My Boss Next Door

Chapter 10

Eva

I had kissed Alexander Hart.

Arrogant, teasing, frustrating Alex. My boss. The CEO. And, somehow, I'd liked it.

The memory flashed in my mind, a mix of shock and something undeniably... thrilling. I could still feel the ghost of his lips on mine, and my heart did a stupid little jump at the thought.

Great. Just great. The world had truly turned upside down.

I sat at my desk, but my mind was far from the work in front of me. Memories from the gala drifted through my thoughts, delicate and persistent, like strands of silk weaving their way into every corner of my mind.

Five days. Five long days had passed since the gala, and Alex and I had left in silence, slipping into separate cars without a word. But my mind? It hadn't let go. The kiss replayed on an endless loop—every glance, every brush of his hand, the way his mouth had felt against mine. No matter how many times I tried to focus on work, on anything else, it would pull me back, filling my thoughts with the lingering heat of that moment.

It wasn't just the kiss itself. It was how I'd felt in his arms, as if being there was the safest place I could ever be. There'd been other kisses before, other moments, but none of them had felt like this. None of them had clicked with the same undeniable, electrifying certainty. It was as though every piece of me had been waiting for that one perfect match—and I'd found it in the last place I expected.

Only sixty more minutes, and I could finally go home. I hadn't told Melanie about the kiss, and maybe it was better that way. I hated hiding things from her, but this felt different. It was a mistake—an intense, impulsive mistake that I didn't want to blow out of proportion. The fewer people who knew about it, the better.

As I was heading out, I spotted Sophia lingering by the main entrance. She looked up, and her gaze landed on me with a small, knowing smile. It felt almost calculating, like she knew something I didn't—or maybe she was trying to find out if I did. I gave her a polite nod, hoping to avoid any further conversation, but she took a step forward, blocking my way out.

"Can we talk?" Sophia asked, her voice calm but firm.

I froze, clutching my bag a little tighter. "Uh... sure," I replied, not sure what to expect.

She glanced around, then motioned toward a quiet corner of the lobby. "It won't take long," she promised, giving me that same small smile, but something in her eyes held an edge.

Sophia's words hit like a cold slap. "Do you know we have a strict no-romance policy between coworkers here?" she asked, her voice low but steady, and her gaze sharp as she waited for my reaction.

I blinked, trying to keep my expression neutral. "I'm aware," I replied slowly, choosing each word carefully. The last thing I needed was to give her any reason to think I'd crossed a line—especially not with him.

Sophia crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "Just remember that, Eva," she added, each word carrying a weight that made it hard to ignore.

Her words stung, sharp as a blade. "Did you already fall for him?" Sophia sneered, her voice dripping with feigned sympathy. "What a shame. Alex doesn't date, especially girls like you, Eva."

I fought to keep my expression steady, but a surge of irritation burned beneath the surface. I'd heard that tone before—a mix of condescension and triumph. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing her words had landed.

"Thanks for the advice, Sophia," I replied coolly, meeting her gaze. "But I think I can manage."

Her smirk didn't falter. "Suit yourself." With a satisfied look. As she was leaving, she turned back, her lips curving into a cold smile. "What I don't get," she drawled, "is why he would be interested in you."