The Space Between Us

Shadows of Doubt

The morning after the bar incident felt like a waking dream I couldn't shake the images from my mind the way Rebecca's eyes had lingered on me, the way her voice had curled around my name as if it were something precious I had replayed the moment over and over again, wondering if there had been something more in her gaze, some unspoken message hidden in the curve of her lips

But the uncertainty gnawed at me, could I be reading too much into her actions? After all, Rebecca Whitmore was a powerful woman, used to getting what she wanted, maybe this was just another game to her a way to pass the time or maybe she had no idea what her actions were doing to me, how they sent my mind spinning and my heart racing

I tried to brush off the thoughts as I stepped into the office that morning, but everything felt heavier, the air was thick with unspoken tension, and each glance from Rebecca seemed to weigh more than usual

She was already in her office, the door slightly ajar, her silhouette visible through the glass partition I could see her leaning over her desk, focused on something, her sleek hair falling in perfect waves over her shoulder

I tore my gaze away, forcing myself to focus on my own work there was no room for distraction, no space in my mind for anything but the tasks at hand 

It was impossible to ignore the fact that she was only a few steps away every time I moved, every time I glanced up from my computer screen, I was hyper-aware of her presence

As the day went on, the tension didn't dissipate If anything, it only grew stronger Rebecca emerged from her office just before noon, her heels clicking against the polished floor

She moved with the kind of grace that turned heads, and I wasn't the only one who noticed several of my coworkers followed her with their eyes as she made her way across the room, stopping to speak with a few people on the way

She didn't look at me, didn't acknowledge me in any way, there was something about her demeanor that felt different she was more distant, more reserved I couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with what had happened the night before, or if I was simply projecting my own confusion onto her

"Hey, you alright?" a voice pulled me out of my thoughts

I blinked and turned to see Lisa, one of my colleagues, standing beside my desk she was looking at me with a mix of concern and curiosity, her brow furrowed slightly

"Yeah," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just tired, I guess. Late night."

Lisa nodded sympathetically. "Tell me about it I barely slept. This project is killing me."

I nodded along, though I hadn't really been paying attention to her words, my mind was still stuck on Rebecca, on the way she had looked at me at the bar, on the way her voice had lingered in my ears long after she had left

"So," Lisa said, leaning in slightly, "what's the deal with Ms. Whitmore?"

The question caught me off guard. "What do you mean?"

Lisa shrugged, her eyes flickering over to where Rebecca was speaking with another executive. "I don't know, she's been acting...different lately. More distant, I guess? Or maybe I'm just imagining things."

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my expression neutral. "I haven't noticed."

But Lisa wasn't convinced. "Come on, you work with her more than anyone. You must have noticed something."

I forced another smile. "She's just busy, I think. A lot on her plate."

Lisa studied me for a moment longer before nodding slowly. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Anyway, I'll let you get back to it. See you at lunch?"

"Yeah, sure," I replied, though my mind was already drifting back to Rebecca

The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and emails, but my thoughts kept returning to the bar, to the way Rebecca had teased me, to the way she had looked at me like I was the only person in the room

And yet, here she was, acting as if nothing had happened, as if I didn't even exist

By the time I left the office that evening, I was a mess of confusion and frustration I needed to clear my head, to get some space from everything

But as I stepped onto the train to head home, I felt a presence beside me, a familiar warmth that sent a shiver down my spine

I turned my head slightly and saw her Rebecca, standing just a few feet away, her eyes fixed on me with that same intense gaze my heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe

What was she doing here? Was this a coincidence, or something more?

"Emma," she said softly, her voice cutting through the noise of the train.

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. "Ms. Whitmore."

She smiled at the formal address, but there was something different in her eyes, something that made my pulse quicken she stepped closer, her body brushing against mine as the train jolted forward I could feel the heat radiating off her skin, the scent of her perfume filling my senses

"Rebecca," she corrected again, her voice low and intimate

I nodded, though I wasn't sure if I could trust my voice to respond she was close, too close, and my mind was racing with possibilities, with questions I didn't dare ask

"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice softening slightly.

I nodded again, unable to meet her gaze. "Yeah, I'm fine."

But she wasn't convinced I could feel her eyes on me, searching for something, some sign that I was as affected by her as she was by me

And I was—God, I was—but I couldn't let her see that I couldn't let her know how much power she had over me

The train jolted again, and she reached out, her hand brushing against mine in a way that sent a shock of electricity through my body. I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my composure, but it was impossible she was right there, so close I could feel her breath on my skin, and all I wanted to do was give in to the tension that had been building between us for weeks

But I couldn't, not here, not now. Not when everything was so complicated

"I'll see you tomorrow," I said quickly, stepping back as the train pulled into my stop.

She didn't try to stop me, but I could feel her eyes on me as I hurried off the train, my heart pounding in my chest I didn't look back, didn't dare to, but I could still feel her presence, lingering in the air like a ghost, haunting me even as I walked away

As I made my way home, my mind was a whirlwind of confusion and desire Rebecca was playing with me, teasing me, and I didn't know how much longer I could keep up the act I didn't know how much longer I could pretend that I didn't feel something for her, something dangerous and all-consuming

But I had to for my own sake, for my own sanity, I had to keep my distance because if I didn't, I knew I would lose myself in her completely

And I wasn't sure if I would ever find my way back