Idon’t want to move. I know the gravity of what we just did will soon crash down on us, but right now, I’d rather just ignore it. In this moment, he is no longer the intimidating CEO of the company I intern for, but simply Alex, vulnerable and exposed in a way I never thought I’d see him.
‘Clara,’ he whispers, his voice low and tender as he strokes my hair. ‘We need to talk.’
I nod, biting my lip as I struggle to find words. Our relationship is a ticking time bomb, and we both know it. Yet, we couldn’t resist the growing attraction between us, culminating in the passion that unfolded mere moments ago.
‘What if someone finds out about us?’ I ask, fear tugging at my insides. ‘The office gossip alone would be unbearable, not to mention the potential consequences on our careers.’
‘Trust me, I’ve thought about it too,’ he admits, his eyes clouded with concern. ‘But I can’t help how I feel about you, Clara. And I don’t want to give this up.’
‘Neither do I,’ I agree, my heart swelling with affection for this man who has somehow managed to break down my defenses and make me fall so completely and utterly in love with him.
‘Then we have to keep this a secret,’ he says decisively. ‘At least for now. It won’t be easy, but it’s the only way.’
‘Keeping this from everyone will be difficult,’ I reply, my eyes searching his face for any signs of hesitation. ‘Can we really pull it off?’
He takes my hand, his fingers tangling with mine. ‘Together, we can do anything.’
I watch Alexander’s fingers trace idle patterns on my arm as we lay side by side, our bodies tangled together in a comfortable mess. The warmth of his touch sparks thoughts in my mind, and I can’t help but imagine the chaos that would ensue if anyone were to find out about us.
‘How exactly are we going to pull this off? I think people have already started to notice.’
He runs a hand through his tousled hair, the concern mirrored in his blue eyes. ‘Well, for starters, we need to avoid any public displays of affection at work. No lingering looks or touches, especially when anyone else is around.’
‘Agreed,’ I nod, biting my lip. ‘And we’ll have to communicate through private channels, like personal phones and emails, not our work ones.’
‘Exactly,’ he says, pulling me closer. ‘We’ll also need to be cautious about how we spend time together outside of work. We don’t want to arouse suspicion by suddenly spending every evening together.’
My stomach twists with anxiety, but I know he’s right. ‘It’s going to be difficult, isn’t it? What if people notice something’s off between us?’
‘We’ll just have to trust ourselves and each other,’ Alex reassures me, his strong hand cupping my cheek. ‘Yes, there will be challenges, like dealing with suspicion from coworkers and jealousy from our families. But we’re smart, resourceful people. We can handle this.’
His confidence soothes my nerves, but I can’t shake the feeling that this won’t be easy. ‘What if someone catches on, despite our best efforts?’ I ask, my voice barely audible.
‘Then we face it with honesty, and we stand by each other,’ he replies firmly, his gaze never wavering from mine.
“And our relationship is discovered?” I ask cautiously.
He sighs, knowing I’m right. The thought of facing disciplinary action or losing our professional credibility weighs heavily on me. ‘Yeah, I know. It could be devastating for both of us.’
‘Exactly,’ I agree. ‘Our careers could be jeopardized, and it might even affect the company’s reputation. Is it worth it?’ I ask hesitantly, searching his eyes for reassurance.
‘Us? Absolutely,’ he replies without missing a beat, his conviction leaving no room for doubt. ‘But we need to be smart about this, Clara. We can’t afford any slip-ups.’ His thumb brushes against my cheek, a tender gesture that makes my heart swell.
‘Then we’ll be careful,’ I promise. ‘We’ve already discussed ways to keep our relationship hidden, and we’ll continue to be vigilant.’
‘Good,’ he says, nodding firmly. ‘And remember – whatever happens, we’re in this together.”
‘Alright, let’s plan our next steps,’ he says, looking up at me with determination. ‘We need to figure out how to maintain our relationship while avoiding any complications.’
I nod, and he slowly pulls away from me. I’m already aching from the absence, but I let him go. He helps me clean up and dress, and only once we’re put back together, I turn my mind back to the task at hand.
‘First, we should schedule our dates outside of work hours and away from the office,’ I suggest, my mind already racing with ideas. ‘That way, there’s less chance of anyone seeing us together.’
‘Agreed. And we’ll use an encrypted messaging app to communicate privately. No more texting or emailing each other about anything personal.’
‘Sounds like a solid plan,’ I say, feeling relieved that we’re taking control of the situation. ‘I think, if we stick to these guidelines, we should be able to keep our relationship hidden.’
‘Hopefully,’ he agrees, his eyes meeting mine with a mixture of hope and anxiety. ‘But let’s also have a backup plan, just in case someone starts getting suspicious.’
‘Right,’ I reply, my heart pounding with anticipation. ‘If that happens, we’ll come clean – but only to someone we trust implicitly. They might be able to help us navigate the fallout.’
‘Exactly,’ he says, his voice filled with conviction. ‘We can’t predict the future, but we can prepare for it.’
