MARRIED TO MY MISTAKE

Chapter 18

The office buzzed with its usual Monday rhythm, keyboards clicking, phones ringing, laughter spilling softly from the design team corner. Rhea moved through it all like she belonged there, clutching a stack of client files against her chest, her heels clicking lightly with every step.

She had been up most of the night working. If anyone looked closely, they might see the slight puffiness beneath her eyes, but nothing could dim the sharp glow on her face. Her blouse was a crisp shade of ivory, her hair pinned loosely in place, strands dancing every time she moved.

Damian watched her from the glass wall of his office. She wasn’t doing anything out of the ordinary, just walking, but his gaze lingered a second longer than it should have. It annoyed him. He leaned back, fingers tapping the armrest.

He had told himself again and again to stay professional. Focused. But the more time he spent in the same building with her, the harder it became. It was not just her looks. She was bright, thoughtful, quick with solutions. And then, just when he thought he had figured her out, she surprised him again.

Rhea took a turn past the marketing wing just as Catherine from HR, balancing her coffee and a file, came around the corner. It happened so fast.

The lid wasn’t secure. The coffee tilted. A splash of dark liquid flew into the air.

Oh no.

It splattered across the floor in a thin trail just as Rhea stepped into it.

Her heel slid.

The files in her hands flew up like startled birds.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips as her balance tipped. She didn’t even have time to reach out.

But someone caught her.

Strong arms wrapped around her waist, steady and sure. The scent of something warm and familiar filled her senses. For a moment, she couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. She just stayed there, wide-eyed, her face inches from Damian’s.

He was close. Too close. One hand still around her waist, the other bracing her back, fingers splayed as if to shield her. His eyes locked on hers, steady, intense, unreadable.

Rhea’s breath hitched. Her hands clutched the lapel of his blazer as if anchoring herself. She hadn’t meant to look into his eyes but once she did, it was like everything else faded. The clamor of the office, the sticky stain of coffee on the floor, the mess of scattered files, all of it disappeared.

There was a strange kind of silence between them.

And then

Ahem.

Catherine’s throat-clearing snapped them out of it.

Rhea blinked fast, pulling back slightly as Damian straightened. His hands dropped to his sides with a sharpness that almost made her flinch.

Catherine stood awkwardly nearby, biting her lip, clearly embarrassed but doing her best to act normal.

I am so sorry I didn’t see you coming she said quickly bending to pick up the scattered files but Rhea was already kneeling, flustered, gathering the papers herself.

It’s okay really Rhea mumbled brushing a coffee stain off one of the folders. No harm done.

Damian knelt too, picking up the last file without a word and handed it to her. Their fingers brushed for half a second. Rhea didn’t look at him this time. She couldn’t.

The moment was gone, but it hung there anyway.

She stood, smoothing her skirt, not trusting herself to say anything. Damian nodded once before walking away without another word.

Catherine leaned in as soon as he disappeared into his office.

So um are you okay?

Rhea gave a tight smile.

Yes I’m fine

But inside she wasn’t. Not really. Because for a second back there, when his arms were around her, she had felt something dangerously close to comfort. To safety.

And she couldn’t afford either of those things.