Miss Paulson

Chapter Eight

Emma's POV

A few weeks had passed since Theo and I got involved at my house. It had been absolutely marvellous, way better than I had ever expected it to be. Theo was such a sweet, attentive and respectful man. Sometimes it was hard to believe he was even real.

After that day at my house, we started to meet regularly, exploring the other's body with need and urge every single time. We would always finish with some cuddling in the bed, my cat snuggling between us every time.

Nevertheless, Theo would never stay the night. We had agreed we would only spend time together like this, having sex and that was it. No more than that.

It was very clear to me that he was interested in way more than a friendship with benefits, however I could not. Not after everything that happened to me. I must trust no men, even one as delightful as Theo.

Today it was Friday and I was in my office working over some papers when I heard a knock on my door. It was him. I smirked and told him to come in.

I was wearing a black tight dress and I had a ponytail on. My gold earrings gave me a distinct and fancy look. I also had red lipstick on and a soft eyeshadow on my eyes, almost unnoticeable.

He, on the other hand, was wearing a black suit. How hot he looked when he wore suits! His hair was magnificently done.

"Oh well, how am I going to concentrate? We have some serious work to do, boy, and you appear all sexy in my office..." I commented as I got up and approached to the sofa we usually sat on.

I checked him out and smirked to him, seeing that his eyes were on me too.

"Miss Paulson, I happen to disagree with you, considering that you seem to be the one who is not very interested in your book. Based on the way you have dressed yourself today, I would say you purposefully want me focused on something else..."

I licked my lips and locked my door. I looked at him from there and bit my under lip. We had never done anything at my office, yet I was feeling in the mood. Very in the mood.

I approached to him and grabbed his notes, placing them far away from us. I sat on his lap, my breath starting to accelerate. I felt his hands squeezing my butt and I led out a low moan.

I was undoing his tie when stopped me. I looked at him confused.

"It's fine, Theo. I locked the door" I commented, getting back on undoing his tie, but he stopped me again. I gazed him puzzled and he ran his fingers through his hair. I could see something was worrying him and that made me feel a bit anxious.

"Emma, we have been like this for weeks..." He said, his voice shaking a bit.

"What do you mean? We agreed that our relationship should remain like this" I fought back, crossing my arms, but staying on his lap.

"Well, yes, but I thought we would actually develop into something else in case we got along well. And I think we do get along pretty well, don't you?"

I swallowed. I immediately got up from his lap, my body tense and my hands slightly shaking. We were getting along well, yes, but that did not mean I was ready to get into a relationship with him.

"That's correct, but I still prefer that we stay like this" I said, sitting next to him in the sofa and placing my hand on his leg "Aren't you happy, Theo?"

"Emma, you know I am happy and feeling like the luckiest man on the world. But... If we continue with this, I will start developing some deep feelings for you and ending up hurt because you don't want anything serious....."

I felt tears forming on my eyes. Was he saying we should end this? That if I didn't want anything serious, then we could not have anything at all?

"Are you ending things with me?" I asked, gulping and looking at him in the eyes.

He scratched his head and looked as if he was about to cry as well.

"I'm not saying that. It's just... I don't want to get hurt, Emma..."

I chuckled ironically and got up, walking from one side to the other in the office.

"We barely know each other! We have sex and that is it... You want to date someone you don't even know properly? That's absurd!" I knew I was being rude and that my tone of voice was not friendly, but I was nervous and the thought of losing him was making my chest hurt.

I could see his face change and he got up too, looking at me as if I had just said something absurd myself.

"You're right, we barely know each other because every time I tried to ask something about you, you'd kiss me and change the subject. Or you would tell me it was getting late and that you needed to do this or that.... I am not saying I want to date you, I am saying that if you don't see us ending up having something serious, then I'd rather not continue. I want to actually know you, Emma. Not Miss Paulson" He was speaking in a calm tone of voice, although I could see he was unhappy and extremely nervous.

"Oh dear, putting the blame on me... That's what you men always do, uh?" I said, shaking my head and smiling in an ironic and nervous way "You do not want to know me, you'd run away so fast if you knew half of me.... This is fruitless, it is indeed better just to keep it professional".

Theo looked incredulous at me, his eyes wide in surprise with my first statement. He sighed and started to gather his things "Men do put the blame on women on many things, that is correct. But Emma, you're the one who's making this impossible, I'm sorry." He places his work papers inside his bag "You think I'd run away? I am telling you I like you, that I'm interested to know you, no matter what that means. I accept whatever you have to tell me. You're the one who does not seem to be very well with yourself so you think others won't too".

He stood next to the door, looking at me with a sad expression on his face. I looked at him from my desk and said "Just get out of my office. It doesn't even matter if you'd run away or not from me, I simply don't trust you and don't want anything serious with you. So just go away and work on my book. I expect it to be finished by the end of the next week. Good bye, Theo".

My words were like knives to him and I could see the hurt in his eyes perfectly. I was hurting so bad too, but I was keeping myself steady and firm. I could not be vulnerable in front of them, I could not show weakness and, most importantly, I could not trust anyone again. The best thing to do was to leave before I would get even more hurt.

"Good bye, Miss Paulson. Please refrain from playing with other people like you have played it with me. That shit hurts" with that he left my office and closed the door.

Tears started streaming down my face and I was shaking so bad, I had to sit on my chair or I'd just fall on the ground. His last words had hit me right in the heart and I was feeling absolutely shattered. I really liked this man too even if we still didn't know each other very deeply.

I wasn't expecting what we had to finish so quickly and, more importantly, I was not expecting to feel this heart broken and devastated by it.

--------------------------------------------------------------

What did you guys think about this chapter? What unknown issues does Emma have that make her avoid getting in a relationship? How are Theo and Emma going to sort this out?

Next chapter out soon ♥️