The Breaking Point
719 Words
MIRA
She needed space.
Distance.
Time to breathe, to think, to remind herself that letting Zane Calloway back in was the worst possible idea.
But he wasn’t giving her any of that.
For the past three days, he had been everywhere.
Showing up at her office with "urgent" revisions to their presentation. Sitting too close during meetings. Letting his gaze linger just long enough to send a shiver down her spine.
It wasn’t direct.
Wasn’t obvious.
But it was calculated.
Zane was hunting her.
And the worst part?
She didn’t hate it as much as she should.
Which was exactly why she was staying as far away from him as possible.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option today.
Because today, they had a client dinner.
And she had to sit right next to him for two hours.
Fucking great.
---
Mira arrived at the restaurant exactly on time, scanning the table for a Zane-free zone.
No luck.
The only open seat was right beside him.
Because of course it was.
Suppressing a sigh, she slid into the chair, refusing to look at him.
Zane, however, had no problem looking at her.
“Nice of you to join us, Mira.”
His voice was smooth, unaffected.
Like he wasn’t the reason she had spent the entire day on edge.
She arched an eyebrow, keeping her tone just as even. “I wasn’t aware my attendance was optional.”
A slow smirk. “It’s not.”
Heat curled in her stomach.
Bastard.
She reached for her water, trying to ignore the way his arm brushed hers as he shifted.
Then, just as the waiter approached, she felt it—
His hand on her thigh.
Mira froze.
The conversation carried on around them, but she couldn’t hear it anymore.
All she could feel was Zane’s palm, warm and firm, resting just above her knee.
Not moving.
Not doing anything.
Just there.
A silent challenge.
A test.
She should push him away.
Slap his hand off.
Something.
But she didn’t.
Because part of her—the part that was losing this war—wanted to see what he would do next.
Zane squeezed.
Just barely.
Just enough to send a violent shiver down her spine.
Her fingers clenched around her glass.
Slowly, deliberately, she turned to him.
And when their eyes met—his were dark with promise.
Fuck.
She needed to get out of here.
Now.
She pushed back from the table, murmuring, “Excuse me.”
And then she walked away, her heart pounding.
---
ZANE
She ran.
Again.
Zane exhaled slowly, watching Mira disappear through the side doors of the restaurant.
He should let her go.
Should let her cool off, pretend he wasn’t inside her head just as much as she was inside his.
But he wasn’t that man.
Not anymore.
Not when it came to her.
He waited exactly thirty seconds before excusing himself.
Then he followed.
---
He found her outside, standing near the railing, her arms crossed.
“You keep running,” he said, stepping closer.
Mira’s spine stiffened, but she didn’t turn. “You keep chasing.”
Zane smirked. “Maybe because I know you want to be caught.”
A sharp breath. “You’re impossible.”
He moved behind her, lowering his voice. “And yet, you’re still here.”
She turned then, glaring up at him. Wrong move.
Because now?
Now they were too close.
Zane could see the pulse hammering in her throat, could see the way her lips parted like she was seconds from saying something she’d regret.
“Mira,” he murmured.
Her chest rose and fell, her breath shaky. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” He leaned in. Just a fraction. “Don’t make you admit you still want me?”
She clenched her jaw. “I don’t.”
Liar.
Zane reached up, fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek.
She didn’t move away.
Didn’t stop him.
“Say it again,” he whispered.
Silence.
Then—her breath hitched.
And just like that, he knew.
She could fight this all she wanted.
Could pretend she was immune to him.
But at the end of the day?
Mira Langley still burned for him.
Just like he burned for her.
And now?
Now, he was done waiting.
- Writer
