STEPPING BACK
807 Words
🖤
Cassy didn't come back right away. She walked. Past the hallway. Past the elevator. Past everything that reminded her of him.
—
She didn't realize how far she'd gone until the city noise replaced the silence of the office. Cars. Voices. Life moving like nothing had changed.
—
But everything had.
—
She stopped by the corner of the street. Exhaled slowly. "…Get it together," she whispered to herself. Because this— Whatever this was— Wasn't supposed to feel like this.
—
Back at the office— Caleb noticed immediately. Of course he did.
—
"Where is she?"
Adrian blinked. "Who?"
Caleb's gaze didn't move. "…Cassy."
A pause. "She stepped out," Adrian said carefully. That was all it took.
—
Caleb turned. Walked out of his office without another word.
—
"Veronica is still inside—" Adrian started.
"I know." But he didn't stop.
—
Because right now— There was only one thing on his mind. And it wasn't the past.
—
It was her.
—
Outside— Cassy leaned against the railing, staring at nothing. Thinking everything.
—
"She's important." Veronica's voice echoed in her mind. And she hated how much that line stayed.
—
"…I don't even know what I am," Cassy whispered softly. Not to anyone. Just to herself.
—
"Then ask."
—
She froze. That voice.
—
Slowly, she turned. Caleb stood a few steps behind her. Breathing slightly heavier than usual. Like he didn't walk. Like he came straight here without thinking.
—
"…You shouldn't be here," she said softly.
He didn't respond to that. Instead— "Why did you leave?" Direct. As always.
—
Cassy looked away again. "I needed air."
"That's not an answer."
Silence.
—
She exhaled slowly. "…You had a guest."
"That's irrelevant." That answer came too fast. Too sharp.
—
Cassy shook her head slightly. "No, it's not." Now— She turned to face him fully.
—
"She's part of your life," Cassy said softly.
Caleb didn't deny it. But he didn't agree either.
—
"She was," he corrected. Past tense. Clear.
—
Cassy studied him. "…And now?"
Silence.
—
That silence hurt more than any answer.
—
Caleb stepped closer. "Why does it matter?" he asked quietly.
Cassy's chest tightened. "Because I don't know where I stand," she admitted. There it was. Finally said out loud.
—
Caleb stopped. Because that question— That vulnerability— Was something he hadn't prepared for.
—
"You work for me," he said. The moment the words left his mouth— He knew they were wrong.
—
Cassy's expression shifted. Not anger. Not sadness. Just… quiet disappointment.
—
"I know that," she said gently.
A pause. Then— "That's not what I meant."
Silence.
—
Caleb exhaled slowly. Because he understood now. But understanding didn't make answering easier.
—
"You're…" he started. Then stopped. That never happened.
—
Cassy waited. But he didn't finish.
—
"You're important," he said finally. But even that felt incomplete.
—
Cassy smiled faintly. "…That's not enough." And she was right.
—
Because "important" could mean anything. Everything. Or nothing.
—
Caleb stepped closer again. "Then tell me what is."
Cassy shook her head slowly. "I can't tell you what you feel."
Silence.
—
That line landed deeper than anything else. Because it was true.
—
For once— Caleb didn't have control over the conversation. Over the situation. Over the answer.
—
Cassy took a step back. Creating distance. Actual distance this time.
—
"I think…" she said softly, "I need to step back." That changed everything.
—
Caleb's expression hardened slightly. "…No." The answer was immediate. Instinctive.
—
Cassy blinked. "You don't get to decide that."
Silence.
—
He stepped forward again. "You don't get to leave like this."
Cassy met his gaze. "I'm not leaving," she said quietly. A pause. Then— "I'm just… stopping." Stopping what? Neither of them said it. But they both knew.
—
Caleb's voice lowered. "That's not how this works."
Cassy shook her head. "…Then maybe it shouldn't work at all." Silence. Heavy. Final.
—
For a moment— Neither of them moved.
Because this— This was the first real distance between them. Not physical. Emotional.
—
And it hurt more than anything else so far.
—
Cassy stepped back again. "I'll be back tomorrow," she said softly. Professional. Controlled. Safe.
—
But before she turned— She added quietly— "Mr. Garcia."
—
Not Caleb. Not anymore.
—
And that one word— That one shift— Hit harder than anything she said before.
—
Caleb didn't stop her this time. He couldn't.
—
Because for the first time— He didn't know how.
—
And as she walked away— The distance between them didn't just grow.
—
It settled.
—
And for the first time— It felt real.
- Writer
