She was halfway down the corridor when the pressure hit sharp, her steps faltered . She gripped the wall, her breath stuttered like she had run too fast.
She closed her eyes. "Not now. Not here." She cried.
Her phone buzzed in her hand. It is Iris Don't go yet, I have something I want you to finish. Boardroom now.
Her stomach sank and she turned back.
The boardroom felt different when she stepped back in. He was standing now, closer to where she had been sitting.
His attention snapped to her the second she entered, like he felt her coming back.
She forced herself to breathe.
"You look pale," Iris said sweetly.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"No," Ember answered. "Just tired"
She smiles wider.
"Funny," she murmured. "You look too tired for your first day at work."
"We'll all get to know each other better soon." She laughed "Oh and by the way, that was a joke." She smiled.
They sat down for a brief meeting where they both assigned her some tasks.
As the meeting wrapped up and they dispersed, Iris leaned closer to Ember, with a low voice enough that only she could hear.
"Careful," she said softly. "Men like him don't forget easily."
Ember frowned. "Excuse me?"
She straightened, her smile back in place. "Nothing. Just advice."
She watched as she walked away beside him, her hand rested lightly on his arm.
The pull inside her ached.
Whatever she had with him, she felt it already waking up.
***********
"You okay?" Ethan asked as he poured coffee, watching her over the rim of his mug.
She forced a smile. "Just tired."
It was not a lie. It was just not the whole truth.
Ethan noticed the difference immediately. He always did.
From the way she had paused before kissing him. The way her body didn't quite lean into him the way it used to.
The way her thoughts slipped, unbidden to a man she barely knew and somehow couldn't forget.
After the night at the club, everything felt slightly misaligned. Not broken or ruined, just….. off.
Like she stepped half an inch out of place and the world hadn't caught up yet.
Ethan reached for her hand, she let him. His touch was warm, familiar and safe.
"Is your new job too demanding?" She nodded in denial. "Sure? You know you can always come on board with me right? We could use more hands at the company now."
She smiled lightly "I want to make something for myself. I don't want to be the woman who depends solely on your connections."
And that's the problem. She wanted out of it now. She couldn't stand working with Iris and Edward anymore but at the same time, she couldn't work with Ethan too.
She didn't belong to Edward. She reminded herself of that like a mantra.
She knew she had a boyfriend, a life. A rhythm that existed long before one reckless night.
Still, when she finally glanced up, their eyes met, and her pulse betrayed her.
He looked away first. That should have made her feel better. But it didn't.
That night, Ethan cooked dinner. Something thoughtful. Something he knew she'd like.
She sat at the table, smiling, nodding and laughing in the right places. She kissed him when he leaned in, but there was a hesitation she couldn't fully hide.
Her body responded, but slower. Like it was checking with something else first.
He noticed.
"Did I do something?" he asked quietly.
Guilt sliced through her. "No," she said quickly. "Of course not."
He studied her for a long moment. "You feel… far away."
She reached for his hand and squeezed it. "I'm here."
She was. She tells herself. But she just doesn't feel whole.
Later, when he fell asleep beside her, she stared at the ceiling, her heart racing for no reason she can justify. She realized she didn't want Ethan. That realization terrified her.