Embers of desire : Unchartered Territory

Old Flames, New Fears

The next week, Gracie was making copies in the secluded copier room, lost in thought about her relationship with Lara, when Ferdinand, her ex, unexpectedly appeared behind her. His return from his secondment in the company's UK branch was such an inconvenience, as he had made it clear the past week that he hoped to win Gracie back.
"Hey, Gracie, I missed you so much. Can we talk?" Ferdinand said, his voice dripping with feigned charm. Gracie's breath caught in her throat at the sound of his voice, and she turned, schooling her face into a composed mask. "Ferdinand, we have nothing to talk about. Things have changed for me since you broke up with me, and I've moved on."
"You've moved on? With who? Tell me! You know I only broke up with you because of the distance. I want us to give it another shot," Ferdinand pressed, growing frustrated.
Gracie's eyes flashed with annoyance. "It's none of your business, Ferdinand. What we had is over." She simply smiled and walked away without divulging any information, leaving Ferdinand seething in her wake.
Hidden around the corner, Lara's eyes widened as she overheard their conversation. Her chest tightened with jealousy and anger, her fists clenching and unclenching as she bit her lip, struggling to keep herself from storming in. After witnessing the encounter, Lara's irritation reached its peak, spilling through to her time with Gracie. As they headed home, Gracie sensed something was off.
"Babe, why are you so upset?" Gracie asked, concern in her voice. Lara's face flushed with anger; her eyes moist. "I knew you and Ferdinand had a thing, but seeing him today, he was all over you."
"That's a bit of an exaggeration," Gracie reassured her, reaching over to squeeze Lara's hand. "He's my past, and I have nothing to do with him now. I was surprised he came back too. But I see that this is really bothering you, and I don't want that. I love you, and only you. I'll deal with him, and I'll make sure he knows that I'm not interested. You're my present and my future, Lara, and nothing will change that. Trust me." Gracie leaned over and pecked her lips, her eyes filled with love and determination. "You don't have to be jealous; you have all of me. Trust me, Lara, I know how to handle this."
Lara replied with a quiet "okay," but the unease in her eyes lingered. Gracie knew the situation needed to be handled carefully. "Please don't get involved," she pleaded with Lara. "You are his boss as well as mine, and I don't want you caught up in these things." Lara reluctantly nodded, the jealousy inside her continuing to simmer. "Okay, I won't," she agreed, though her eyes betrayed her ongoing struggle.
Over the next week, Gracie did her best to remain focused on her work and avoid engaging with Ferdinand any more than necessary. She managed to keep her composure, refusing to let him disrupt her life. Meanwhile, Lara found it increasingly challenging to suppress her feelings as she watched Ferdinand's relentless attempts to win Gracie back in the office. His presence seemed to be everywhere, his gestures ever more audacious, and his words infused with a charm that grated on Lara's nerves.
Frustration bubbling within her day by day, Lara finally reached a breaking point. Her hands trembling, face set in determination, she decided to confront Ferdinand privately. She waited for him outside the office one afternoon and approached him, her eyes fierce with determination. "You need to leave Gracie alone," she asserted, her voice unwavering. "She's happy now, and I won't let you ruin that for her."
Ferdinand's eyes widened, taken aback by Lara's unexpected protectiveness. He scoffed, his voice dripping with arrogance, "And who are you to tell me that? Why do you care so much about Gracie's happiness?"
Lara's face hardened, and her eyes narrowed. "I care because I value her well-being, both personally and professionally," she replied, carefully avoiding any mention of their relationship. "Gracie has made it clear that she's moved on. You need to respect her wishes and stop this inappropriate behaviour."
Ferdinand's expression shifted to one of confusion, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "You seem awfully invested in her life," he remarked, his voice laced with doubt.
"That's not your concern," Lara responded, her voice firm. "What matters is that Gracie is no longer a part of your life. You need to respect her wishes and stay away." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Ferdinand standing there, his mind racing with questions, frustration, and a sense that something remained hidden. But Lara's words had drawn a line, and she hoped that Ferdinand would finally understand that his pursuit of Gracie had to end.
Later that evening, as they cuddled on the couch, Lara's face grew tense, her smile forced. The guilt weighed on her like a heavy chain, tugging at her conscience until she could no longer bear the silence compelling her to confess to Gracie.
"What?!" Gracie exclaimed, her face turning a shade paler as she quickly got up from her comfortable position. Her eyes narrowed, a complex mix of frustration, concern, and disbelief in her voice. "I asked you not to get involved. How could you go against my wishes like that?"
Lara took a deep breath, her eyes softening with remorse. She looked down, shame colouring her cheeks. "I know, and I'm sorry, Gracie. I just couldn't stand seeing him circling you like that, trying to take you away from me. I got jealous, and I acted without thinking," she admitted, tears welling in her eyes.
Gracie's initial shock gave way to a more compassionate understanding. She sighed and sat back down, pulling Lara close to her. Her voice was gentle yet firm as she spoke. "Lara, I appreciate that you were trying to protect me, but I can handle these things myself. I trust you with all my heart, but I need you to trust me too. Ferdinand is my past, not my future. Your intervention might complicate things at work. We need to handle this situation with maturity."
Gracie's anger dissipated, melting under Lara's earnest affection. She leaned in, capturing Lara in a passionate kiss that conveyed her love and forgiveness. Their bodies entwined, the tension between them eased, their kiss growing heated as they allowed desire to take over, progressing slowly towards the bedroom. The incident with Ferdinand was forgotten for the moment, replaced by a connection that reassured them both of their commitment to each other.
Later that night, with Gracie's gentle breath tickling her neck and her arms wrapped tightly around her, Lara's contentment was briefly interrupted by the buzz of a text message from her older brother. “Hey sis, just got into town today. Lunch tomorrow at the Ritz. No excuses. I want to know what's going on with you, especially your love life. I'm not letting you off the hook this time.”
Lara's smile faded a touch. Telling her family about her relationship with Gracie was a conversation she knew was coming but hadn't yet prepared for. Her brother was her best friend, and she knew he'd support her, but the thought of opening up still filled her with apprehension.
With a soft sigh, she looked down at Gracie's peaceful face, her anxiety replaced by warmth. They would face any challenges together. She quickly typed a reply, agreeing to meet, then set her phone aside and drifted off to sleep, thoughts of Gracie filling her with contentment and hope.