Lila walked into the office the next morning with a sense of weight in her chest that she couldn't shake. The events of the previous day, the quiet exchange with Ethan, and the vulnerability she had allowed herself to feel—they had all left a mark.
She had spent the night replaying their conversation over and over in her mind, the way his hand had briefly brushed hers, the unspoken promise in his eyes. What was it about Ethan that made her feel so safe, so seen, when she had spent her entire life hiding behind walls of her own creation?
Her father's expectations still loomed large in her mind, but now they felt more distant, like a cloud on the horizon rather than an inescapable storm. But the more she tried to focus on the work in front of her, the more Ethan occupied her thoughts. It wasn't just the lingering touches or the kindness he showed—it was the way he understood her without judgment, the way he didn't try to push her into a mold she couldn't fit. And in that quiet, understated way he had, he was showing her something she hadn't realized she needed until now—someone who cared, truly cared, without any strings attached.
But Lila wasn't ready to confront what that meant. She wasn't ready to admit that she had feelings for him. She had worked too hard to guard herself, to keep her heart from being a liability, to risk everything for someone she had always kept at arm's length. Ethan was her boss. He was the man who made decisions that shaped the company, someone who could easily walk away from her if things got complicated. And she wasn't ready to deal with that risk, not yet.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the buzz of her phone. The screen lit up with Ethan's name, a reminder that she still hadn't replied to his message from last night.
"How's the morning treating you? Want to grab coffee before the meetings start?"
Lila stared at the message, her heart skipping a beat. She had to admit, she enjoyed these little moments with him—the way they could slip away from the chaos of the office for just a few minutes of normalcy. But today, there was a hesitation she couldn't ignore. Her feelings for him had shifted, and though she didn't know exactly what to do with them, she wasn't ready to open that door just yet. Not until she figured things out.
She typed a quick reply, trying to keep her tone casual. "I'm swamped this morning. I'll catch up with you later."
As soon as she hit send, she felt a pang of regret. She knew Ethan wouldn't pressure her. He never did. But she couldn't help but feel like she was pushing him away when all she wanted to do was pull him closer.
---
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Lila kept herself busy, diving into reports, sending emails, and trying to keep up with the endless tasks that seemed to pile up on her desk. But her mind kept drifting back to Ethan. Every time she saw him in a meeting or passed him in the hallway, the unspoken tension between them seemed to grow stronger. His presence in the office was a constant reminder of the feelings she had buried so deep inside, feelings that she didn't know how to handle.
When the workday finally ended, Lila packed up her things quickly, ready to escape the office for a while. She had been avoiding Ethan all day, and she wasn't sure if it was because she was trying to distance herself from the growing emotions or if she was afraid of what would happen if they actually talked about it. The truth was, she had no idea how to navigate this—how to navigate him.
Just as she was about to leave, she saw Ethan walking toward her. Their eyes met, and for a split second, everything around them seemed to fade into the background. He was standing there, looking at her with a mixture of curiosity and something deeper—something she couldn't quite place.
"Lila," he said, his voice calm but filled with that same warmth she had come to recognize. "You're not leaving yet, are you?"
She forced a smile, trying to keep things light. "I've got a few things to wrap up. I'll be here for a bit longer."
Ethan didn't look convinced. He stepped closer, his gaze softening. "You know, you don't have to do this alone, right?"
Lila's breath hitched at his words, and for a moment, she was caught in the rawness of the emotion that flickered between them. She had always prided herself on being strong, independent, the one who didn't need anyone. But Ethan's presence—his steady support—made her question everything she thought she knew about herself.
"I know," she whispered, her voice almost too quiet. "But sometimes… I just need space to figure things out."
His expression didn't falter, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. "I'm here whenever you're ready to talk. You don't have to keep everything inside."
Lila nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Thanks, Ethan. I appreciate it."
But the truth was, she didn't know if she was ready to talk. She wasn't ready to admit that the man standing before her—her boss, her confidant—had somehow become someone much more important to her than she was prepared for. And she wasn't sure what would happen if she let herself acknowledge it.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said, her voice steady but with a hint of uncertainty.
Ethan smiled, but there was something in the way he looked at her that made her heart skip a beat. "I'll be here," he said softly, and for a moment, she thought he might say more. But he didn't.
Lila turned and walked away, the ache in her chest growing stronger with every step. She hadn't told him how she felt. She hadn't even acknowledged it herself. But she knew that something between them had shifted—something that neither of them could deny.
---
As she stepped into the elevator, Lila closed her eyes for a moment, trying to shake off the emotions that had been building all day. She wasn't ready for this. She wasn't ready for Ethan to become something more than just her colleague, her friend, someone she could rely on. But deep down, she knew she couldn't keep pushing him away. She couldn't keep pretending that the connection between them didn't mean anything.
But for now, she had to keep pretending. At least until she figured out how to face the truth about what was blossoming between them. And that truth, as she had come to realize, was a lot scarier than she'd ever expected.