Falling Into The Unknown.

Chapter 8: The Unspoken Tension.

Anna’s POV

The next day at work felt different. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between Michael and me. It wasn’t just the almost-kiss hanging in the air; it was the way he looked at me now, as if we shared some unspoken secret. Every time our eyes met, a nervous flutter stirred in my stomach.

I tried to focus on my tasks, typing away at my computer, but I could feel his presence across the office. My mind kept drifting back to the night before—his hand brushing my cheek, the warmth of his gaze, the tension that nearly broke between us. I was sure he felt it too. And that thought made me feel even more awkward.

I jumped a little when my phone buzzed with a message. Glancing down, I saw his name pop up on the screen.

Lunch later?

I hesitated, biting my lip. Spending time alone with him, after everything that almost happened, felt like walking on a tightrope. But refusing might make things even more awkward. Before I could second-guess myself, I typed back:

Sure.

As lunchtime rolled around, I made my way to the break room, my nerves bundled into tight knots. Michael was already there, leaning against the counter with a casual confidence, his shirt sleeves rolled up, revealing his toned forearms. His smirk appeared the moment he saw me, making my pulse quicken.

“There she is,” he said, his voice teasing as if he knew exactly what was going through my mind.

I gave him a small, nervous smile, hoping he wouldn’t notice how my hands fidgeted. “Hey.”

He stepped closer, leaning in just slightly, enough to make my breath catch. “You okay? You seem… distracted.” His tone was playful, but there was a knowing edge to it, as if he enjoyed watching me squirm.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, but my voice came out higher than I intended. I cursed myself for sounding so flustered. “Just… a lot of work.”

Michael’s smirk deepened, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Uh-huh. I’m sure that’s it.”

I felt heat rise to my cheeks, and I immediately looked away, busying myself by grabbing a water bottle from the fridge. He wasn’t making this easy. I could feel him watching me, and the weight of his gaze made my skin prickle.

“So, about last night…” he began, leaning casually against the counter, his arms crossing over his chest in that effortlessly confident way he had.

I froze for a second, my hand tightening around the bottle cap. Oh no. This was it. He was going to bring it up, and I wasn’t ready to have that conversation. Not here. Not with him looking at me like that.

“What about it?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant, but the way my voice wavered betrayed me.

He tilted his head, a playful glint in his eyes. “It was… nice, wasn’t it?” His tone was suggestive, hinting at more than just dinner.

I swallowed hard, feeling the blush creeping up my neck. “It was fine.”

“Fine?” He chuckled, stepping closer. “Come on, you can admit it. We had fun.”

I met his gaze, trying to hold my ground, but the way his eyes lingered on mine made it impossible. There was that smirk again—like he knew exactly how he was affecting me.

“We had dinner, that’s all,” I said, trying to deflect the conversation before I embarrassed myself further.

Michael’s smirk turned into a grin. “Right. Just dinner.” He leaned in just a fraction more, his voice lowering. “And nothing else almost happened?”

I felt my breath hitch, my heart pounding loudly in my chest. The way he said almost made it sound so much more loaded, and I knew he was playing with me. My mind raced for a response, but nothing came. He was too close, too charming, and I was completely out of my depth.

Finally, I managed to let out a shaky laugh, stepping back to put some distance between us. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Michael’s grin widened, and he watched me with a look that said he knew exactly what I was trying to avoid. “If you say so.”

The silence that followed was thick with tension. I could feel the heat between us, like an invisible thread pulling us closer even though I was trying so hard to keep things professional. I cleared my throat, desperately trying to steer the conversation away from dangerous waters.

“So, lunch?” I asked, forcing a casual tone.

Michael raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the fact that he had me flustered. “Sure. But maybe next time we can do dinner again. You know, since last time was… just fine.”

I glared at him playfully, my heart still racing from the intensity of the moment. “Don’t push your luck.”

He chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

We headed out of the break room together, but the playful exchange left an undeniable charge in the air between us. As we walked side by side, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was in over my head. The attraction was undeniable, and the more Michael teased and flirted, the harder it became to pretend like nothing had changed.

By the time we returned to the office, I was still reeling from our conversation. Michael gave me one last smirk before disappearing into his office, leaving me standing there, my mind spinning.

I knew I should be careful, but the way he made me feel—nervous, excited, and on edge all at once—was like nothing I had ever experienced before. And part of me wondered how much longer I could resist him.