The Affair

Chapter 24

Mark walked in and told Rebecca it was getting late and that he should leave. “I have a busy day tomorrow at work—lots of meetings and such.”

Rebecca nodded, her expression soft with exhaustion. “I’m sorry dinner was a disaster.”

Mark shook his head. “It’s fine. It’s not your fault.”

Rebecca sighed before stepping closer and pressing a kiss to his lips. Mark kissed her back, but it was empty—just muscle memory at this point.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, forcing a small smile.

Rebecca nodded. “Drive safe.”

Mark walked out to his car, exhaling deeply as he sat behind the wheel. His hands gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary, his knuckles white. He should have been thinking about work, about the meetings he had lined up, but all he could see was Kendra—the way her body pressed against his outside the bar, the way her lips had brushed against his neck.

He groaned, running a hand down his face before starting the car.

The drive to his hotel was quiet, the only sound coming from the hum of the engine and the occasional car passing by. Yet, his mind was loud—too loud.

By the time he stepped into his hotel room, he felt restless. He tossed his keys onto the dresser, yanked off his jacket, and sat at the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees. He stared at the floor, his mind racing.

This wasn’t just some fleeting attraction.

He was falling for Kendra.

And he had no idea what the hell to do about it.

The next day, Mark kept himself busy with back-to-back meetings.

He was on the phone with an important client when the door to his office cracked open slightly. Kendra peeked her head in, holding his laptop in her hands. He met her gaze briefly, motioning with his hand for her to come in while he continued his conversation.

Kendra quietly closed the door behind her, moving with effortless grace as she walked toward his desk. Without a word, she placed the laptop down, flipping it open and pulling up the PowerPoint slides for his next meeting.

Mark tried to focus on his call, but when Kendra leaned over his desk to adjust the settings, her back arched ever so slightly, her hips tilting in a way that had his throat going dry. She was inches away from him, completely unaware of the effect she was having.

His grip on the phone tightened. His gaze flicked to the curve of her waist, the way her fitted blouse hugged her frame, her scent—a soft mix of vanilla and something intoxicating—wafting toward him.

Without thinking, Mark turned slightly in his chair, placing a hand on the small of her back as he leaned in to glance at the screen over her shoulder.

Kendra’s breath hitched for just a moment, but she kept her eyes on the laptop, her fingers moving swiftly across the trackpad. She acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary, as if the heat from his palm resting against her spine wasn’t making her pulse race.

Mark kept talking, his voice calm and controlled, but his hand never left her lower back. His thumb barely grazed her through the thin fabric, and he swore he felt her shudder—just a little.

Kendra swallowed hard. She had come in here to help, not to get caught up in whatever this was between them. But the moment he touched her, her entire body reacted against her will.

She finished adjusting the presentation and stepped back, breaking the contact.

Mark exhaled, his jaw tightening.

“Thank you,” he murmured, lowering the phone from his ear as his call ended.

Kendra turned to him, a smirk ghosting over her lips. “You’re welcome, boss.”

And with that, she walked out of his office, leaving him gripping the armrests of his chair, trying to remember how to breathe.

Kendra sat at her desk, answering emails and taking phone calls, trying to push the last few minutes with Mark out of her mind. But every time she replayed the feeling of his hand on her back, the warmth of his touch, the way he leaned in close—she had to shake herself out of it.

Her phone pinged.

Jake.

Jake: Dinner? So we can talk?

Kendra sighed, staring at the message.

She hesitated before typing back: I don’t know.

Within seconds, another message came through.

Jake: Please.

Kendra exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. She knew she should tell him no, tell him she was done, but something in her still craved the closure she never really got. Or maybe she was just weak when it came to him.

She typed back: Fine.

Jake immediately responded with the time and place. A restaurant downtown. A nice one.

Kendra locked her phone and leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling.

She wasn’t sure if she was walking into a second chance or just making a mistake.

The workday dragged on, and Kendra found herself distracted. She barely registered the emails she was responding to, her mind torn between thoughts of Jake and the way Mark’s hand had lingered on her lower back.

Mark stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. “You heading out soon?”

Kendra straightened up in her chair. “Yeah, just finishing up.”

Mark stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “Big plans tonight?”

Kendra hesitated, tapping her nails against the desk. She wasn’t sure why she suddenly felt nervous telling him. “Jake wants to talk,” she finally admitted.

Mark’s jaw tightened, his expression darkening. “And you agreed?”

She crossed her arms. “It’s just dinner.”

Mark exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly. “You know how this is going to go, Kendra. He’s going to say all the right things, make all the right promises, and then he’s going to screw you over again.”

Kendra narrowed her eyes. “You don’t know that.”

