The Email [Yandere Boss x Reader]

Chapter 35 - Wine or Coffee

I woke up in the middle of the night, the silence of the house unsettling. Sleep eluded me, and the faint glow from the kitchen called to me. I slipped out of bed, padding softly down the hallway, and opened the fridge, yawning as the cool air hit my face.

"Darling?" His voice, low and unexpected, made me jump. I turned to see Hayes standing behind me, his hair ruffled from sleep.

"I didn't hear you behind me," I said, trying to steady my racing heart. "Why are you up?"

"Why are you up?" he countered, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I can't sleep," I admitted, closing the fridge door. "Just... can't seem to."

"Same," he replied with a sigh.

I grabbed a bottle of wine from the counter. "Want some?" I asked.

"Of course." He retrieved two glasses and sat down beside me at the kitchen island. I poured the wine, and we both took a moment to savor the first sip.

"You know... you're a mystery," he said, breaking the silence. He looked at me with an intensity that made me uneasy.

"I'm a mystery? How?" I asked, taking another sip of the strong wine.

"You're so straightforward, and then some days... you're not. Like you're stuck in your own head."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I replied, though his words struck a chord. How could he see through me so easily?

"Of course not. You're so brilliant and intriguing without even knowing it," he said, his eyes darkening with an emotion I couldn't quite trust. "And you're so... unpredictable."

I took a gulp of my wine, trying to ignore the flutter of unease his gaze elicited. "And you're so... unpredictable," I retorted.

What did he mean by all this?

He chuckled, a low, deep hum that seemed to resonate through the room.

"I'm taking off tomorrow," I said abruptly. I needed a break from this tension.

"Then I shall too," he replied smoothly. "Wanna play truth or dare?"

"What am I? Twelve?" I scoffed.

"No, but you are adorable," he said, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

"Fine then," I agreed, rolling my eyes but unable to suppress a small smile. Maybe this would lighten the mood.

"Truth or dare?" he asked, leaning closer.

"Truth," I decided, figuring it was the safer option.

"What's really keeping you up at night?" His tone was soft, but his eyes were sharp, probing.

I hesitated, the truth sitting heavily on my tongue.

Could I really tell him?

"I've just been feeling a lot of pressure lately," I said vaguely. "Work, life... everything."

He nodded, not pushing further. "Your turn."

"Truth or dare?" I asked.

"Truth," he replied, mirroring my choice.

"What's really keeping you up at night?" I asked, turning his question back on him.

He took a long sip of his wine, as if considering his answer. "You," he said simply. "I can't stop thinking about you."

My breath caught in my throat. The air between us seemed to thicken, charged with unspoken words and hidden feelings.

How could he just say that?

"Your turn," he said, breaking the tension. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Did I really want to hear more?

"Do you trust me?" His eyes bored into mine, demanding honesty.

I hesitated, the answer not as simple as I wished it to be. "I don't know," I admitted finally. Could I trust him after everything?

He nodded, as if he had expected that answer. "I'll earn it," he promised, but his words did little to ease the knot of anxiety in my chest.

How could he earn it back?

I climbed back into bed, my mind racing. Trust was fragile, and in the dark of night, surrounded by shadows and secrets, I wasn't sure if it could ever truly be mended. How could we go on like this?