Forbidden Love.

CHAPTER 2: Secrets And Suspicions.

The office was quiet, save for the soft hum of computers and the occasional rustle of papers. John and Alicia had been working late, the soft glow of their screens casting shadows on their faces. Tension had been building for weeks, and as they leaned in closer, the world outside their small bubble faded away. Their faces were inches apart, breath mingling, when a sudden noise from the hallway abruptly, leaving the almost-kiss hanging in the air.

The next day, the atmosphere between them was thick with unspoken words. John kept his gaze firmly on his computer screen, his mind replaying the almost-kiss over and over. Alicia fidgeted with her pen, stealing glances at John through his door, when she thought he wasn't looking. Their conversation was silted and formal, each word carefully measured to maintain a professional facade.

John's internal turmoil mirrored Alicia's. Damn it, John. You almost kissed her. What were you thinking? She's amazing, but this could ruin everything. What if you crossed a boundary that wasn't meant to be crossed now? What could she be thinking?

Later that day, the office's uneasy calm was shattered by an announced visit from Rachael. She stormed into John's office, her voice loud enough to be heard by everyone nearby.

"We need to talk John. Now!" Rachael demanded, her tone leaving no room for argument.

John sighed, trying to keep composure. "Rachael, this isn't a good time. Can we discuss this later?"

"Oh, I am sure your girlfriend here can manage without you for a few minutes," Rachael sneered, her eyes flicking towards Alicia.

Alicia felt her heart sink. She forced herself to stay composed, but her mind was racing. Girlfriend? What was she implying? I can't believe this is happening. Who is she anyway?

Rachael's demeanor was assertive and confrontational as she demanded to see John. Alicia watched from a distance as John and Rachael spoke hush tones. The tension was palpable and Alicia couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Rachael's visit had left a trail of gossip in its wake. Whispers of a secret romance between John and Alicia spread through the office like wildfire. The atmosphere was charged with intrigue and speculation. Both John and Alicia knew they had to address the situation before it spiraled out of control.

That evening, when the office emptied, Alicia left her office and entered John's office without knocking. She shut the door and the blinds.

"What the hell was that, John?! Alicia demanded, her voice a mix of anger and frustration. "Who the hell was that woman?"

John gives a deep sigh and gets up from his seat looking frustrated. " That was Rachael, my ex-wife."

"What the hell did she want and how on earth does your ex-wife know where you work?"

John replies, his heart racing and pounding hard. "I don't know, she is just... It's complicated. I..."

"John, I don't do complicated. There's no way that a woman you haven't talked to for months would now come and just walk in here and act like she belongs." Alicia said, her heart boiling fiercely with anger.

"Look Alicia... I am not in a position to talk about this right now. How about we pick this up tomorrow?"

"No, John, your ex-wife stormed in here and practically announced to the whole office that we are involved."

"I know, and I'm sorry," John replied, running a hand through his hair. "Rachael's... she has always been like this. She knows exactly how to push my buttons."

"This is not just about you John... You know what, you were right, we should pick this up later." Alicia said, leaving the office overwhelmed with a mixture of fear, anger and frustration.

"Alicia!" John called out in an attempt to bring her back, but to no avail. He remains standing, his mind full of thoughts. Did I just put out the flame? Was that a mistake? Will it change everything between us? I should not have hesitated when she said she wanted the conversation. Maybe she would not have shouted about the girlfriend thing.

The next morning, John met Alicia at the main entrance, and greeted her. Unlike other days, she greeted him without a smile, and she walks to her office and shuts the door.

John understood what this meant. Throughout the day, John was thinking about the heated conversation they had on the previous day, trying to find the right words to tell her. Is this going to be the end of their great bond?

Alicia was also in a dilemma. Did she start a fire? And if yes, will she be able to put it out? The events of the previous day weighed down on her, but unlike John, it left her frustrated, fighting hard the thought of losing her job. As the day progressed, John decided to go and clear the air. He entered her office looking concerned as he shut the door behind him.

"Hey, do you have a minute?" Without looking up from her work, she replied, "No, John. But if it's a business issue, you've got 30 seconds."

He sighed, "This is about yesterday..."

"I figured," She replied, still focused on her work.

"Are we really doing this? Avoiding each other because of Rachael?"

Alicia finally looked up. "Avoiding? No. I'm trying to protect my career. This? This is about our careers John. Do you know what people are saying?" Alicia's anger was giving way to a deeper pain.

John moved closer, looking remorseful, "Alicia, you know I never meant for any of this to happen. Rachael came out of nowhere. She's just trying to cause chaos."

"I know that this is not going as planned, but what can we do? We can't exactly announce to everyone out there that nothing is going on when... when something almost did," John admitted, his frustration evident.

Alicia took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "And why didn't you tell me about your divorce? Do you have any idea how blindsided I felt when she walked in?"

John looked taken aback. "I... I didn't think it was relevant. It was a messy situation, and I didn't want it to affect how you saw me."

"John, if we are going to work together, we need to be honest with each other. Keeping something like that a secret does not help anyone," she said, her voice softening but still firm.

"You are right. I should have told you. I'm sorry. I was just trying to protect you from all the drama," John confessed, his remorse clear.

"Well, it's a bit late for that now. Let's figure out how to move forward from here," Alicia said, her anger melting away to determination.

"Okay."

The next few days were crucial. John and Alicia executed their plan flawlessly. They interacted less frequently, and when they did, it was strictly about work. Slowly but surely, the gossip began to die down. Colleagues who had been suspicious now saw them as dedicated professionals focused on their jobs.

This is harder than I thought, Alicia mused. Every time I see him, I remember that moment. But we can't blow our cover. Not now. John was similarly conflicted.

Despite our successes in covering up the truth, they couldn't ignore the underlying feelings that had been stirred up by the earlier incident. They continued to share fleeting glances and subtle smiles, acknowledging the connection that had formed between them.

One evening after a tiresome day, they were out getting some drinks.

"Hey, so... Are we not going to talk about it, pretend like nothing happened?" Alicia said, sipping her drink.

John sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "I don't know. It's... it's not easy. But we have to, for now. Until we figure things out."

"I hate that we are in this situation. But I don't regret the almost-kiss." Alicia admitted, a small, wistful smile playing on her lips.

"Neither do I," he replied, returning the smile.

They stood there for a moment, the tension between them easing slightly. They knew that their feelings were real, but for now, they had to keep them hidden.

"We'll get through this. Together," John said, his voice filled with determination. Alicia agreed.

As the office returned to its usual rhythm, John and Alicia remained vigilant, aware that Rachael's presence and lingering rumors could resurface at any other moment. They succeeded in covering up their feelings for now, but for how long?