Mark leaned against her desk, his gaze locked onto hers. “I know guys like him.” His voice was lower now, almost dangerous. “I see how he looks at you—like you’re a game he needs to win. And I know you, Kendra. You deserve better than that.”

Kendra swallowed hard, feeling the heat creep up her neck. “Why do you even care?”

Mark stared at her for a long moment. Then, as if realizing he had said too much, he straightened up. “Because I do,” he said simply.

She couldn’t look away. There was something in his eyes—something intense, something that made her pulse race.

Before she could say anything, he pushed off the desk. “Be careful tonight,” he murmured, then walked out, leaving her breathless in her chair.

Her heart pounded as she stared at the empty doorway.

She wasn’t sure what was more dangerous—going to dinner with Jake or the way Mark made her feel.

Kendra arrived at the restaurant straight from work, her nerves already on edge. She spotted Jake at a booth near the back, leaning against the seat with that cocky smirk she used to find charming. Now, it just irritated her.

She slid into the booth across from him, folding her arms. “Alright, talk.”

Jake sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair. “Kendra, baby, you know I messed up. I was drunk, it didn’t mean anything. I just—”

“Stop,” Kendra cut him off. “Don’t sit here and try to play it off like it was nothing. You cheated on me, Jake. And don’t blame the alcohol. You made a choice.”

Jake’s jaw clenched. “I was lonely, okay? You were always so busy with school, your internships, your little career goals—”

Kendra scoffed. “So it’s my fault now?”

“I’m just saying, I felt neglected!” His voice rose slightly, his eyes flashing with frustration. “And she was there. I swear, Kendra, it was a one-time thing.”

Kendra shook her head, disgusted. “You’re unbelievable. You’re not sorry for what you did. You’re sorry you got caught.”

Jake slammed his fist on the table, making Kendra flinch. “Why the hell did you even come if you weren’t gonna give me a chance?”

Kendra grabbed her purse and stood. “I came because I thought maybe, just maybe, you’d take accountability like a grown ass man. But I see now that’s impossible for you.”

She turned and stormed toward the exit. She barely made it outside before she felt a rough grip on her wrist.

“Hey, we’re not done talking,” Jake growled, yanking her back.

“Let go of me!” Kendra hissed, trying to pry her arm free, but Jake was stronger. He pulled her toward a nearby alley, his grip tightening painfully.

“You’re not gonna humiliate me in there and just walk away, Kendra,” he spat, backing her into the dimly lit space.

Kendra’s heart pounded. She knew Jake had a temper, but he had never grabbed her like this before. Adrenaline kicked in, and without thinking, she lifted her knee—hard—right between his legs.

Jake let out a strangled groan, stumbling backward and clutching himself.

Kendra spun on her heel to leave, but just as she reached the alley’s entrance, Jake recovered and grabbed her arm again, this time more forcefully.

“You think you can just—”

A deep, familiar voice echoed through the alley, cutting Jake off.

“I suggest you let her go before I make you.”

Kendra whipped her head toward the entrance, her breath catching.

Mark stood there, his face a mask of pure fury. His jaw was clenched, his shoulders squared. Even in the dim lighting, his dark eyes burned with a dangerous intensity.

Jake scoffed, still winded but trying to save face. “This is between me and Kendra, old man. Mind your business.”

Mark sighed, rolling up the sleeves of his button-up shirt with deliberate ease. “I think someone needs to teach you how to treat a lady.”

Jake sneered, then shoved Kendra to the side and lunged at Mark, swinging wildly.

Mark barely moved, effortlessly stepping out of the way. Before Jake could react, Mark delivered a swift, controlled jab to his stomach. Jake gasped, staggering back.

Angered, Jake tried again, throwing a punch aimed at Mark’s face. Mark dodged with ease, sidestepping smoothly before landing a sharp right hook to Jake’s jaw.

Jake stumbled, his back hitting the alley wall.

“Come on, tough guy,” Mark taunted, his voice calm, almost amused.

Jake snarled and launched himself forward again, but Mark was faster. He ducked, swept Jake’s legs from under him, and sent him crashing to the ground.

Jake groaned, coughing as he rolled onto his side.

Mark crouched down, his voice low and deadly. “Next time you put your hands on her, you won’t be getting back up.”

Jake glared up at him, but the fear in his eyes was unmistakable.

Mark straightened, adjusting his sleeves like nothing had happened. He turned to Kendra, his expression softening slightly. “You alright?”

Kendra, still processing what just happened, nodded slowly.

Mark exhaled, then shot one last glare at Jake before wrapping a protective arm around Kendra’s waist and leading her out of the alley.

She leaned into him slightly, her pulse still racing, but for a very different reason now.