Destiny or Coincidence (AlanxJeff) VI

Premarital Conditions

Jeff

Alan left, and I closed the door behind him, feeling how the echo of his footsteps still reverberated in my chest, as if the silence of the house could not contain it. I leaned my back against the door, slowly sliding down until I was sitting on the floor, hugging my knees. I buried my face in the crook of my arms, trying to calm the storm that swirled inside me. But my heart kept beating frantically, as if it wanted to break free from my chest.

The air around me felt heavy, charged with everything that had just happened. I kept repeating to myself that I hadn't given in, that I hadn't yielded to him. "This is business, Jeff. Nothing more than a professional agreement." But the words felt hollow, echoing in my mind without soothing the chaos his presence had left behind.

I shuddered, remembering how close he had been, the warmth of his body, the gleam in his eyes as they locked onto mine, as if he had wanted to unravel each of my thoughts. For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me, and that thought terrified me as much as I craved it deep inside. "Stupid! He's your boss. He wouldn't do that," I scolded myself, but the painful thumping in my chest wouldn't let me breathe easily.

The echo of his soft voice still vibrated in my mind. That same voice that, no matter how much I tried to ignore, made my skin tingle. I told myself this was all for my family's well-being. "Aunt Suay, Sonic, Charlie... they're the reason. Nothing more." But every time I inhaled, it felt like Alan's scent still lingered in the air, invading my senses, completely unsettling me. It was like a constant, enveloping presence. His closeness, his fragrance that wrapped around me like a gentle breeze, made me lose control. And the more I tried, the deeper I fell into the trap of my own thoughts.

I forced myself to look up, just a little, to see the mess that our house had become. The remnants of the attack surrounded me, but all I could think of was Alan, how all of this might end with his proposal. If something happened to Aunt Suay, Sonic, or Charlie... I would never forgive myself. That's the only reason I accepted. It had nothing to do with the effect he had on me... the way his gaze scorched me or how the sound of his voice softened my resistance. And it definitely had nothing to do with his scent, which took my breath away. My thoughts tangled, fighting between what my mind said and what my body felt.

I kept trying to convince myself that this was just about survival. "We'll get married on paper, and in six months, it'll all be over. My family will be safe, and I... I'll be fine too." But even though the words were firm in my mind, the weight in my chest remained, as if something inside knew I was lying to myself.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, pulling me out of my thoughts. It was Charlie, working his night shift. I told him about Aunt Suay, assuring him she was only staying in the hospital as a precaution. My voice sounded calm, but inside, the chaos kept growing. After hanging up, I forced myself to clean the house, trying to occupy my mind with something, but exhaustion overcame me late into the night.

When I finally lay down, sleep was elusive. I managed only a few hours, and when I woke up, the memory of Alan's words was the first thing that invaded my mind. "When do you want to get married? Tomorrow?" His tone, so soft, had been almost hypnotic. As if that simple phrase could tear down all my defenses. My skin prickled at the memory of how he had said it, with that smile that made everything even more confusing.

I shot up, my body responding to panic. Tomorrow. How early would that be? I glanced at the clock. Six in the morning. Too early for a day already heavy with emotions. But something inside me knew I had to prepare, not just physically, but mentally. Conditions are important. I need to set boundaries, keep my distance. I repeated this to myself over and over, trying to cling to that thought like a lifeline in the stormy sea that my life had become.