Two worlds
728 Words
(First Person Pov)
The house is too quiet.
I stand in the middle of my living room, arms wrapped around myself, staring at nothing while my thoughts refuse to settle.
My chest still feels tight… like something heavy is pressing down on me from the inside.
Tonight wasn’t just stressful.
It felt personal.
He was watching me.
Alex Dane.
Even now, the thought won’t leave my mind.
Why does that bother me so much?
I exhale slowly, running a hand through my hair.
I’ve handled pressure before. Humiliation. Criticism. Competition.
But this…
This feels different.
And I don’t like that it does.
A knock breaks the silence.
I pause.
Not expecting anyone.
I walk to the door and open it—and there he is.
Daniel.
Somehow, just seeing him makes something inside me ease.
“You’re here,” I say quietly.
“I said I would be,” he replies.
There’s something in his voice tonight. Softer. Heavier.
I notice it, even if I don’t say anything.
He steps inside, closing the door behind him.
“You’re not okay,” he says.
I let out a slow breath.
“No.”
His gaze studies me carefully.
“Then sit,” he says.
I do.
Because with him…
I don’t have to pretend. Not completely.
“Talk to me,” Daniel says.
I lean back, staring at the ceiling.
“He humiliated me,” I say quietly.
A pause.
“Not just publicly,” I add. “He made it personal.”
Daniel’s jaw tightens slightly.
“I know.”
“And I hate that he got to me,” I continue, my voice lower now. “I hate that I reacted at all.”
“You didn’t lose,” Daniel says firmly.
I glance at him.
“Didn’t I?”
“No,” he replies. “You just didn’t win his way.”
Silence settles between us.
But it’s not uncomfortable.
It never is with Daniel.
Then I feel it—
His hand brushing against mine.
Light. Careful.
I don’t pull away.
I let my fingers rest beneath his.
Warm.
Safe.
Too safe.
My heart starts to slow… then speeds up again.
“Ember…” he murmurs.
His voice is different now.
Lower. Closer.
I turn my head slightly—
And suddenly, we’re too close.
Too close to pretend nothing is happening.
My breath catches.
This is dangerous.
I know that.
But for a second—
Just one second—
I don’t move.
His hand lifts, gently brushing my cheek.
And something inside me shifts.
Softens.
Trembles.
Then reality crashes back in.
My eyes widen slightly.
“No…” I whisper, pulling away.
Daniel freezes immediately, his hand dropping back to his side.
“I’m sorry,” he says quickly. “I shouldn’t have—”
“It’s not that,” I cut in, shaking my head. “I just… I can’t.”
My voice is quiet. Honest.
Because I mean it.
Daniel nods slowly.
“I understand.”
But something has changed.
I can feel it.
And I hate that I can feel it.
I look away, wrapping my arms around myself again.
Because now…
Even this place doesn’t feel the same anymore.
Across the City (Third Person Pov)
Across the city, Alex Dane stood on the balcony, his posture relaxed, his expression unreadable.
The night stretched around him—quiet, controlled, obedient to his presence.
His gaze was fixed on a distant point in the city.
A house.
Her house.
He didn’t need to see inside to know she was there.
Alex lifted his phone slightly, pressing it to his ear.
“Yes,” he said calmly.
A pause.
“I want that building.”
Another pause.
“No negotiations.”
His voice was firm. Final.
His eyes remained locked on the distant house, calculating, measuring, planning.
“Handle it tonight.”
He ended the call.
Silence returned.
But his thoughts didn’t.
Alex’s lips curved faintly as he watched the distance.
Ember Shaw.
She didn’t break.
She didn’t fold.
And somehow…
That made everything more interesting.
More dangerous.
More… necessary.
His gaze sharpened slightly.
“Let’s see,” he murmured under his breath.
“How long you can keep standing.”
Because Alex Dane didn’t play small.
And he didn’t walk away from what caught his attention.
Especially not when the game had just begun.
- Writer
