Chapter 108
1736 Words
✨Where We Stand Now✨
Elena Vale
The kiss didn’t break quickly.
It lingered.
Deepened.
Like both of them were relearning something they almost lost.
Elena felt it in the way his hand held her—firm at the back of her neck, grounding, like he needed to feel that she was really here.
That she wasn’t going to pull away again.
Her fingers tightened in his shirt.
When he finally eased back, it wasn’t far.
Just enough to look at her.
Really look at her.
His thumb brushed lightly along her jaw.
Slow.
Thoughtful.
“I’m not coming back to you the way I was before,” she continued. “I won’t stand in front of you and still hold something back.”
Ari studied her face carefully.
Like he was searching for any sign of hesitation.
Any crack.
There wasn’t one.
“And when it gets hard again?” he asked.
“It will,” she said honestly.
A small pause.
“But I won’t run from you when it does.”
That—
That was what he needed.
Not perfection.
Not certainty about everything.
Just that.
Ari exhaled slowly, his forehead resting lightly against hers for a second.
“Alright,” he murmured.
And this time—
It felt like acceptance.
His hand slid from her neck down her arm, fingers trailing until they found her hand.
He laced their fingers together.
Simple.
Natural.
Like they hadn’t just almost lost this.
“Come here,” he said quietly.
She stepped into him again, her arms wrapping around his waist this time, her cheek pressing lightly against his chest.
And this—
This felt different.
Not desperate.
Not uncertain.
Steady.
Ari’s arms came around her fully now.
No holding back.
No restraint.
He pulled her in.
And for the first time since everything fell apart—
They stood there like they belonged to each other again.
Elena closed her eyes briefly.
Listening to his heartbeat.
Feeling his breath.
“I missed you,” she admitted softly.
Ari’s grip tightened just slightly.
“Yeah,” he murmured.
Not a long answer.
Not dramatic.
But real.
His chin rested lightly against the top of her head as he held her.
“You don’t get to do that again,” he added after a moment.
Elena huffed out a small breath against his chest.
“I know.”
“I mean it,” he said, pulling back just enough to look at her.
“I know,” she repeated, meeting his gaze. “And I mean it when I say I won’t.”
Ari held her eyes for a second longer.
Then nodded once.
“Good.”
Silence settled again.
But this time—
It wasn’t uncomfortable.
It was… grounding.
Ari glanced briefly around the office.
Then back at her.
“You finished here?” he asked.
Elena followed his gaze, then shook her head slightly.
“I can wrap up.”
“Do that,” he said. “I’ll wait.”
Her brows lifted slightly.
“You’re staying?”
A faint smirk touched his mouth.
“I said I was coming to you.”
Something warm spread through her chest.
She nodded once.
“Okay.”
Reluctantly, she stepped away from him.
But this time—
The distance didn’t feel threatening.
It felt temporary.
Elena moved back to her desk, gathering the last of her things, closing files, sending off what needed to be sent.
She could feel him behind her.
Not hovering.
Watching her every move.
Just… there.
And somehow—
That steadied her more than anything.
A few minutes later, she shut her laptop and reached for her bag.
“Done,” she said, turning back to him.
Ari pushed off the wall he had been leaning against.
His eyes moved over her once.
Slow.
“Good.”
He stepped toward her again.
Closing the space easily.
“Let’s go,” he said taking her bag.
Elena paused for a second.
“Where?” she asked.
Ari’s hand found hers again, fingers threading through hers like it belonged there.
“Home.”
Her breath caught slightly.
Not because of the word.
But because of what it meant now.
Not a place.
A choice.
And this time—
She didn’t hesitate.
Elena squeezed his hand gently.
“Okay.”
And together—
They walked out of the office.
Frank noticed it first.
Not the man—but the shift.
The quiet.
Conversations didn’t fade naturally; they stopped. Mid-sentence, mid-laugh, mid-thought. Like something had walked into the room that demanded attention without asking for it.
Then Ari appeared.
He moved through the building like he owned every inch of space he stepped into, his presence calm, controlled, effortless in a way that didn’t try too hard—but didn’t need to. Elena walked beside him, her fingers intertwined with his, her posture straight, composed, but there was no missing the connection between them.
And in his other hand—
Her bag.
That alone sent a ripple through the room.
