Back to square one, part two

Steven shifts a little in his seat, folds his fingers together, and rests his elbow on his desk. "What can I do for you, Chloe?" He said, gazing at her intensely. Her dress code seems like she wants to do more than talk, and Steven does not desire to go that route with her. Not when he is finally ready to move on with his love life. Sure, Steven and Julie had started on a rocky path, but he intended to visit her office at midday, apologize for his rude behavior and take her out for lunch.

Chloe stared back at Steven, and he seemed sensitive by her presence. He kept rubbing his neck. Chloe knew that this was a habit of his. Whenever Steven felt bothered or stressed, he would touch distinct parts of his body like his neck, face, or hair.

"I can leave if you don't want me here!" Chloe replied. Steven dropped his hand from his neck and slid back a little into his chair. "No, no! I want you here." He said. Steven tried to rub his face, but he stopped himself. Steven knew that Chloe would figure out he was lying. Her question was a trap, and Steven knew it.

If Chloe wanted to leave, she would have just said, "I am leaving." Simple as that. Yet she added, "If you don't want me here." It's proof that Chloe is trying to guilt him into letting her stay since she has already figured out that he doesn't want her there. Steven understood this was a mind game most women play on men to get their way or find out how that man feels.

Chloe smiled as she realized that Steven had mastered her tricks. But it was too late because she had already got what she wanted, and that was his attention. Chloe appreciated the reality that this is one of the countless fascinating and scary pleasures of being in a relationship for a long time. You grow to understand your partner so well that even before they do something, you already identify what they wish to do. Plus, it does not change even if you people have split up for years.

"Why haven't you been answering my calls?" Chloe asked, crossing her leg and leaning back in the chair. Her V-neck dress revealed half of her breasts, and its short length flashed her fair thighs. Steven looked away and focused his eyes on his papers. "I have been sick with a cold and have been on bed rest for the weekend. I did not want you to worry because of a simple cold, so that is why I have not been able to answer your calls. I am sorry." Steven replied.

Steven was glad he was able to come up with a quick lie. Plus, the cool thing about his deception was there's a truth in it. So his conscience was free of guilt. "Are you healthy now?" Chloe softly uttered as she got up and touched Steven's forehead. Her chest felt so close to his face that Steven lightly shoved Chloe toward her chair. "I am fine. You don't have to bother about me." He said as she sat down.

Chloe knew that Steven just rejected her with his action. He had never refused her in this manner. She always had the upper hand in seducing him with her innocent act. Chloe remembered that Steven could not resist her naïve expression and smooth body. But today, he remains composed despite her various attempts, and she needed to know why he could.

Steven could tell that Chloe was trying to lure him. From her dress code to her actions and her soft voice was all he needed to recognize that his ex-girlfriend was trying to tempt him for the innumerable times since they broke up. He may have given in to her back then, but this time was different. There was someone other than her in his heart. Plus, Steven wanted to see how this new relationship he was pursuing would work out for him.

Steven could not handle this situation anymore, so he gave a fake stare at his watch. "You know what? I promised Jackson that we would meet up this morning to have breakfast together, and it is almost time. So I have to leave." He stated. Steven stood up and put his phone in his pocket. He organizes his desk, and Chloe watches calmly. She did not react until he was about to leave.

"You don't have a breakfast date with Jackson. I know I am correct. Do you know why? Because you always blink your eyelashes twice when you are lying like you just did. I feel hurt, and you are an awful person for lying to me. Do you know what happens to bad people? They get punished like I will do to you right this instant." Chloe replied. She thought since the childish act was not working, then she had to become naughty.

Chloe got up from her seat and approached Steven casually. He kept stepping back until she pinpointed him to the wall. She placed her hand on his chest. "Ooh, your heart is beating so fast! I am not going to eat you." Chloe uttered as she slowly massaged his chest muscles. Steven did not like the position he was in, but he could not move. His feet felt frozen to the ground. "Then, what are you doing?" Steven mumbles. He understood it was a dull question because he recognized what Chloe wanted to do. However, he did not know what to say at that moment.

Julie stood at Steven's office door, rehearsing her speech. She had this entire summary put together in her head for him. She squeezes the panda tight into her arms for emotional support. "Okay, Julie. You got this! You will walk in there and say everything that is on your mind. Also, you will not give him the chance to speak until you're finished. Otherwise, you may chicken out and not enter your statement."

Julie pushed Steven's door open and stepped inside. "Steven, thank you for your gifts. I love them, and I am sorry about what I said this morning. I did not mean everything I said because I wanted us to be more than..." Julie did not complete her sentence as she stared at the most devastating scene she had ever witnessed in her lifetime.