Every Girl Wants A Moon

Chapter 14: A Step Forward

A week passed in a blur of quiet moments. Every lunch, I found myself sitting across from Chase in his office, where the world seemed to shrink down to just the two of us. We shared stories—little things about our lives, things that made us who we were. Chase told me about his parents, who were loving and supportive, always there for him and his brothers. They'd shaped him into the confident, kind man he was today. He often spoke fondly of his two younger brothers, how they were always getting into trouble, but he looked out for them with that protective instinct I was beginning to recognize in him.

Our conversations became a routine, one I didn't mind. In those moments, it felt like we were slowly building something more, something deeper. He was opening up to me, and I was starting to do the same. It felt like we were learning how to navigate the quiet between us, letting it be filled with shared glances and soft words.

But it was Wednesday morning when everything shifted.

Chase called a staff meeting.

I had no idea what it was about, but the tense atmosphere in the office was palpable as everyone gathered in the conference room. When Chase walked in, there was a determined look on his face. His usual confidence was there, but today, there was something sharper in his gaze, something protective.

He stood in front of the room, his gaze sweeping over the gathered staff, settling briefly on me before he addressed the group.

"I've called this meeting for one reason," he began, his voice steady. "There have been some whispers. I'm sure you all know exactly what I'm talking about."

The room grew quieter, some people shifting uncomfortably in their seats. I felt my heart beat a little faster, a nervous flutter in my chest. I tried to keep my composure, but I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me.

Chase didn't seem fazed, though. He stood tall, his posture straight, his tone unwavering. "I'm not going to tolerate any more of this. What you say about Sophia, what you think you know about her—none of it is acceptable."

His eyes flashed with a quiet intensity, and I could feel the protective aura around him growing stronger.

"I don't care what you think is going on," he continued. "Sophia is part of this company. She deserves respect, and I expect that from all of you. If I hear another word, another rumor, I'll deal with it personally. Understood?"

The room was completely silent now, no one daring to speak. Chase's words had a weight to them, one that left no room for argument. He was standing up for me—protecting me in a way I wasn't sure I'd ever experienced before.

He glanced at me again, and I caught the subtle softness in his eyes, the unspoken reassurance that this wasn't just about the office—it was about us.

"We're done here," he said with a finality that left no room for debate. He turned on his heel and walked out, his presence still commanding even after he left the room.

I stayed seated for a moment, the reality of what had just happened sinking in. It was overwhelming, but in a strange way, it also made me feel safe. Like I wasn't alone in this.

As I stood up, a few of my colleagues avoided my gaze, clearly uncomfortable. But I knew one thing for sure—Chase had just set the tone. And whatever came next, I wasn't facing it alone.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur of muted conversations and sidelong glances. I couldn't shake the weight of what had just happened in the meeting. It was all I could think about as I sat at my desk, trying to focus on the work in front of me. I kept replaying Chase's words in my mind—how he'd defended me, how he made it clear that he wouldn't tolerate disrespect. It left me feeling a little stunned, but also oddly comforted.