Rose stepped into her apartment, the soft click of the door closing behind her snapping her back to reality. She leaned against it, letting out a shaky breath. The dinner with Sylus had been too much. Too warm. Too close.
Her heart was a traitor. Every time he smiled, every time he called her kitten, she felt herself slipping closer to the edge of something she couldn't afford to fall into.
Keep struggling, she reminded herself, her fingers tightening on the strap of her bag. This is just a game. A test. He's just part of the rules.
She dropped her bag on the couch and grabbed her journal from the coffee table. Flipping through the pages, she stopped at her hastily written theory:
1. If I fall for him = I stay here.
2. If he falls for me = I might go back.
3. BUT: Both can't happen at the same time.
Her fingers traced the inked words as if willing them to offer answers. She couldn't let herself care too much. She had to stay focused, keep her distance, even as Sylus kept pulling her closer.
---
The next day, she walked into the office determined. Her shoulders were squared, her jaw set. She was here to work, not to get distracted by a man who could unravel her carefully constructed walls with a single look.
But Sylus, as always, was waiting.
"Morning, kitten," he said, leaning against her desk with that maddening smirk.
Rose barely glanced at him. "Morning."
He raised an eyebrow at her curt response. "Ouch. What did I do to deserve the cold shoulder?"
"Nothing," she said quickly, sitting down and opening her laptop. "Just busy."
Sylus didn't move. He lingered, his presence a weight she couldn't ignore.
"You're a terrible liar," he said softly, his voice losing its playful edge.
Her fingers froze on the keyboard, but she didn't look at him. She couldn't.
"What's going on, Rose?" he asked, his tone gentle now.
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to focus on the screen in front of her. "Nothing's going on, Sylus. I told you, I'm just busy."
He didn't believe her—she could feel it in the way his gaze lingered. But after a long moment, he sighed and straightened up.
"Alright," he said. "I'll give you space. For now."
---
That evening, Rose stayed late at the office, hoping to avoid running into him again. The empty building was quiet, the only sounds the soft hum of her computer and the faint buzz of the overhead lights.
But even with the silence, she couldn't concentrate. Her mind kept drifting back to Sylus. The way he looked at her, like he could see through every wall she'd put up.
He's getting too close.
She rubbed her temples, frustration bubbling in her chest. She couldn't keep this up much longer. The lines were blurring, her resolve cracking.
The sound of footsteps broke through her thoughts, and she looked up, her heart skipping a beat.
Sylus stood in the doorway, his tie loosened, his shirt sleeves rolled up.
"Still here?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.
Rose forced a small smile. "Just wrapping up."
He stepped into the room, his eyes studying her. "You've been avoiding me."
She didn't respond, her throat tightening.
Sylus moved closer, stopping just in front of her desk. "Talk to me, kitten. What's going on?"
"I can't," she whispered before she could stop herself.
His brow furrowed, and he crouched slightly, bringing himself to her eye level. "Why not?"
Her chest ached, and she looked away. "Because… if I do, I'll get too close. And I can't let that happen."
Sylus was quiet for a long moment, and when he finally spoke, his voice was low and steady. "Why not, Rose? Why can't you let me in?"
She stood abruptly, pushing her chair back. "You don't understand, Sylus. I can't—"
"Then help me understand," he interrupted, his voice rising just slightly.
Her breath hitched, and she met his gaze, her eyes shining with a mixture of frustration and something deeper.
"You don't get it," she said, her voice trembling. "If I fall for you, I can't ever leave. And I have to leave, Sylus. I have to."
The words hung between them, heavy and raw. Sylus stared at her, his expression unreadable.
"Leave?" he echoed. "What are you talking about?"
Rose's heart pounded, and she shook her head. "Just forget I said anything."
But Sylus wasn't letting it go. He stepped closer, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "Rose, you're hiding something. I don't know what it is, but I'm not going to let you push me away."
Her chest tightened, and she took a step back. "You have to," she whispered. "Because if you don't… we'll both lose."
---