The Intern - Dylan Hoffman

CHAPTER SEVEN - ONE SIMPLE RULE

I followed Estelle into the empty room, my heart pounding in my chest. The door clicked shut behind us, and the silence that followed was suffocating. Estelle turned to face me, her sharp eyes narrowing as she studied me with an intensity that made me feel exposed, as if she could see every secret I was desperately trying to hide.

"I've always believed in giving people the benefit of the doubt, Y/N," Estelle began, her voice icy yet controlled. "But in this industry, there's no room for distractions. Your job demands focus and professionalism. Lately, I've noticed that your work has been slipping. And I think we both know why."

My stomach churned as the reality of the situation settled in. She knew. She had figured it out, and now, everything I had worked so hard for was hanging by a thread. I wanted to say something, to defend myself, but the words caught in my throat.

Estelle's gaze softened slightly, but her tone remained firm. "I gave you one rule, Y/N. One simple rule. And it seems that you've broken it."

I felt my face flush with a mix of shame and fear. I couldn't deny it – she was right. I had broken the rule, knowing full well the consequences it could bring. But I also couldn't deny the feelings that had driven me to this point.

"Estelle, I'm sorry," I finally managed to say, my voice trembling. "I didn't mean for things to get out of hand. It just... happened."

She raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "Things don't just 'happen,' Y/N. You made a choice, and now you have to live with the consequences."

I braced myself for the worst, expecting her to fire me on the spot. But instead, she took a deep breath and continued. "I won't pretend to understand the allure of someone like Dylan Hoffman. He's charming, yes, but he's also dangerous – not just to your career, but to your heart."

Her words struck a chord within me, and I realized that Estelle wasn't just angry; she was disappointed. She had seen potential in me, and I had let her down.

"You're a talented artist, Y/N," she said, her tone softening slightly. "But talent alone won't get you far in this industry. You need discipline, focus, and the ability to separate your personal life from your work. If you can't do that, you'll never succeed."

I nodded, tears stinging my eyes. "I understand, Estelle. I promise I'll do better."

She studied me for a moment longer before nodding. "I'm not going to fire you," she said, surprising me. "But consider this your final warning. If I see any sign that this... affair is affecting your work, you're out. No second chances."

Relief washed over me, but it was tinged with a heavy sense of guilt. I had been given another chance, but I knew it came at a cost. I couldn't afford to mess up again – not if I wanted to keep my job and my dreams alive.

As I left the room, I felt a mixture of emotions swirling within me. I was grateful for Estelle's leniency, but the reality of my situation weighed heavily on me. Dylan and I were playing a dangerous game, and now, the stakes were higher than ever.

That evening, I met Dylan as planned, but the tension between us was palpable. He could sense that something was wrong, and when I told him about my conversation with Estelle, his expression darkened.

"So, she knows," he said, his voice laced with frustration.

I nodded, my heart heavy. "She didn't fire me, but she made it clear that this can't continue. If we get caught again, it's over – for both of us."

Dylan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I never wanted to put you in this position, Y/N. I just... I couldn't help myself."

I looked at him, my feelings for him warring with my sense of duty. "I know, Dylan. But we have to be careful. I can't afford to lose this job. It's my dream."

He reached out and took my hand, his touch sending a familiar thrill through me. "I don't want to lose you, either," he said, his voice softening. "But I also don't want to be the reason you lose everything you've worked for."

I squeezed his hand, my resolve strengthening. "Then we have to be smart about this. We can still be together, but we have to keep it under wraps. No more risks."

Dylan nodded, though I could see the frustration in his eyes. "Agreed. But it won't be easy. The more time we spend together, the harder it is to keep it a secret."

I knew he was right, but I also knew that I couldn't walk away from him – not now, not when my feelings for him had grown so strong. "We'll make it work," I said, determination in my voice. "We have to."

And so, our secret affair continued, but the stakes were higher than ever. Every stolen kiss, every whispered conversation, was laced with the fear of getting caught. We were living on borrowed time, and I knew that it was only a matter of time before our luck ran out.