Chapter 6: A Line That Shouldn’t Be Crossed
934 Words
The Morning After
Alodia woke up to the soft glow of the morning sun filtering through the curtains. The scent of cologne and warm sheets surrounded her, a stark reminder of the night before.
Jasper lay beside her, his arm draped over her waist, his breathing slow and steady. Peaceful.
For a moment, she let herself enjoy it.
She traced invisible patterns on the sheet, listening to the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. But reality crept in quickly.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Her stomach clenched.
She carefully reached for it, making sure not to wake Jasper.
Raegan: Can we talk?
Guilt slammed into her like a tidal wave.
Her fingers hovered over the screen before she finally replied:
Alodia: Later.
She set the phone down, exhaling slowly.
“What’s wrong?”
Jasper’s voice was thick with sleep, his grip on her waist tightening slightly.
“Nothing,” she lied, forcing a small smile. “Just work.”
He hummed, pressing a lazy kiss to her shoulder before rolling onto his back.
“You’re a terrible liar, Alodia.”
Her breath caught.
She turned to face him, meeting his knowing gaze. “And what makes you think I’m lying?”
Jasper smirked. “Because I’ve learned to read you.”
The weight of his words settled between them.
She looked away. “I should get ready for work.”
“Stay a little longer.”
She hesitated, torn between what she wanted and what she knew she should do.
“I can’t,” she murmured, slipping out of bed.
Jasper didn’t argue, but she could feel his gaze on her as she gathered her clothes.
And for some reason, leaving felt harder than it should.
---
A Risky Game
By the time Alodia arrived at Jasper’s office, she had managed to push most of her thoughts aside.
Or at least, she tried to.
She went through the motions—answering emails, scheduling meetings, making sure his public persona remained untarnished.
But every time she caught his gaze across the desk, she felt the heat of last night lingering between them.
And so did he.
“Cancel my afternoon meeting,” Jasper said, breaking the silence.
She blinked, looking up from her laptop. “What?”
His smirk was subtle, but she saw it. “You heard me.”
Her pulse quickened. “Why?”
Jasper leaned forward, his voice dropping just enough to make her heart stutter.
“Because I want to spend the afternoon with you.”
Alodia swallowed hard.
This was dangerous.
They were blurring the line between affair and something more.
And she wasn’t sure how much longer she could pretend that line still existed.
---
A Dangerous Afternoon
Alodia stared at Jasper, her fingers tightening around the edge of her desk.
“You can’t just clear your schedule on a whim,” she said, trying to sound professional.
Jasper smirked. “I can, actually.”
She sighed, rubbing her temple. “And what exactly do you plan to do with your free afternoon?”
His gaze darkened. “Spend it with you.”
Her stomach flipped.
“Jasper—”
“Before you say no,” he interrupted smoothly, “let me remind you that you work for me, and technically, if I need my assistant for something, she’s required to oblige.”
She crossed her arms. “Is this work-related?”
Jasper grinned, standing from his chair. “That depends on how you define ‘work.’”
Alodia knew she should refuse.
She should stay at her desk, keep things professional, remind him that this affair was already dangerous enough.
But when he extended his hand, she found herself taking it.
---
An Escape from Reality
Jasper took her to a secluded rooftop restaurant, away from the paparazzi, away from the world.
The city skyline stretched endlessly before them, the golden afternoon sun casting a warm glow over everything.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you relax,” Jasper mused, sipping his wine.
Alodia raised an eyebrow. “I relax.”
He chuckled. “When?”
She hesitated, realizing she didn’t have an answer.
“You should learn to enjoy life, Alodia,” he said, watching her closely. “Not just work, not just responsibilities. Real life.”
She swallowed hard.
Because the last time she had truly lived, she had ended up in his bed.
And now, she was sitting across from him, feeling like she was walking toward the edge of a cliff—knowing that once she stepped over, there was no turning back.
---
A Moment of Weakness
After the lunch, they returned to his penthouse, the tension between them thicker than before.
Alodia knew she should leave.
Instead, she stood in the living room, gripping the strap of her purse as Jasper loosened his tie.
“You’re thinking too much,” he murmured, stepping closer.
“I have a lot to think about,” she admitted.
Jasper tilted his head. “Like what?”
She hesitated. “Like what we’re doing.”
For the first time, his smirk faded. “And what exactly are we doing?”
Alodia opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Because the truth was, she didn’t know.
Jasper reached out, tracing his fingers along her wrist. “Tell me to stop,” he whispered.
Her heart pounded.
She couldn’t.
So instead, she let him pull her into his arms.
And as his lips found hers once more, she realized something terrifying.
She didn’t want to stop.
Even if it destroyed her in the end.
- Writer
