Chapter Nine: Almost a Kiss
958 Words
Monterrey, Mexico – Sunday, 8:15 p.m.
The apartment was too quiet.
Valeria sat cross-legged on the massive leather sofa, mindlessly scrolling through her phone, but not seeing anything.
Her mind was still stuck on the brunch from hell — on Renata’s smug smile, Alejandro’s tense jaw, and most of all... the way he had looked at her.
Like she mattered.
Like she was his.
The memory of Alejandro’s hand squeezing hers in the car still burned against her skin.
She tossed her phone aside with a frustrated groan and buried her face in her hands.
"This is a bad idea," she muttered. "A very, very bad idea."
Falling for a man who didn’t really want her?
Classic Valeria.
She should’ve learned her lesson by now.
The sound of a door closing
She jumped, peeking over the back of the couch.
Alejandro was home.
He looked tired — suit jacket slung over one shoulder, top two buttons of his shirt undone, sleeves rolled up to his forearms.
Unfairly attractive.
She hated him a little bit for it.
"Hey," he said, dropping his keys into the dish by the door.
"Hey," she replied stiffly.
He walked over, standing awkwardly near the edge of the living room.
"I ordered sushi," he said. "Figured you wouldn’t want to cook after... today."
Valeria blinked.
Alejandro Herrera, king of icy professionalism, had thought about her feelings?
She nodded, her throat tight. "Thanks."
They stood there in silence, the hum of the city filtering in through the windows.
Finally, Alejandro sat down — not across from her, but next to her.
Close enough that their knees brushed.
Valeria stiffened, her entire body hyperaware of the heat radiating from him.
"I’m sorry," he said quietly.
She blinked. "For what?"
"For putting you in that situation today. For not warning you about... Renata."
Valeria shrugged, playing it cool. "It’s fine. I can handle myself."
"I know you can," he said. "Doesn’t mean you should have to."
His voice was rough, like he was choking on the words.
Valeria turned to him, studying his face.
For the first time, Alejandro didn’t look like the invincible CEO.
He looked like a man carrying too much, struggling to hide it.
Without thinking, she reached out and brushed a strand of hair off his forehead.
He froze.
Their eyes locked.
The air between them snapped, charged with something electric.
"Valeria..." he whispered, her name a prayer and a curse.
She knew she should pull away.
This wasn’t part of the deal.
This wasn’t safe.
But when he leaned in, slow and hesitant, she didn’t stop him.
Their faces were inches apart, breaths mingling.
Valeria’s heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
His hand came up, fingers brushing her jawline, so gentle it made her shiver.
Her eyes fluttered closed, instinctively leaning into his touch.
And then—
The doorbell rang.
The moment shattered.
Alejandro cursed under his breath, jerking back.
Valeria blinked, dazed and breathless.
"I’ll get it," he muttered, standing up so fast he nearly tripped over the coffee table.
She pressed her hands to her burning cheeks, mortified.
What had just happened?
They weren’t supposed to almost kiss!
They weren’t even supposed to want to.
And yet... her body was still buzzing from the almost.
Delivery guy at the door
Alejandro grabbed the sushi bags, tipped the guy generously, and slammed the door a little too hard.
When he turned back to her, his expression was unreadable.
"Food’s here," he said gruffly.
Valeria nodded, wrapping her arms around herself.
They ate in silence, neither touching the mountain of rolls on the coffee table.
The television played some mindless cooking show in the background, but neither of them paid attention.
Every glance, every brush of fingers reaching for the soy sauce, every shared look — it all crackled with unresolved tension.
Finally, Alejandro dropped his chopsticks and leaned back with a heavy sigh.
"This isn’t working," he muttered.
Valeria’s stomach dropped. "What isn’t?"
"This..." he gestured between them, frustration in every line of his body. "Pretending it’s not real."
She stared at him, heart hammering.
"You said it yourself," she said carefully. "We don’t have to like each other. Just act like we do."
"I lied," he said flatly.
The words hung in the air, heavy and terrifying.
"I do like you," he said, voice low and rough. "Too much."
Valeria’s mouth went dry.
She opened her lips to say something — anything — but no words came out.
Alejandro leaned forward, elbows on his knees, head in his hands.
"I can’t afford distractions," he said. "Not now. Not ever. But when you’re around, I can’t think straight."
Valeria swallowed hard, her pulse roaring in her ears.
"Then maybe..." she said softly, "we need to set stricter boundaries."
He looked up at her, eyes wild with something that looked dangerously close to desperation.
"Is that what you want?" he asked.
She hesitated.
Did she?
Did she want to draw a line between them... or erase it completely?
Valeria stood up abruptly, gathering the empty containers.
"I’m going to bed," she said, forcing her voice to stay steady.
Alejandro stood too, blocking her path.
"Valeria—"
She shook her head. "Not tonight."
He stared at her for a long, excruciating moment.
Then he stepped aside, letting her pass.
As she brushed past him, she felt his fingers graze hers — just for a second, just enough to leave her aching for more.
Valeria retreated to her room, closing the door softly behind her.
And for the first time since this charade began, she realized she was in real, serious trouble.
Because pretending not to fall for Alejandro Herrera?
Was no longer an option.
- Writer
