Falling Into The Unknown.

Chapter 5: Embracing the Unknown.

Anna’s POV

The sunlight was pouring through the window, bright and warm, but it did nothing to calm the tornado of thoughts swirling in my head. I stretched out on Michael's couch, remembering the night before—our easy laughs, the way our conversations seemed to dive deeper than usual, and the undeniable feeling of being close to him. But now, my stomach churned with anxiety. What if I’d messed up? What if he thought something had happened between us?

I finally got up, groggy but alert when I saw Michael standing there, looking like he’d seen a ghost. My heart raced, unsure of what to expect. He seemed so on edge, like he didn’t even know what to say. “Nothing happened,” I reassured him, watching the worry melt away from his face. A small smile tugged at my lips. He was freaking out over nothing, asking me lots of questions and it was kind of adorable i wont lie. I wanted to say something to get him scared but I didn’t because i don’t want him scared and I know he’s been through enough.

We scrambled to get ready for work, but reality hit me hard. People were going to talk. They always did. And in our office, gossip spread like wildfire. I could already hear it in my head: “Did you hear about Anna and Michael?” The thought made my chest tighten, but weirdly enough, I didn’t care as much as I thought I would. Maybe if people thought there was something between us, it would make it real my inner mind said but I pushed the thought away.

Walking into the office, the tension was thick. Everyone was watching. Michael, being the CEO, added an extra layer of drama to it all. I caught glances from my coworkers, their eyes full of curiosity and maybe even a little envy. I overheard whispers. My breath caught in my throat, but I reminded myself to stay cool. I wasn’t going to let their gossip control me.

I sat at my desk, pretending to focus on my work, but my mind kept drifting back to Michael. Are you falling in love? my inner mind came at me again. I shake my head to get her off. I was still thinking of how Micheal had protected me from those gossipers, how he held my hands and that made me feel like I wasn’t just some random girl in his life—I was important.

Then, chaos erupted. Out of nowhere, Victoria stormed into the office, her voice slicing through the room like ice. My stomach dropped. She was furious, and all her rage was aimed at Michael. Part of me wanted to shrink into the corner, but the other part—the part that was tired of being walked all over—stood tall.

When she turned her venom on me, something inside snapped. I wasn’t going to let her talk to me like that. “You don’t get to treat me like this,” I said, my voice steady even though my heart was pounding. I saw Michael’s face soften, pride flickering in his eyes. I felt powerful, like for the first time, I wasn’t just defending myself—I was claiming my place.

The gossip was getting out of hand so he sent everyone out.

Security came and dragged Victoria out, still shouting like a madwoman. I turned to Michael, who looked both relieved and impressed. “You handled that like a champ,” he said, his voice full of admiration.

“Thank you sir,” I replied, trying to keep cool, but inside, I was buzzing. It felt so good to stand up for myself and not back down. Seeing Michael’s approval only made it sweeter.

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,” I joked, the tension easing between us.

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

At lunch, things between us felt lighter, more connected. We sat in the corner of a café, just the two of us, laughing like nothing had happened. “Can you believe her?” Michael said, shaking his head. “She really has no idea when to stop.”

“Right? Like, how did she think that was going to go?” I joked, feeling the tension between us soften. It was so easy to talk to him, like we were on the same wavelength.

He looked at me for a second, his eyes locking onto mine. “Honestly, I don’t know what I would’ve done without you today,” he said softly. “You made everything better.”

My heart flipped. This was the connection I had been longing for, the sense that we were in this together. “We’ve got each other’s backs, right?” I said, smiling at him.

“For sure,” he replied, his voice filled with certainty.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur. The office buzzed with rumors, but I found myself caring less and less. They could talk all they wanted. I knew what was real between me and Michael, and that was enough.

Later, I noticed a commotion outside the office —Victoria again. She wasn’t done. My heart raced as she yelled, this time louder and angrier than before. But instead of feeling scared, I felt...ready.

When she spotted me, her face twisted with fury. “You think you can replace me? You’re nothing but a phase!” she screamed, venom dripping from every word.

I stepped forward, my heart pounding in my chest, but my voice came out strong. “You don’t get to decide my worth,” I shot back. “Not anymore.”

Michael was beside me in an instant, his protective instincts kicking in. “Victoria, stop this he snapped. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

Security swooped in and dragged her away again, but not before she hurled one last insult. “You’re just a rebound, Anna! This won’t last!”