Falling Into The Unknown.

Chapter 6: Beneath the Surface.

After the office had emptied, I packed up my things and made my way to Michael’s office. I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to let him know I was heading home. I mean I could just call or send him a text. Maybe it was just the natural flow of the day, or maybe it was the small moments we’d shared that had drawn us closer. I knocked lightly and stepped in, finding Michael looking out the window, lost in thought.

“Hey,” I said softly. “I’m heading home.”

He turned to me, a smile tugging at his lips as if my presence had brightened his mood. “Already? I was hoping we could grab dinner before you head back, maybe at that place we went to last time.”

I hesitated, the memory of our last dinner together tugging at my heart. As much as I enjoyed spending time with him, I missed the comfort of my own home—the simple, quiet act of making dinner and winding down. “I was actually thinking about going home and cooking something tonight. I haven’t had a homemade meal in a while,” I said with a small smile, trying to soften the rejection.

Michael’s expression shifted, and he looked at me with those pleading eyes that made it hard to say no. “Do you mind if I come with you? I mean, I don’t want to intrude, but… I could use some real food too.”

My first instinct was to refuse. Letting him into my personal space, into my home, felt like crossing an invisible line. But the way he looked at me, so hopeful, made me pause. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. After all, it was just dinner.

“Okay,” I found myself saying, my resolve softening under his gaze.

His face lit up, and as we walked out of the office together, the evening air cool around us, Michael asked, “So, what are you cooking tonight?”

I laughed a little, looking at him sideways. “Pasta. It’s quick, and it’s been a long day.”

Michael chuckled softly. “You really like pasta, huh? That’s what you ordered the last time we went out.”

I grinned, a little sheepishly. “Yeah, I guess I have a thing for it.”

We both laughed, the tension of the day slipping away with the light banter. It felt easy, natural—like the weight of our complicated office lives didn’t exist, and we were just two people enjoying each other’s company.

When we arrived at my place, Michael looked around, taking in the cozy charm of my home. It wasn’t large, but it was warm and inviting. I kicked off my shoes and headed for the kitchen, motioning for him to follow. Michael immediately jumped in to help, rolling up his sleeves like he’d done this a hundred times before. We moved around each other in the small kitchen with surprising ease, chatting and laughing as we boiled water, sautéed vegetables, and prepared the sauce.

At one point, Michael stirred the pot and accidentally splashed a bit of sauce on himself, causing me to burst out laughing. “Smooth,” I teased, tossing him a kitchen towel.

“Hey, I’m trying here,” he replied with mock indignation, but the smile on his face said otherwise.

The meal came together quickly, the scent of garlic and tomatoes filling the air. When it was finally ready, we sat down at the small table, bowls of steaming pasta in front of us. Michael took a bite and his eyes widened. “Wow, this is amazing,” he said, looking at me with genuine surprise.

I smiled, a little embarrassed by the compliment. “It’s just pasta.”

“No, seriously,” he insisted, taking another bite. “You should cook for me more often.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Don’t get used to it.”

We continued eating, the conversation flowing easily between us. It wasn’t long before we began asking each other more personal questions—small, harmless ones at first.

“So, what’s your favorite movie?” Michael asked, leaning back in his chair, his eyes curious.

I thought for a moment. “Probably The Notebook. I’m a sucker for romance.”

Michael raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Of course you are.”

“What about you?” I asked, turning the tables on him.

“Gladiator,” he said without hesitation. “I love the whole ‘strength and honor’ thing.”

I rolled my eyes playfully. “Typical.”

We both laughed, but as the conversation went on, it took a more serious turn. After a lull, I hesitated, biting my lip before asking the question that had been on my mind for a while. “How did you meet Victoria?”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I saw Michael’s face change. His lighthearted demeanor dimmed, his jaw tightening slightly. I immediately regretted asking. “I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I shouldn’t have—”

“No,” he interrupted softly, shaking his head. “It’s okay. I actually need to talk about it… to move on.” He let out a long breath, his shoulders sagging a bit as if the weight of the question had been heavy for a while.

I stayed quiet, giving him the space to speak. It wasn’t easy for him; I could see that in the way his eyes darkened, in the heaviness that seemed to settle over him.

“We met at a corporate event,” he began, his voice low. “She was charming, confident, the kind of woman who could command attention without even trying. At first, everything seemed perfect. She was everything I thought I wanted—driven, beautiful, successful. But as time went on, I started to notice the cracks. She was manipulative, always trying to control everything. And then I found out about the affair.”

His voice wavered for a moment, and my heart ached for him. I couldn’t imagine how much it must have hurt to be betrayed like that. I reached out, placing my hand on his without thinking. It was a small gesture, but the warmth of my touch seemed to ground him.

“She wasn’t the person I thought she was,” he continued, his voice steadying. “And even though it’s been a while, it still… hurts. I trusted her. I gave her everything, and she—” He stopped, exhaling sharply. “I guess I should’ve seen the signs.”

I squeezed his hand gently. “It wasn’t your fault,” I said softly. “People make their own choices. You couldn’t have known.”

Michael looked at me, his eyes searching mine, as if trying to find comfort in my words. For a moment, the room felt smaller, the air between us charged with an unspoken connection. The vulnerability in his eyes was almost unbearable.

“Thank you,” he said quietly, his voice full of sincerity.

We sat there in silence for a few moments, the weight of his story hanging in the air. But then, something shifted. The space between us seemed to shrink, and before I knew it, we were both leaning in slightly, our faces just inches apart. The intensity of the moment made my pulse quicken.

My breath caught as I realized how close we were, my heart pounding in my chest. Michael’s eyes flicked down to my lips, and for a second, the world seemed to slow. The air was thick with unspoken desire, the kind of tension that made it hard to think straight.

Michael reached up, brushing a strand of hair away from my face, his fingers lingering on my cheek. The touch sent a shiver down my spine. Neither of us spoke, but our eyes were locked, the energy between us palpable. I could feel the heat rising, my skin tingling from the closeness.

And then, just as our lips were about to meet, the moment snapped like a rubber band stretched too tight. I pulled back slightly, my heart racing. “I—uh, I should clean up,” I said, standing quickly, breaking the spell.

Michael blinked, his expression softening, though the intensity still lingered in his eyes. “Yeah… yeah, of course.”

We both moved around the kitchen, cleaning up in a comfortable silence, but the almost-kiss hung in the air between us, a question left unanswered. When Michael finally stood at the door to leave, he looked at me, a faint smile on his lips.

“Tonight was… really nice,” he said, his voice low.

I nodded, my heart still fluttering. “Yeah, it was.”

As he turned to go, I couldn’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if I hadn’t pulled away. The tension between us wasn’t going anywhere, and sooner or later, something was going to give.