Frank’s brows lifted slightly, exchanging a quick glance with one of their colleagues who looked just as stunned. No one said anything, but the questions were loud enough to hear anyway.
Since when?
Is that—?
Wait… is that him?
So...it's true?
Maybe she isn't a mistress.
Or is she?
Ari didn’t look left or right. He didn’t acknowledge the stares, the silence, the weight of attention pressing in on them. His focus stayed exactly where it was—on Elena. His thumb brushed lightly over her knuckles as they walked, a small, absent gesture that somehow made everything more intimate.
Elena felt it.
Every pair of eyes. Every unspoken word.
But she didn’t pull her hand away.
Didn’t create distance.
Didn’t step ahead or behind him.
She stayed exactly where she was—beside him.
With him.
That alone said everything.
Their heels and footsteps echoed softly against the polished floor, the only sound cutting through the stillness as they approached the exit. The glass doors ahead reflected them back—two figures moving in sync, unbothered by the world watching.
Right before they reached it, Ari stopped.
The movement was subtle, but it froze the entire room even more.
Elena turned slightly toward him, her breath catching just a fraction at the look in his eyes—calm, sure, unreadable to anyone else but her.
His hand lifted, fingers tilting her chin gently upward.
No hesitation.
No glance around.
No concern for who was watching.
He kissed her.
Brief.
Intentional.
Enough to be seen.
Enough to be understood.
A soft inhale passed through the room, someone shifting, someone else nearly dropping something, but still—no one spoke.
Ari pulled back just as smoothly, his hand sliding from her chin to her waist, drawing her closer to his side like it was the most natural thing in the world.
And just like that—
They kept moving.
The doors opened.
They walked out together.
Leaving behind a silence that didn’t break for a full three seconds after they were gone.
Then—
“…Did that just happen?” one of the interns whispered.
Sarah let out a low breath, still staring at the door, shaking her head slightly.
“Oh, it definitely did.”
The car door shut with a soft click, sealing out the world they’d just left behind.
For a second, it was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then Elena exhaled slowly, leaning back into the seat like she was only just now allowing herself to breathe again.
“Well,” she said, turning her head slightly toward Ari, a small smirk tugging at her lips, “I hope you enjoyed your little performance.”
Ari started the engine, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. “Performance?”
She raised a brow, folding her arms loosely. “Don’t act innocent. The bag, the hand-holding, the chin tilt, the kiss at the door—” she ticked each one off on her fingers like she was reviewing evidence in court, “you basically gave them a full season finale.”
Ari let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he pulled out of the parking space. “So that’s what you think I was doing?”
Elena leaned her head against the seat, still watching him. “What else am I supposed to think? My entire office is probably in therapy right now.”
“That dramatic, huh?” he murmured, amused.
“I saw Frank’s soul leave his body,” she said seriously. “I think he’s still floating somewhere near reception.”
Ari actually laughed at that this time, properly, the sound low and warm in the car. “Poor Frank.”
“Poor Frank?” Elena repeated, pointing at him. “You’re the one who kissed me in front of God, staff, and possibly HR.”
Ari shrugged, completely unbothered. “HR can wait.”
She turned fully toward him now, eyes narrowing slightly, though the smile on her face betrayed her. “You’re enjoying this.”
“I’m enjoying you not pulling away,” he corrected calmly.
That softened her a little.
Elena looked out the window for a moment, then back at him. “You know they’re going to be talking about this for weeks.”
Ari’s hand reached over briefly, resting on her thigh—light, grounding, familiar. “Let them talk.”
She huffed a small laugh. “Easy for you to say. You don’t work there.”
“I do now,” he said casually.
Elena blinked. “What?”
He glanced at her, completely serious. “If I need to escort you out of your office every day just to keep your coworkers entertained, I’ll adjust my schedule.”
She stared at him for a second, then burst out laughing, shaking her head. “You’re insane.”
Ari’s mouth curved slightly. “You like it.”
“I tolerate it,” she corrected, still smiling.
He squeezed her thigh lightly once, eyes back on the road. “Same thing.”
Elena leaned her head back again, but this time her smile lingered longer, softer.
“Next time,” she said quietly, “warn me before you cause a workplace collapse.”
Ari glanced at her again, voice low. “No promises.”
And somehow—
That made her laugh again.
- Writer
