Don’t Fall.. But He’s Already Everywhere
1079 Words
The days after their quiet dinner together blurred into a strange haze for Elina. There were no new kisses, no dramatic declarations—but something between her and Adrian had shifted. She could feel it in the stolen glances, the light brushes of his hand when he passed her a file, and the subtle way he lingered when she spoke.
She wasn’t imagining it. Adrian Khalid was drawn to her.
And she was slowly losing her grip on reality.
It started one morning when she arrived at the office earlier than usual. Her desk was empty—except for a small cup of iced matcha and a post-it note with just two words:
“You’re radiant.”
Her fingers trembled slightly as she picked it up. The handwriting was undeniably his.
Adrian wasn’t in the room yet. She sat, sipping the drink, heart thudding in her chest. She knew she should probably talk to him—about boundaries, professionalism, all the logical things her mind kept screaming. But her heart… wanted more.
The moment he entered, their eyes met. No greetings were exchanged. None were needed.
Later that day, he called her into his office to assist with a presentation deck. She stood beside him at his desk, pointing out a graph when his fingers brushed against hers.
She paused. So did he.
Neither moved away.
“Elina,” he said, voice low, “if I’m ever crossing a line… tell me. I’ll stop.”
She turned to him slowly, her eyes searching his.
“You haven’t,” she whispered. “Not yet.”
His gaze dropped to her lips, then quickly back up. “Noted.”
But life, especially one teetering on forbidden, isn’t that simple.
It was a Thursday when it all began to crack.
Elina was helping prep for an external client meeting, handling designs, coordinating schedules, and assisting the team leaders. She was in the copy room when she heard two staffers talking just outside.
“Have you seen the way Adrian looks at her?” one whispered, voice laced with jealousy.
“Obviously. He doesn’t even try to hide it. It’s like he’s obsessed or something.”
“She’s just an intern. Imagine being that bold.”
Elina froze.
Suddenly, it wasn’t about stolen glances or fluttering hearts. It was real gossip. Real consequences. She waited until they left before stepping out, her shoulders tight with tension.
Later that day, Adrian noticed her change in mood.
“Elina, can we talk?” he asked gently, nodding toward his office.
She followed him silently, keeping her eyes down.
“What’s wrong?” he asked once the door closed.
“They’re talking, Adrian,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “People are noticing.”
He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. “Of course they are. I was foolish to think they wouldn’t.”
“I don’t want to be the reason people doubt your professionalism,” she said. “You’ve worked so hard to build what you have.”
He stepped closer, hands at his sides. “And you think I don’t care what they say about you?”
Her lips parted in surprise.
“Elina, if anything—this company, this image—it means nothing if I have to act like you don’t affect me. Like you’re just another intern.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “But what are we doing, Adrian? Is this just a phase? A moment?”
He looked pained. “I don’t know yet. But I know I’m not ready to stop.”
She blinked back the emotion rising in her chest.
“I care about you,” he added. “More than I should.”
She nodded, biting her lip. “I care too.”
He stepped back slightly, giving her space. “Then let’s take a step back… not away. Just slower. Let me earn this—properly.”
For the next few weeks, Adrian held true to his word.
He gave her space. Publicly, he was professional. Privately, he kept his distance—but his eyes always found her in a room. His coffee still showed up on her desk, only without the notes. She missed those.
One Friday evening, her phone buzzed.
Adrian Khalid:
Didn’t see you smile today. It ruined my whole Friday.
She laughed softly, heart aching a little.
Elina:
Smile coming tomorrow. Saturday counts, right?
Adrian:
Only if I get to see it.
Elina:
You picking me up?
There was a pause.
Adrian:
10 AM. Don’t be late.
That Saturday, he drove her to a quiet garden café out of the city. No office suits. No staring staff. No pressure. He wore a dark hoodie and jeans, his usual steel expression soft around the edges.
They talked about music, childhood memories, and favorite books.
He laughed more that day than she had ever seen before.
And when the sun started to set, and they sat near the lake, he reached for her hand—gentle, hesitant.
“You make me forget how lonely I was,” he said softly.
She leaned her head on his shoulder.
“And you make me believe in stupid things,” she replied.
He looked down at her. “Like what?”
She smiled. “Like love.”
But happiness, as they both soon discovered, is a fragile flame.
The following Monday, Elina was called to HR.
She entered the room with dread in her stomach. A woman in a navy blazer sat across the table, a file open in front of her.
“There have been concerns,” she began, “about your… relationship with Mr. Adrian Khalid.”
Elina’s heart nearly stopped.
“While there is no official policy against relationships in the office, the optics of a superior and an intern being involved can create discomfort and raise questions.”
Elina sat frozen.
The HR rep sighed. “We’re not here to accuse you. But we ask for professionalism. Discretion.”
Elina nodded quickly. “Of course. I understand.”
The meeting ended quietly. But as she stepped out, Adrian was already waiting nearby.
“You knew?” she asked, surprised.
“They told me this morning.”
Her eyes widened. “They want us to stop, don’t they?”
“No,” he said. “They just want us to pretend nothing’s real.”
And that’s when Elina realized something:
She didn’t want to pretend.
To be continue..
- Writer
