BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

Chapter 17: Raindrop Reverie

Chapter 17: Raindrop Reverie

After leaving Luke's office, I headed back to my own office before making my way to the elevator. The 'close door' button felt like my ally as I quickly pressed it, hoping to evade any chance encounter with Luke as he might exit his office. My apartment was a mere fifteen-minute walk away, and the rain didn't bother me. But, as I walked, memories of our almost-kiss dominated my thoughts.

Engrossed in my whirlpool of thoughts, I barely registered the car horn until it was blaring. Startled, I turned around only to see a car pulling over to the curb. I paid no heed and continued my walk. Suddenly, a firm grasp on my arm jolted me. Out of shock, and without a second glance, my mind raced to the worst conclusions. In a frantic attempt to defend myself, I unfolded my umbrella and swung it wildly at the person, hitting them repeatedly on the shoulder and face. Amidst my frantic swings, I faintly registered someone calling my name. The voice grew louder, desperately trying to cut through my panic, "Emily! Stop, it's me! Look at me!"

Suddenly, the reality of the situation hit me and I ceased my onslaught. My umbrella fell from my trembling hands as I looked up to see Luke, his face and forehead marked with red from the blows, a few scratches etched by the edge of my umbrella. The rain was falling harder now, drenching us both, but at that moment, it seemed to pale in comparison to the storm of embarrassment that washed over me.

"I-I didn't know it was you," I stuttered, my words as shaky as my hands. "I just freaked out, I didn't know what was happening, I just-" My voice trailed off as Luke began to laugh. It was a hearty, forgiving laugh that echoed through the empty street. In the midst of my embarrassment and his laughter, I too found myself laughing, albeit nervously. The absurdity of the situation, the shocking surprise, and perhaps the release of pent-up emotions had us both laughing in the rain like two characters out of a whimsical novel.

As our laughter subsided, he jestingly said, "Remind me to get you a baseball bat; you sure know how to swing." He then took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders in a gentlemanly gesture that warmed me more than the jacket itself did.

I was still in shock over my reaction, replaying the scene in my head. When Luke realized I was still rooted to the spot, he teased, "Do you want me to carry you to the car? Did that swing at my face take all your energy?" His playful tone did ease the tension a bit, but I still felt mortified.

"I'm so sorry," I mumbled, but he dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

"Don't apologize. You were just trying to protect yourself. But next time, maybe opt for a bat, it'll do the job quicker," he chuckled, guiding me towards his car.

As Luke opened the car door and we settled into the seats, the atmosphere was thick with a mix of easy camaraderie and a charged tension. The rain drummed against the car, providing a rhythmic backdrop to our silence.

Breaking the quiet, Luke glanced at me, "Why didn't you ask for a ride with this downpour?" His question lingered, heavy with unspoken implications.

I fidgeted, avoiding his gaze, the air thickening with the memory of our almost-kiss. He seemed to pick up on my discomfort, his hand rubbing the back of his neck – a telltale sign of his unease. "Is this about earlier?" he asked, his voice cautious but probing.

I was tongue-tied, the words jamming in my throat, unable to escape.

He sighed, shifting gears both literally and figuratively. "Look, about earlier... I shouldn't have crossed that line. Getting involved with someone I work with... it was a mistake. Won't happen again." His voice was firm, but I caught a hint of regret weaving through his words.

His apology, laced with finality, hit me like a bucket of ice water. 'Mistake' – the word echoed in my head, stirring a whirlwind of emotions. I wanted to scream that it wasn't a mistake, to tell him about the magnetic pull I felt towards him, the intoxicating allure of his proximity. I wanted to confess how much I yearned for the touch we'd been so close to sharing. But all that emerged was a choked, "I understand."

But the truth was, I understood nothing. My mind was a tumultuous sea of emotions, his words 'mistake' and 'won't happen again' swirling around like relentless waves. He had drawn a clear line, professionally and personally, and now we were adrift, caught in the aftermath of what might have been and what couldn't be.

In the car, the silence was so intense it almost had a sound of its own, a stark contrast to the relentless rain drumming on the roof. The storm outside seemed to echo the chaos swirling inside me. When Luke finally pulled up outside my apartment, the quiet in the car felt almost suffocating.

He turned to me, his eyes intense, searching for something in my gaze – understanding, maybe, or disappointment. "I've been acting inappropriately towards you," he started, his voice low and filled with something that sounded a lot like regret. "It's not professional, and it won't happen again."

His words felt like a death knell to the undefined thing that had been growing between us. Inside, I was a mess, silently berating myself for not being able to voice the storm of feelings inside me. The word 'mistake' seemed to hang in the air, taunting me. Trying to keep my composure, I said, "Stuff happens, no need to apologize... Thanks for the ride, Luke."

He paused, his gaze still probing, as if trying to see past my neutral tone. After a moment, he nodded, stepped out, and came around to open my door. On impulse, I reached out and hugged him. He tensed up initially, then relaxed into the hug, his warmth enveloping me in a bitter-sweet comfort.

Standing there in the rain, we clung to each other for a moment longer than necessary, a silent acknowledgment of something more. The doorman interrupted us, holding the door with a look that said he knew more than he should. Reluctantly, we let go of each other. "Good night," I muttered, hurrying into the shelter of the lobby.

As I walked into the lobby, the evening's events played back in my mind like a movie on repeat – the laughter, the tension, the almost-kiss, Luke's apology, and now, this poignant hug in the rain. It had been an emotional rollercoaster, a tangle of unspoken feelings and professional lines we shouldn't cross. Heading towards the elevator, I felt an overwhelming urge to escape into the solitude of my apartment, to process the whirlwind of emotions that Luke had stirred in me.