Chapter 7: Aftermath

The days following the kiss were a blur for Emily. It was as though the entire office had fallen into an eerie silence. Every glance exchanged with Jack felt charged, like an electric current running just beneath the surface, ready to ignite at the slightest touch. But neither of them spoke about what had happened. It was as if they were both pretending it had never occurred, brushing it aside to focus on work.

Emily threw herself into the project, hoping that the endless tasks would keep her mind occupied. She focused on the layouts, the furniture selections, and the color schemes—anything to avoid confronting the growing tension between her and Jack. But no matter how much she tried to block it out, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them.

One morning, she found herself walking into the office a few minutes early, determined to start the day with a clear head. As she passed the conference room, she saw Jack standing by the window, his back to her as he stared out at the city skyline. She hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to go in or turn around. But then, he turned slightly, his gaze meeting hers, and for a split second, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.

"Morning," he said, his voice low but oddly warm.

"Morning," Emily replied, forcing a smile as she walked into the room.

They didn't speak about the kiss. Not yet. But Emily could tell that Jack was just as aware of the underlying tension as she was. Every time their hands brushed, or their eyes met across the table, a silent understanding passed between them.

It was only when the rest of the team arrived that the moment passed. Jack immediately shifted back into work mode, discussing the project with the team, his focus shifting entirely to the task at hand. Emily, too, buried herself in the work, though it was hard to ignore the part of her that was desperately trying to figure out what came next.

By the end of the day, as Emily gathered her things to leave, she found herself standing in the lobby, unsure of where to go next. She didn't want to leave, but she also couldn't bear the thought of facing Jack again in the quiet of the office.

Before she could make a decision, she heard Jack's voice behind her.

"Emily, wait."

She turned to find him walking toward her, his expression conflicted.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

Emily nodded, her heart thudding in her chest. She followed him to a quieter part of the office, away from the prying eyes of their colleagues. The air was thick with unspoken words, and Emily could barely look him in the eye.

"I—" Jack began, then stopped, as though unsure how to continue. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "I don't know what happened between us the other night."

"You don't need to explain," Emily interrupted, her voice steady but her emotions churning. "It was a mistake."

Jack's eyes darkened, a trace of pain crossing his face. "I don't think it was a mistake," he said quietly. "But I don't know if it's something we can continue. You're my employee, Emily. This… this can't be something that complicates everything."

Emily swallowed hard, her chest tight with a mix of disappointment and understanding. She knew the reality of their situation. She wasn't naive. But hearing Jack admit that he felt something, even if it wasn't the right time, made the moment feel all the more significant.

"I get it, Jack," she said softly. "We're both here for the project, and we can't let anything distract us from that. We have a job to do."

Jack nodded, but the way his eyes lingered on her made Emily's heart ache. There was so much more unsaid between them—so much more she wanted to say. But now was not the time. She had to walk away.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, before she turned and walked out of the office, leaving Jack standing there, his thoughts just as tangled as her own.