Falling Into The Unknown.

Chapter 4: A Morning After

Micheal’s POV

I woke up with a pounding headache, like a rock band was practicing in my skull. Ugh. The sunlight streaming through the curtains felt like daggers, and I groaned as I sat up, the memories of last night slowly creeping back. Laughter, drinks, and that warm feeling of Anna beside me… but everything felt foggy. Anna I thought in my mind, how did she know I was at the bar because I remember taking her home and I don’t recall her coming with me or do I remember calling her.

I keep disturbing that poor girl with my problems

I hope she got home safe though I said.

Rubbing my temples, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and planted my feet on the cold floor. “Just need some water,” I mumbled, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. I shuffled toward the living room, feeling like I was dragging the weight of the world behind me.

But as I stepped into the room, my heart dropped. There, sprawled on the couch, was Anna. Panic surged through me. “Oh no,” I thought. “What happened last night?” My brain was racing with a million scenarios, and for a split second, I was terrified I might have crossed some line I didn’t even know existed.

Just then, Anna stirred. She stretched and yawned, those bright eyes of hers fluttering open until they locked onto mine. “Good morning, sleepyhead!” she said cheerfully, completely oblivious to the turmoil swirling inside me.

I blinked at her, searching for any hint of discomfort on her face. “Anna… did we—?” I started, my voice barely above a whisper, unable to finish the question hanging in the air.

Her smile faltered a little when she noticed my expression. “What’s wrong?” she asked, concern creeping into her voice.

“Did I touch you? Did something happen?” I blurted, my heart racing with anxiety. The mere thought of forcing myself on her made me nauseous.

Anna’s confusion quickly morphed into amusement, and then she burst out laughing. It was a genuine sound, but all it did was heighten my anxiety. “Michael, what are you talking about?” she managed between giggles.

“Stop laughing! This is serious!” I raised my voice, frustration bubbling up. “Did I—”

“Michael!” she interrupted, her laughter dying down. “Nothing happened! You’re overreacting. We just fell asleep on the couch. That’s it.”

I blinked, relief washing over me as I processed her words. “Oh. Thank God,” I muttered, my face burning with embarrassment.

Anna sat up, brushing her hair back with a grin. “You really thought I’d let you do something like that while you were drunk? Come on.”

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t exactly in the best state of mind,” I admitted, scratching the back of my head. “I just… I panicked.”

She smiled softly, the tension easing between us. “It’s okay. We all make mistakes when we drink too much. Just don’t make it a habit, alright?”

I nodded, grateful for her understanding. “Right. Let’s just—uh, we should get ready for work.”

We both glanced at the clock, and my stomach dropped. “Crap, we’re late!”

Anna jumped up. “Where’s your bathroom?”

“Down the hall to the left. I’ll take the one on the right!” I called, rushing toward my bathroom.

As I splashed cold water on my face, my mind raced with everything that lay ahead. I mean its my company and I can go in anytime but Anna couldn’t afford to be late— I don’t want people talking trash about her.

I quickly brushed my teeth, pulled on a shirt and trousers.

Within minutes, we were out the door and on the road. I tried to shake off the remnants of my hangover, focusing on Anna next to me. “Do you have clothes at your place? We should grab something before heading to the office,” I suggested.

“Yeah, I have a spare outfit,” she replied, a spark of excitement in her eyes. “But I can’t believe we’re already late. They’re going to have a field day with this.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, glancing at her. “What are they going to say?”

“Come on, Michael,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You know how office gossip works. They’ll be talking about how I stayed over and all that.”

I chuckled. “Let them talk. It’s not like we did anything.”

“True,” she agreed, though the glimmer in her eyes hinted she found it all amusing. “But I’ll never hear the end of it if they think I’m your new girlfriend.”

The thought sent a warm rush through me, but I pushed it aside. “Well, let them think about what they want. You know the truth.”

After a quick stop at Anna’s place to change into more professional attire, I was momentarily lost for words. She looked effortlessly beautiful in a simple blouse and jeans, making me lick the bottom of my lips without thinking while I stared at her. She cleared her throat and brought me back to my senses.

As we drove into the office, the atmosphere shifted. The usual hustle and bustle felt charged with curiosity. I caught snippets of hushed conversations among my employees, laughter dying down as we passed.

“Did you hear? Michael and Anna were seen together last night,” one of them whispered, their eyes darting our way.

“Looks like they’ve become close,” another added.

My chest tightened at the implications, but I brushed it off. “Let them talk,” I murmured to Anna as we stepped into the building.

“Easier said than done,” she replied, her smile tinged with nervousness.

The morning dragged on, whispers trailing behind us like shadows. By lunchtime, the tension had escalated. I was in a meeting, trying to focus, when suddenly the door burst open. My ex-wife, Victoria, stormed in, her face contorted with fury. Apparently, one of her spys had told her about me and Anna and since she hasn’t received any divorce papers yet, she feels we’re still Married.

Michael!” she shouted, her voice slicing through the air. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? I hear you’ve been parading around with this—this girl!”

Everyone turned to stare, the room thick with tension. I stood up, a mix of anger and disbelief washing over me. “Victoria, this isn’t the place for this!”

“I don’t care! You can’t just move on like this! You think I’m going to let you ruin my reputation?” she spat, venom dripping from her words.

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to shout back. “This is my life, Victoria! You don’t get to dictate what I do!”

Victoria’s eyes zeroed in on Anna, who had quietly entered the room behind me. “And you! You think you can just swoop in and take my place? You think you’re better than me?”

Anna squared her shoulders, refusing to back down. “I’m not trying to take anyone’s place. Mr Michael is my boss , and we’ve been working together. You have no right to speak to me like that.”

The room buzzed with whispers, all eyes darting between the three of us.

“ Everything out” i said in a commanding tone

They all rushed out except for Anna and Victoria

I felt a surge of pride watching Anna stand up for herself. She was strong, and in that moment, it hit me just how much I admired her.

Victoria’s face flushed with anger. “You think you can just take what’s mine? I’ll make sure everyone knows what a—”

Before she could finish, security entered, alerted by the commotion. “Ma’am, you need to leave,” one of the guards said firmly, stepping forward.

“This isn’t over, Michael!” she shouted as they escorted her out, her voice echoing down the hall.

As the door slammed shut, the tension in the room began to dissipate. I looked at Anna, who stood tall, a fierce glint in her eyes. “You were amazing,” I said, a proud smile breaking across my face.

“Thank you Sir,” she replied, visibly shaking but holding her ground. “I just couldn’t let her walk all over me—or you.”

“Let’s grab lunch. We need to celebrate your bravery,” he suggested, feeling a rush of gratitude.

Only if you promise not to drink too much next time,” she joked, the tension easing between us.

“Deal,” I said, the warmth between us palpable as we walked out of the office together.