Chapter 4: Close Enough to Feel
434 Words
The office was empty for the night. Leticia remained at her desk, typing Paul’s final report with her usual speed and precision. The soft hum of rain against the windows continued, like background music to a moment she couldn’t name.
She felt him before she saw him.
Paul’s presence filled the room as he walked out of his office and stopped beside her desk, hands in his pockets.
“You’re still here,” he said, voice low.
“So are you,” she replied without looking up.
“I’m the boss. You should’ve gone home hours ago.”
Leticia leaned back in her chair and finally met his eyes. “Yet here we are.”
He looked at her for a long moment, something unreadable in his expression.
“I don’t get you,” he murmured.
She tilted her head. “That’s mutual.”
Paul stepped closer. Her heart stuttered.
His eyes roamed over her face lingering on her lips for just a beat too long.
“You’re not scared of me,” he said softly.
“I’ve had scarier things chase me,” she whispered.
That made his jaw twitch. His hand lifted, hesitated in the air like he wanted to touch her then fell back to his side.
Leticia stood slowly, her breath caught somewhere between courage and confusion. “Say it, Paul.”
“Say what?”
“Whatever it is that’s making you look at me like that.”
He was Silent for a moment. Then he stepped forward, just close enough for her to feel the heat radiating off his body, but not touching.
“If I start something with you,” he said, voice tight, “I won’t know how to stop.”
Her breath hitched. “Then maybe don’t start.”
Their eyes locked.
Tension curled in the air like smoke. f*******n, unspoken and magnetic.
Paul leaned in just an inch, close enough for her perfume to hit him like a memory. He stopped a heartbeat before their lips could meet.
“I shouldn’t,” he whispered.
“But you want to,” Leticia said.
He closed his eyes. A war raged inside him, power against desire, control against craving.
When he opened them again, the CEO was back.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, stepping away.
Leticia exhaled, both disappointed and relieved. “Don’t be late,” she teased, forcing a smile.
He gave a tight nod and walked back into his office.
The door clicked shut.
The moment stayed behind hanging in the air like a secret only the two of them knew.
- Writer
