The Moment That Almost Happened
368 Words
The moment Adrian leaned in, Emma’s breath caught in her throat.
For a split second, she almost let it happen. Almost let herself give in to the dangerous pull between them. But then reality crashed down like a bucket of ice water.
This was Adrian Blackwood. Her arrogant, impossible, infuriating boss.
The man who made her life a living hell with his unreasonable demands, his cold perfectionism, his maddening smirks. The man who, despite all of that, had just made her heart slam against her ribs like it had no idea what was good for her.
She turned her head at the last second, breaking the moment.
Adrian froze, his lips hovering near her cheek, his breath warm against her skin.
“Emma…” His voice was lower now, quieter. Almost vulnerable.
She took a shaky step back, gripping the counter behind her as if it could keep her upright. “We can’t.”
His jaw clenched. “Why not?”
She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Because this is a terrible idea. Because you drive me insane. Because you’re my boss. Pick a reason.”
Adrian didn’t look convinced. He studied her, his blue eyes searching hers, and for the first time, she saw something raw underneath his usual cool facade.
“Tell me you don’t feel this,” he murmured.
Emma swallowed hard. “It doesn’t matter what I feel.”
His gaze darkened. “It matters to me.”
Damn him.
She wanted to scream at him, wanted to demand why he was making this so much harder than it needed to be. But deep down, she already knew. Because he felt it too.
But feelings didn’t change facts.
Emma straightened her shoulders, forcing herself to regain control. “This was a mistake,” she said, turning on her heel. “We should get back to work.”
She didn’t wait for his response. She walked out of the break room, her heart hammering so hard it almost drowned out the sound of her own footsteps.
She had done the right thing.
So why did it feel like she’d just lost a battle she didn’t even know she was fighting?
- Writer
