. She pushed herself out of bed, ignoring the haze in her vision and the dull throb in her head. She told herself it was

The bed creaked as she shifted, a flutter of unease running down her spine.Now that Chloe was gone, she couldn’t escape the uncomfortable tension lingering between them. A sudden gulp rose in her throat as Nathaniel’s gaze settled on her, and her fingers instinctively clenched the fabric of the bed."You should be resting," he said, his voice calm but insistent.She looked up to meet his gaze, but something in his eyes made her heart flutter.His expression was unreadable, guarded in that familiar way she had learned to recognize. But there was something else beneath it tonight—concern, maybe something deeper than that."I will be fine." Her voice came out soft.He studied her for a moment, as if weighing her words, then reached for the glass of warm water on the table and held it out to her. “Drink.”Their fingers brushed for the briefest instant as she took it. The contact sent a faint jolt through her, and she hated how quickly she noticed it. How hyperaware she was to every stri

The office smelled faintly of coffee and freshly printed paper as Avery walked in. A day's absence hadn’t changed much. Everything still looked the same: monitors glowing, the soft shuffle of papers, and the clatter of keyboards. She shrugged off her cardigan and set her bag down, exhaling quietly.Back to normal, or at least, the version of normal she could manage.She hadn’t seen Nathaniel, and the thought of how she could manage the day without running into him made her chest tighten.She took a slow breath, sliding into her chair.If she couldn’t face him yet, she could at least immerse herself in work.“Focus,” she muttered under her breath. “Just today. Just today, you can manage.”Avery opened her laptop and started scanning through the analytical reports. She pulled up the dashboard, checking the engagement numbers and click-through rates.Avery was so absorbed in her work that she didn't even notice Chloe approaching, not until she tapped her desk lightly.“Heard you took a