In the office, Dylan sat in his chair, his piercing gaze fixed on Ember. A wave of unease washed over her, making it impossible to ignore the tension thickening the air. Had she done something wrong?
"Hey, Chi," he finally spoke, breaking the silence. "Can you wait for me in your cabin? I'll be there in a minute."
"Okay. Bye, Miss Ember. Think about the offer," the other man replied, flashing her a playful wink before walking away.
Offer? What offer? Ember's mind raced as she watched him leave, a strange chill creeping up her spine. She turned back to Dylan, inhaling deeply, and forced a smile despite the growing anxiety gnawing at her.
He sat stiffly at his desk, his mood dark and unreadable. The tension between them crackled like a live wire. Was he upset because she had left without telling him? Or was it something else—jealousy, perhaps? Ember could feel the weight of his stare pressing down on her, but she couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes.
"Don't you have anything to say?" he finally asked, his voice low yet sharp.
Ember swallowed, willing herself to sound composed. "Yeah, I do."
His expression remained unreadable as he leaned in slightly. "What?"
"Actually, there's a lot to tell."
A ghost of a smirk played on his lips, but his voice remained cold. "I have the whole day to listen to you… baby."
The way he said it sent a shiver down her spine. There was eagerness beneath his icy demeanor—he wanted to hear her out. Ember clenched her fists, steadying herself. Fine. I'll tell him. I haven't done anything wrong, so why am I so nervous?
Taking another breath, she met his gaze head-on. You can do this.
Ember settled onto the sofa, taking a steady breath before beginning. "Okay, so here's the thing."
She glanced at Dylan, gauging his expression as she continued. "While I was working, your HR mistook my presence in your cabin for something… inappropriate."
Dylan's eyes sharpened. "Wait!" he interrupted, leaning forward.
Ember blinked, caught off guard. "What happened?" she asked, puzzled.
"What exactly were you doing that made him misunderstand you?" he pressed, his tone firm.
She hesitated for a brief moment before answering, her voice soft and innocent. "Actually, I was just sitting in your chair… spinning around."
Dylan smirked, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Go on, I'm listening."
Ember exhaled and continued, "Then he assumed I was there for an interview, so he dragged me out and put me through one. He said I was hired, but I turned down the offer."
His smirk faded, replaced by surprise. "What? You rejected it?"
"Yes!" Ember sighed, rubbing her temples. "You know what's going on in my life right now. I don't want things to get even more tense and complicated." She shook her head, feeling the weight of her own words. "Then he offered to give me a tour of the company and asked if I wanted coffee. So, I accepted. That's all."
She blinked rapidly, trying to steady herself. When her vision cleared, she found Dylan leaning in closer, his expression softer now.
"Good," he murmured, his voice warm. "All your answers were correct."
Before she could react, he moved to sit beside her, his arm draping casually over her shoulder. "The answers are right there, both in the question paper and in the canteen," he added with a teasing smile.
A sudden wave of warmth spread through Ember, making her heart race. Flustered, she shot to her feet, taking a step back to create some distance. Yet, even as she stood there, trying to compose herself, the lingering sensation of his touch refused to fade.
Dylan grabbed Ember's hand, and before she could react, her legs twisted, and she tumbled onto his lap.
"Aren't you hungry?" he asked, his voice low and teasing.
A rush of warmth spread through her, making it hard to focus. "Yes, I am," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
A smirk played on his lips as he leaned in. "I'll take you out to eat, but first… let me have a taste of you," he murmured, his teeth grazing her earlobe.
A shiver coursed through Ember's body, her breath hitching. She tried to move, but his grip on her hand tightened, keeping her in place. She watched, wide-eyed, as he slid his hand down her back, his other hand reaching for a remote. With the press of a button, the curtains glided shut, enclosing them in the dimly lit office. Then, without hesitation, he wrapped his arms securely around her waist, pulling her closer.
"Dylan, stop," Ember's voice wavered, her pulse racing.
"Stop what?" he murmured against her skin, pressing a lingering kiss to her neck. A thrill shot through her, weakening her resolve.
"Stop thi—" she tried to protest, but before she could finish, he cupped her face and captured her lips in a deep, searing kiss.
The moment their lips met, a spark ignited between them, setting every nerve in her body alight. He pulled her in tighter, eliminating any space between them, and suddenly, she was drowning—breathless, lost in the intensity of the moment.
"Dylan, stop! You're making me—" she gasped between kisses, but her words melted into the heat of his touch.
Her hands, which had been pushing against his chest, slowly lost their strength, falling limply as the kiss deepened, growing more fervent, more consuming. It was as if time itself had frozen, trapping her in this overwhelming, inescapable moment.
