push and pull

Chapter 004

Chapter 004: The Secret Warning

My legs felt like lead as I walked out of the boardroom. The weight of Arthur Kingston’s words pressed down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. Distractions are completely unacceptable. It wasn’t just a corporate warning; it was a promise to destroy everything I had worked for if I stepped out of line.

I needed to get back to my desk. I needed to bury myself in spreadsheets and pretend that the night before had never happened.

I hurried down the quiet, dimly lit corridor of the executive floor, keeping my head down. But as I passed the heavy door of the archival copy room, a hand suddenly shot out, gripping my wrist.

Before a gasp could even leave my throat, I was pulled inside. The door clicked shut behind me, plunging us into the quiet, cramped room filled with the scent of paper and toner.

"Julian!" I gasped, my back hitting the solid wood of the door.

He was standing inches away from me, his chest heaving as if he had just run up the stairs. The cold, unreadable mask he wore during the meeting was entirely gone. His tie was slightly askew, and his eyes burned with a mixture of anxiety and anger.

"What did he say to you?" Julian demanded, his voice a low, fierce whisper. He placed his hands on the door on either side of my head, trapping me between his arms. "I saw him approach your desk, Maya. What did my father say to you?"

"Nothing, Julian. It was just professional feedback," I lied, looking down at his crisp white collar because looking into his eyes made my resolve crumble.

"Don't lie to me," he growled gently, his fingers reaching up to cup my chin, forcing me to look at him. His touch was warm, a sharp contrast to the icy atmosphere of the boardroom. "I know how he operates. He doesn't do 'professional feedback.' He threatens. He intimidates. Tell me the truth."

The wall I was trying so hard to build started to crack. The fear and exhaustion from the last twelve hours finally caught up to me.

"He told me that efficiency is expected, but distractions are unacceptable," I whispered, my voice trembling. "He said you have a bright future, and he won't let anyone get in the way of that. Julian... he knows. Or at least, he suspects."

Julian’s jaw clenched so hard a muscle ticked in his cheek. A dark, protective fury flared in his eyes, and for a second, he leaned his forehead against mine, closing his eyes as if trying to restrain himself.

"Damn it," he muttered against my skin. "I knew it. I knew he would try to target you."

"We need to stop this," I said, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. "The push and pull... it's too dangerous. He can ruin my career with one phone call, Julian. You were right this morning. We need to keep it professional."

Julian opened his eyes, staring down at me with an intensity that made my breath hitch. Slow and deliberate, his hands slid from my chin down to my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us.

"I tried to push you away to protect you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "But seeing him near you... realizing what he could do to you... it makes me want to burn this whole empire down. I can't let him hurt you, Maya. I won't."

The magnetic pull was back, stronger than ever, fueled by the danger surrounding us

The handle of the copy room rattled, the sudden noise cutting through the thick tension between us like a knife.

"Julian?" Arthur's voice called out from the hallway, sharp and demanding. "Are you in there?"

Panic flared in my chest. If his father caught us locked in here together after the warning he had just given me, everything would be over. Instinct took over. I quickly grabbed a random stack of folders from the counter, pulling away from Julian's touch just as the door began to swing open.

"I’ll have these copies sorted for the merger file immediately, Mr. Kingston," I said aloud, my voice surprisingly steady despite the adrenaline rushing through my veins.

I brushed past Arthur just as he stepped into the room. He didn't say a word to me, but his piercing glare tracked my every movement, a cold sneer playing on his lips. I kept my head down, tightly gripping the files against my chest, and hurried out into the corridor.

But I didn't go far. The heavy emotional weight of the situation anchored my feet a few yards down the hallway, just out of sight behind a structural pillar. Heart hammering, I found myself eavesdropping, unable to tear myself away from the confrontation happening inside the room.

"Julian, is this who you want to spend your life with?" Arthur’s voice boomed from the doorway, dripping with anger and absolute disdain. "An ordinary associate? Someone with absolutely nothing to offer our family name?"

"Father, that is enough," Julian replied, his tone low, dangerous, and fiercely defensive.

"No, it is not enough!" Arthur snapped back, his voice rising in irritation. "That girl is just a lady. Nothing special. She has no background, no status, and absolutely no place in your world. I don’t want you anywhere near her again. Do you understand me? I will not watch you let some nobody spoil your life and everything this family has built."

Standing in the shadow of the hallway, every word felt like a physical blow. Nothing special. A nobody. Spoil your life. The harsh reality of the corporate world and the massive divide between Julian and me slammed into me all at once. Tears burned the backs of my eyes, blinding my vision as the sheer sadness and humiliation took over. I couldn't stay here another minute. I couldn't pretend to be strong anymore.

Leaving the files on the nearest desk, I walked blindly toward the elevators. I didn't care about the remaining hours of the workday, and I didn't care about the consequences of leaving early. All I knew was that I needed to escape.

By the time I reached the safety of my own apartment, the tears were free-falling. I threw my keys on the counter, walked into my bedroom, and curled up on the bed, feeling completely crushed by the overwhelming weight of the "push."