A familiar scent filled my senses, and my heart immediately began to race.

I looked up.

Aaron.

He stood dangerously close, one hand resting against the wall beside my head, the other still holding my waist.

"What are you doing?" I whispered.

His eyes moved over my face.

I swallowed.

"Let me go."

Instead of moving, he leaned closer.

"Why are you avoiding me?" He asked, staring deep into my eyes, his hands still firmly placed on my waist.

Before I could respond, he pulled me closer, as though there wasn't already barely any space between us. 

My body stiffened.

I could feel the hard planes of his stomach against me, and it only made the situation more uncomfortable.

I glared at him. "Aaron, let me go."

"Not until you tell me why you're avoiding me." His voice was low, almost pleading. "why aren't you even looking at me?"

"Aaron, what is wrong with you? What exactly are you doing?" I asked, genuinely unable to understand what was going through his mind.

Then my eyes met his. He seemed to be searching for something in them, and for a moment, neither of us moved. We stared at each other, caught in a silence that felt far too intimate.

His gaze slowly dropped to my lips.

I instinctively pressed them together, suddenly aware of how close we were.

"You have no idea what you do to me," he murmured, his eyes darkening.

Before I could make sense of his words, Veronica's voice rang out, calling his name.

It was like a slap, dragging me back to reality.

This man belongs to someone, and that someone isn't me.

I kept repeating those words in my head, hoping they would somehow make the strange feelings disappear. But they weren't helping.

I tried to wriggle out of his hold.

"She's coming," I whispered, my eyes widening.

He didn't seem bothered. His expression remained unreadable as he continued staring at me.

"You're mine. Do you understand that?"

I creased my brows, completely lost for words.

What was that supposed to mean?

Finally, he stepped back, released me and walked away.

I stood there for a moment, watching him disappear.

What on earth was going on?

My head was a complete mess.

I returned to my room, exhausted by these confusing feelings that constantly left me feeling as though I was betraying everything I had worked so hard to protect.

But as soon as I was alone, my mind betrayed me again, drifting back to a time I desperately wanted to forget.

A time when love had felt like a prison.

I remembered the raised voices, the accusations, the fear of saying the wrong thing. 

I remembered how carefully I had learned to measure my words, how even the sound of approaching footsteps could make my heart race. 

There had been a time when I thought I would never find my way out.

And even though I had escaped, some memories never really left.

I jolted out of my thoughts, drawing in a shaky breath.

"I'm safe," I whispered to myself. "I'm safe."

I needed to stop thinking about Aaron. I needed something to occupy my mind.

Food was one thing I could always count on, and work was another.

Yes, work.

I quickly reached for my laptop and began putting the event outline together. The designs could wait a little longer. Right now, I needed to focus on something that wouldn't leave me questioning my own feelings.

---

Friday came sooner than I expected, and Katherine had absolutely no intention of letting me spend another evening buried in work.

"We're going out tonight, and that's final!" she announced, standing beside my desk.

I barely looked up from my laptop. "Katherine, please."

"No, Tessa. You ditched me the last time. Just one drink! It's going to be fun, and besides, we have a victory to celebrate."

She continued going on and on, adding dramatic pouts whenever I tried to object.

I finally leaned back in my chair, studying her.

What could possibly go wrong?

Besides, I desperately needed a distraction from everything happening in my head.

"Fineee," I surrendered.

She squealed, clapping her hands. "I love you so much!"

I laughed. "Don't you have work to do, Miss Ma'am?"

She rolled her eyes. "You're so boring sometimes."

Before I could respond, my telephone rang, I picked it up.

"Theresa!"

I immediately straightened. "Coming, ma'am!"

I hurried towards her office and knocked lightly before stepping inside. She was on a phone call, so I quietly waited near the door.

A few seconds later, she ended the call and turned towards me.

"Theresa."

Something about her expression made my stomach tighten.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"What's going on with the designs? Are you done with them? And why aren't they on my desk?"

My heart sank.

"Actually, ma'am, I..."

"You're still working on them?" she interrupted, removing her glasses.

I swallowed. "Yes, ma'am. I'm working on them."

"Theresa, we're only a few weeks away from the event. Are we going to have an event without the main course? Do I really need to remind you of your responsibilities?"

"No, ma'am."

"I don't want to have this conversation with you again. Is that clear?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She picked up her phone and glanced at her schedule.

"Clear my schedule. I'm leaving now. I have to attend a meeting at Jordan's school."

"Yes, ma..." I stopped myself, nodded and quietly left her office.

The moment I returned to my desk, I slumped into my chair.

I stared at my laptop, the unfinished event outline still open on the screen.

My eyes began to sting, and I blinked several times, trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall.

What was I supposed to do?

I had the venue. I had finally secured Maison Revere, something I had almost given up on. But now I was falling behind on the very thing I was supposed to be good at.

I rubbed my temples and let out a tired sigh.

I was exhausted.

And for the first time in a long while, I genuinely didn't know how to pull myself together.