Just when she thought she might faint, he finally released her. Ember gasped for air, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "Huff… huff…" She stumbled off his lap, her hands trembling as she reached for the glass of water on his desk. Bringing it to her lips, she drank greedily, trying to steady her ragged breathing, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.
The silence stretched between them, heavy and charged. Then, she heard his voice—soft, almost regretful.
"Sorry, Ember," Dylan murmured before slipping out of the office, leaving her alone with nothing but the echoes of his touch lingering on her skin.
Dylan's Side
As Dylan stepped out of the office, the weight of his actions settled heavily on his shoulders. His heart pounded as he glanced back at Ember, but he couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes.
He turned away, his steps slow and uncertain. Yet, the image of her—fear flickering in her gaze, her body trembling—was burned into his mind. Guilt clawed at his chest, making it hard to breathe. What had he done?
Each step away from her felt like an escape and a punishment all at once. His mind replayed the moment over and over, a cruel loop of regret and self-reproach. By the time he reached the terrace, the cold night air hit his face, but it did little to soothe the storm raging inside him.
How could I be so stupid? he thought bitterly. Because of my jealousy, I made her feel terrible.
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration and regret tightening around him like a vice.
Ember's Side -
Back in Dylan's cabin, Ember sat frozen, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop the overwhelming rush of emotions crashing over her.
Everything that had happened today—his touch, his kiss, the way he left—made her chest ache. She felt suffocated, desperate to escape the turmoil inside her.
With a shaky breath, she reached for a piece of paper and began to write:
I need some time, so I'm going back. Don't worry, I'll return once I've cleared my mind.
Bye. Take care.
Love,
Yours, Ember.
As she finished the last word, a single tear fell, smudging the ink ever so slightly. She stared at it, feeling the weight of her own heartbreak pressing down on her .she grab the note in her hand , rose to her feet, and sit on his chair.
Taking another deep breath, she pinched herself hard —an attempt to get back home in blue ,
That night, sleep never came. No matter how tightly she closed her eyes, the memories of the day clung to her like a shadow, refusing to let her go.
On the Other Side — Dylan
When Dylan stepped back into his office, his breath caught in his throat. Ember was lying unconscious on his desk.
Panic surged through him. He rushed to her side, his hands trembling as he grabbed his phone. "Bring the car to the front. We're going to the hospital," he barked at his driver.
"Mr. Dylan, are you alright?" the driver asked, sensing the urgency in his voice.
"Yes, I'm fine," Dylan snapped, barely able to keep his frustration in check.
"Who's unwell, sir?"
"Just do your job!" he shot back before ending the call.
His chest tightened with every passing second, guilt clawing at him. He carefully lifted Ember into his arms, her body limp and fragile against him. Without wasting another moment, he carried her out of the building and placed her gently in the backseat, resting her head on his lap.
"Sir, is madam alright?" the driver asked, concern lacing his voice.
Dylan's jaw clenched. "I don't know... just take us to the hospital." His voice was barely above a whisper, thick with regret.
As the car sped through the city, Dylan's eyes fell on a crumpled piece of paper clenched in Ember's hand. Gently, he pried it loose, his heart pounding as he unfolded it.
I need some time, so I'm going back. Don't worry, I'll return once I've cleared my mind.
Bye. Take care.
Love,
Yours, Ember.
The words struck him like a blow to the chest. She needed space. She needed to get away from him.
His grip on the letter tightened, shame and regret twisting inside him like a knife. He had pushed her too far. He had made her feel trapped. And now, she was running.
"Turn around," Dylan ordered suddenly.
The driver hesitated. "But sir, madam—"
"She's alright. We're going home. She's just... tired." His voice wavered, as if trying to convince himself more than the driver.
When they reached home, Dylan carried Ember upstairs, pausing between their separate rooms. For a moment, he considered laying her in her own bed. But then, guilt overtook him.
I'll take her to my room, he decided. When she wakes up, I'll apologize.
He laid her gently on his bed, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. As he sat beside her, staring at her peaceful expression, the memory of their kiss returned—not the passion, but the way he had taken without asking.
She had looked so innocent. And he... he had acted like an animal.
Disgust filled him. He pushed himself up and retreated to the bathroom, turning on the shower in an attempt to wash away the shame clinging to him. But no amount of water could cleanse his conscience.
After drying off, he returned to her side. He hesitated, then reached out, his fingers barely grazing her cheek before placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
"I'm so sorry, Ember," he whispered.
And for the first time that night, as exhaustion finally overtook him, Dylan closed his eyes—hoping, praying, that tomorrow would bring him a chance to make things right.