Between the Lines

The First Step

That night, Emily lay awake, staring at the ceiling and replaying her conversation with Nathan. The intensity in his eyes, the way he had spoken so openly about his feelings—it all felt surreal. She had been so careful not to let herself fall for him, but now, it was too late. She couldn't deny what was happening between them.

The next day at work, things were different. There was an unspoken understanding between them now, a shift that neither of them acknowledged but both felt. Their interactions were still professional, but there was a new layer of awareness beneath the surface.

At lunch, they found themselves sitting together in the break room, discussing the next steps for their client. But even as they talked about deadlines and creative strategies, Emily could feel the undercurrent of something deeper, something that had nothing to do with work.

"I was thinking we could tweak the visuals for the campaign," Nathan said, leaning over to show her a mock-up on his laptop. As he did, his arm brushed against hers, sending a familiar jolt of electricity through her.

Emily nodded, barely able to focus on the screen. "Yeah, that could work."

Their eyes met, and for a split second, it felt like the rest of the office fell away. But before anything could happen, Margaret appeared in the doorway, pulling them both back to reality.

"Hey, you two. Can I grab you for a quick meeting?" she asked, oblivious to the tension between them.

Emily exhaled, grateful for the interruption but also disappointed. She needed time to think, to figure out what she wanted—and what she was willing to risk.