There's One Thing I Like About Him

Chapter 13

Trisha

It's already 10:30 PM, and I'm still at the office, surrounded by the silence of an empty floor. Alexa left earlier, claiming she had something important to do—which, predictably, is another date with some guy she met at a party last night—leaving me to drown in the glow of my laptop screen as I finalize the project proposal for Mr. Cliff. She never seems to learn from her past mistakes. The hours have slipped away, but I've been too focused to notice.

Suddenly, a voice interrupts my thoughts. "It's getting creepier each night I come to your office."

I jump, nearly spilling my coffee as I look up to see Cliff standing there with a slight smirk on his face. "What are you doing here? And what do you mean by 'every time you come to my office'?" I ask, surprised. His office is on the 23rd floor, so why would he be down here on the 7th?

"Nothing. I was just checking in," he says, his tone casual. "Someone mentioned there's always someone working late down here, and I figured I'd see who it was. Didn't expect to find you, though."

I smile, feeling a bit more relaxed now that he's here. He's always been easy to talk to, and lately, I've started to appreciate his company more than I expected.

"It's late, Trish. How about we grab some dinner?" Cliff suggests, his eyes meeting mine with a mixture of concern and something else I can't quite place.

"I'm really not that hungry," I start to protest.

But Cliff's smile turns slightly mischievous. "Trish, if you keep working yourself to death on this project, I might just have to reject it on the grounds that it's making you neglect your health. And we wouldn't want that, would we?" He raises an eyebrow.

Sighing, I finally agree. "Alright, fine. But just because I need to get out of this building before I start seeing things," I say jokingly.

Cliff chuckles as he leads me out of the office, and we step into the cool night air. The streets are quieter now, the city settling into its late-night rhythm. We walk in comfortable silence toward a nearby restaurant that I've never noticed before, despite passing by the area many times.

As we walk, Cliff suddenly brings up something unexpected. "Do you remember that day at the hospital when I asked you if you liked Ethan?"

The question catches me off guard, pulling me out of my thoughts. I glance at him, seeing a mix of curiosity and something lighter in his expression, like he's just making conversation.

"Yeah, I remember," I reply, trying to keep my tone neutral. "But I never gave you an answer, did I?"

Cliff smiles, nodding. "No, you didn't. And honestly, I didn't press because I figured it wasn't really my business. But since we're here, walking and talking, I thought I'd ask again. Just out of curiosity, really."

I take a moment to think, the memories of Ethan flashing through my mind. Ethan had always been more than just my boss. He was supportive and kind, and I had admired him greatly—feelings that had deepened into something more over the past three years. But Ethan was in a relationship, and Isabelle was rich and lovely, which made my feelings all the more complicated.

"I did like him," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "But he has a girlfriend, Isabelle, remember? And I've always respected that. It was never something I acted on."

Cliff's expression shifts, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "I see. Well, thanks for being honest. Ethan always seemed to have a way of affecting people like that. It's one of the things I admired about him."

We continue walking, and as we near the restaurant, something strange happens. Suddenly, the street lights flicker, and for a brief moment, I'm not in the office anymore. The room feels different, like a shadow of a memory I can't quite grasp. And then I see it—a flash of a face, not Cliff's, but Ethan's. The same Ethan who I liked and still do.

The vision is fleeting but powerful, and I'm left standing there, bewildered. The warm, comfortable feeling I had with Cliff is momentarily overshadowed by this intense, unexpected appearance of Ethan.

۝

"Trish, are you okay?" Cliff's voice brings me back to reality, and I realize we've arrived at the restaurant. His concern is evident, but there's a new, intense look in his eyes, as if he's noticed my sudden change in demeanor.

"I'm fine," I say quickly, trying to brush off the confusion. "Just had a weird moment."

Cliff looks at me with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "If you need to talk about anything, I'm here."

I nod, grateful for his offer but unsure how to explain what just happened. We enter the restaurant, and as we sit down, the atmosphere between us feels different—charged with an unspoken connection. I find myself drawn to Cliff, but my feelings are tangled. The earlier warmth I felt with him now feels complicated by the memory of Ethan.

Throughout dinner, our conversation flows easily, but my thoughts keep drifting back to the fleeting vision of Ethan. It's clear that my feelings are more complicated than I initially realized. I'm drawn to Cliff, but the memory of Ethan lingers, making me question what I truly want.

As we finish our meal and prepare to leave, I sense a change in our dynamic. Cliff's presence feels different, more intimate, and I can't shake the feeling that something significant is happening between us. The city lights outside seem to reflect the turmoil inside me, blending the comfort of new possibilities with the unresolved feelings for Ethan.

As we walk back to the office, the earlier tension fades, replaced by an intriguing sense of anticipation. Cliff's hand brushes against mine, and for a moment, the connection between us feels palpable.

We reach the office, and I'm left with a swirl of emotions—confusion from the vision of Ethan, excitement about the new feelings I have for Cliff, and a sense of anticipation about what comes next. I glance at Cliff, wondering how this night will shape our future.

As I look into his eyes, there's a moment of clarity. Despite my lingering feelings for Ethan, there's something undeniably real growing between Cliff and me. It's new, unexpected, and filled with potential.

As the night deepens, I realize that, while Ethan will always hold a place in my heart, Cliff is offering something different—something that might just be the start of a new chapter in my life.