Laura
"Alright, I'm already at work now, I will get it on my way home." I said to Arlene over the phone and I could hear her giggle happily.
"Oh Laura, what will I do without you?" She retorted while I smiled.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing." I let out and we both laughed it off before hanging up.
I heaved a deep sigh as I dropped my phone in my bag and looked ahead.
The soft hum of the elevator was the only sound around me as I stood there, trying to get my head straight for the day ahead. I took another deep breath, mentally running through the tasks I needed to complete. I hadn't seen Jake in days, and a part of me was relieved. I have been intentionally avoiding him, I make sure not to make myself available unless it's necessary and the fact that he has been busy as well as really helped. He doesn't need me as much as he did before the last trip.
Now, I would have even dropped everything he needs on his table before he gets into work in the morning. The rest, he would ask on the phone and in turn, I would wait till he stepps out of the office before I quickly sneak in there to do the tasks.
But then, a part of me still wanted to be in his face frequently, like we were before the whatever that happened between us. The part of me that still remembered the feel of his hands on me, the way his lips had crashed against mine, wanted to see him. Needed to.
My hand clutched the file in my grasp a little tighter as I reminded myself of what was at stake. My sanity. I'd been doing everything possible to avoid him since the trip, pretending that it was all professional, that nothing had changed. Deep down, it feels like I'm just lying to myself. No matter how much I tried to ignore the way my heart raced every time I thought about him, the truth was obvious.
I was in love with Jake.
I was still deep in thoughts when the elevator doors slid open, and just as I looked up, there he was. Jake. His tall, broad-shouldered figure filled the space, and for a moment, my breath hitched in my throat.
I froze. My feet were rooted to the spot as his eyes landed on me, dark and piercing, taking in every inch of me like they always did. My first instinct was to leave, to get as far away from him as possible before I made a fool of myself again. My feelings would betray me if I stay in that small space with him.
"Excuse me…" I said sharply and then hurried to step out but then, I felt a grip on my arm.
It was Jake. His hand shot out and grabbed my arm, pulling me back into the elevator.
"Laura," he said softly, his voice deep, commanding. The doors slid shut behind us.
"Let me go, Jake," I said, my voice shaking slightly, though I tried to sound firm. I couldn't look him in the eye, not when my feelings were this close to the surface.
"No." His hand tightened on my arm, but not painfully. Just enough to keep me in place. "We need to talk."
I swallowed hard, staring at the silver walls of the elevator, anywhere but at him. "There's nothing to talk about."
"Really?" His tone was mocking, almost amused. "Because it seems to me like you've been avoiding me."
My heart was pounding now, loud in my ears. I didn't want to do this. Not here, not in this cramped space where I couldn't escape him.
"Jake," I started, still refusing to meet his gaze. "I've just been busy, that's all." I said and from the way the words melted in my throat, I could tell my feelings were already betraying me.
"Busy avoiding me?" He stepped closer, his breath warm against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "Is that why you've been running away every time we're in the same room?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. I couldn't lie, not with him this close. Not with the heat of his body practically radiating against mine. I wanted to tell him it was because of work, because I had too much on my plate. But I couldn't.
"I'm not avoiding you, sir" I muttered, knowing it sounded pathetic, even to myself. I added the sir hoping it would make him remember his 'I'm your boss, we can't be together' talks and leave me big even the sir sounded so sweet that it aroused me.
"Stop with the sir,"
"But you're my boss." I cut in sharply.
He chuckled softly, the sound sending another wave of heat through me. "Is that why you can't even look at me right now?"
I could feel his eyes burning into me, waiting for me to crack. I forced myself to turn, to face him, even though I knew it was a mistake. Our eyes locked, and instantly, my heart betrayed me. The way he looked at me, like he could see through all the walls I had built around myself, made my throat tighten. I swallowed again, trying to regain some control over the situation.
"I…" The words wouldn't come. Damn it, why couldn't I just tell him the truth? Why couldn't I just admit that I—
"Is it because you're in love with me?" His voice was soft, almost teasing, but there was a serious edge to it that made my chest tighten.
I froze, my eyes widening in shock. *In love with him?* I tried to form a coherent response, to deny it, but all that came out was a stuttered mess. "I—No, I… Jake, I don't—"
His smirk grew wider, a glint of pride in his eyes as he watched me struggle. He knew. He knew exactly how I felt, and he was reveling in it.
The elevator dinged softly, the doors sliding open to reveal the bustling office floor. Without another word, Jake stepped out, leaving me standing there, red-faced and fuming. I clenched my fists, anger boiling inside me. How dare he toy with me like that? How dare he use my feelings against me?
I was mad. At him. At myself. At the entire damn situation.
By the time I made it to my office, my head was spinning. I couldn't shake the image of his smug grin, the way he had looked at me like he had won some kind of twisted game. I threw my file onto my desk and sank into my chair, rubbing my temples. I had to pull myself together. I couldn't let this continue. I couldn't let him get under my skin like this.
But I couldn't stop thinking about it. About him. About the way he had looked at me, so sure of himself, so sure that I was in love with him. And the worst part? He wasn't wrong.
I tried to focus on my work, to drown out the memory of our conversation with emails and reports, but it was useless. My mind kept drifting back to him. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. I couldn't let this go on. I had to confront him. I had to set things straight.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I stood up and marched toward Jake's office, determined to clear the air once and for all.
"Are you okay, Laura?" Angie asked suddenly, causing me to stop in my tracks. Jake's office was just ahead.
"Of course, why? So I look otherwise?" I asked, trying to force out a smile. I came out, but not a smooth one.
"Maybe it's just me, but you look like you're worked up. It's fine though…" she replied while I smiled.
"Thanks, Angie." I said and then went on my way.
When I reached his door, i hesitated for a second. I contemplated if I was doing the right by coming. I mean, Jake and I are not together so why should I be mad at him. But then, I remembered the way he had looked in my eyes, touched me and made passionate love to me. I didn't deserve to be thrown out after that. With that, I didn't bother knocking, I pushed the open, fully prepared to let him have it.
But then the scene I walked into made me freeze.
Jake was there in his chair with a woman sitting on his lap, her hands tangled in his hair, her lips pressed firmly against his as they kissed, completely oblivious to my presence. My heart stopped, the breath catching in my throat as I stood there, unable to move, unable to think.
Jake didn't stop her. He didn't even seem to care that I had walked in. His hands were on her waist, holding her close, his eyes half-closed as he leaned into the kiss.
I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. All the anger, all the frustration I had felt moments ago vanished, replaced by a deep, hollow ache in my chest. I had been so stupid. So stupid to think that anything between us had changed.
I wanted to scream, to yell at him, to tear her away from him and tell him how much he had hurt me. But I couldn't. My voice was gone. My body felt like it was made of stone…