Two Sides of Us

Chapter 13: Emily

Chapter 13 felt like it had taken a toll on me even before it officially started. I stepped off the elevator and into the familiar hum of the office, the sounds of phones ringing, fingers tapping on keyboards, and the distant murmur of conversations filling the air. It was strange to be back after a week away, almost like stepping into a different world. The break had been a welcome one—I needed the time away from the office, from the stress of everything that had been happening here. And having Jake in the city with me had been a blessing. He was the one person who could always make me feel grounded, no matter how chaotic things became. We'd spent the last few days exploring every nook and cranny of New York, doing all the touristy things I'd never gotten around to since moving here.

But now, my leave was over, and reality was sinking back in as I made my way toward the copier. The stack of files I had just printed off was warm in my hands, a small comfort against the coldness I felt at returning to this place. I had been avoiding thoughts of work as much as possible, trying not to let the tension that had been building up between Andrew and me before I left spoil my time with Jake. But now, I was back, and I had no choice but to face it.

As I turned the corner and headed toward the main office area, I caught sight of Andrew walking toward me. My heart gave an involuntary lurch, a reflex I hadn't managed to control despite everything. I immediately dropped my gaze, focusing on the files in my hands, hoping he would just walk past me, like he had been doing before I left. We hadn't spoken much since Rachel's announcement, and I wasn't eager to start now.

But as we neared each other, something unexpected happened. Instead of ignoring me, Andrew reached out and grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. I looked up, startled, and for a split second, our eyes met. A jolt of electricity shot through me at his touch, a spark that reignited feelings I had been trying to bury for weeks. My pulse quickened, my skin tingling where his fingers gripped me, and I couldn't help but wonder if he felt it too.

"Emily," he said, his voice low, almost hesitant. "Why didn't you tell me that Jake's your brother?"

The question caught me off guard, and I blinked at him, trying to process what he had just said. "What?" I replied, confused. "What does that have to do with anything?"

He released my arm but didn't step back, his expression tense. "I thought..." He trailed off, frustration flickering in his eyes. "I thought Paulo was your husband, and when I saw Jake... I just—why didn't you say anything?"

"Because it's none of your business, Andrew," I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended. His assumption made no sense to me, and his sudden interest in my personal life was infuriating. "Why do you even care?"

He looked taken aback by my response, but his gaze didn't waver. "I just thought..." He ran a hand through his hair, clearly searching for the right words. "I thought there was something going on with you and Paulo, and then Jake shows up, and I don't know what to think."

"You don't need to think anything," I retorted, feeling the irritation rise in me. "Whatever is going on in my life is my concern, not yours."

He opened his mouth to argue, but before he could get a word out, we were interrupted by the sound of a familiar, grating laugh—Rachel's laugh. My heart sank, and I saw the same reaction flash across Andrew's face. Rachel was just around the corner, and the last thing I wanted was to be caught in another one of her explosions, especially with Andrew right next to me.

"If I never see her again, it'll be too soon," I muttered under my breath, hoping he wouldn't hear me. But of course, he did.

"She's been extra crazy lately," he whispered back, a note of fear in his voice that surprised me. "I'm afraid of what might happen if she sees us together right now."