Chapter 12: The Test of Trust

Rebecca spent the next few days in a haze. The kiss in her office had set her world on fire in ways she wasn't sure she could control. Ethan's presence lingered in her thoughts, pulling at her even when they weren't in the same room.

She kept telling herself that she couldn't let this happen—that she couldn't let herself fall for him, not after everything. But every time she saw him, that wall she'd carefully constructed seemed to crumble just a little more.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Ethan.

Ethan: I need you to meet me at the office. It's important.

Her heart skipped a beat. She had been expecting this—the moment when things would go too far, when their professional relationship would blur into something else. But she still wasn't prepared for it.

When Rebecca arrived at the office, she was immediately ushered into Ethan's office by his assistant. It was late, the building mostly empty, but Ethan was there, standing by the large windows, staring out at the city below.

He turned when she entered, his expression unreadable.

"Ethan, you wanted to see me?" she asked, trying to sound composed.

He nodded, his eyes intense as they met hers. "We need to talk."

Rebecca's stomach tightened. This didn't feel like a normal conversation. There was something heavy in the air, something unspoken that was pulling at them both.

"About what?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Ethan stepped closer, his movements purposeful, and she couldn't help but notice the way his presence seemed to fill the entire room.

"About us," he said, his voice low but firm.

Rebecca's breath caught in her throat. She knew this moment was coming, but it still startled her. "Ethan, we agreed—"

"I know what we agreed," he interrupted, his voice sharper now. "But I can't keep pretending that this—" He gestured between them. "That this is just business anymore."

Her heart pounded in her chest. She had been avoiding this, pushing it to the back of her mind, but Ethan wasn't letting her anymore.

"You think I don't know what I'm doing?" he continued, his eyes never leaving hers. "You think I don't see the way you look at me? The way I look at you?"

Rebecca swallowed hard, trying to gather her thoughts. "Ethan, this isn't a good idea. You're my boss—"

He cut her off, his voice softening. "Rebecca, I'm not asking you to make a decision right now. I'm asking you to stop running from this. I can't keep doing this—being in the same room with you, pretending that we're not on the edge of something more."

The silence stretched between them, heavy and thick. Rebecca felt like the world was spinning out of control. The pull between them was undeniable, but so was the fear.

"I don't trust myself with this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "After Noah… I don't know if I can trust anyone again."

Ethan's face softened. "I'm not asking you to trust me right away. I'm asking you to give me a chance. To let me prove that I'm not like him."

Rebecca closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the weight of her own emotions. This wasn't just about Ethan. It was about her—about learning to trust again, about opening herself up to the possibility of love.

But she couldn't deny the way she felt when he was around—the way her heart beat faster, the way her skin tingled when he was near.

And she couldn't ignore the way he was looking at her now, with so much intensity, so much sincerity.

She opened her eyes and met his gaze. "I'm scared, Ethan."

His expression softened even more. "I know."

They stood there for a long moment, the tension between them palpable. Ethan wasn't pushing her, wasn't demanding anything. He was simply waiting, letting her make the choice for herself.

And for the first time in a long time, Rebecca didn't feel like she was drowning in fear.

Maybe—just maybe—she could let herself fall again.

As the days passed, things between them shifted in small, subtle ways. Ethan was still her boss, and they still worked together, but there was an unspoken understanding between them now. A quiet agreement that they were no longer just colleagues.

They started to spend more time together outside of the office. Lunches that were initially professional became personal. Late nights working together led to shared conversations, laughter, and a growing connection that neither of them could ignore.

Rebecca still fought the feelings bubbling up inside her. She wanted to keep things professional, to keep her heart protected. But every time she saw Ethan, every time they spoke, that wall inside her crumbled just a little more.

And one evening, as they were walking out of the office together, Ethan stopped in his tracks, turning to face her.

"Rebecca," he said quietly. "I know you're scared. I know you've been hurt. But I need you to know that I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

She stared at him, her heart racing. "I'm still not sure about this."

"I know." He reached out, his hand gently brushing her arm. "But I need you to trust me. Just give me a chance."

Rebecca looked up at him, the city lights shining in his eyes. There was sincerity there, an openness she hadn't expected.

For the first time, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—he was right.

And maybe, just maybe, this could be something real.