Emily woke to the warmth of Ryan's arms around her, his steady breath soft against her neck. Morning light slipped through the curtains, filling the room with a gentle glow. For a moment, she let herself enjoy it—the weight of him beside her, the quiet touch of his fingers tracing her skin, the calm that settled over everything. For once, she wasn't overthinking. She was just there, at that moment, with him.
Then reality hit.
Ryan had told her he loved her last night.
He had whispered it in the dark, his voice raw and full of feeling. She hadn't said it back. She didn't know how. Now, lying there in his arms, the memory of those words made her chest tighten. What did it mean? Was she ready to say it too? Did she even know what love truly felt like? The questions rushed in, one after another.
Quietly, she began to move, trying to slip out of bed to clear her head, but Ryan stirred. His arm tightened around her waist, gently pulling her back to him.
"Where do you think you're going?" His voice was husky, still thick with sleep, but there was a warmth in it that made her chest ache.
Emily swallowed, forcing a smile as she turned to face him. "Nowhere. I just—thought I'd make coffee," she said, her voice light but laced with a nervousness she couldn't quite hide.
Ryan hummed against her shoulder, pressing a slow, lingering kiss there before murmuring, "Stay a little longer."
Emily hesitated, heart racing as she looked at him. It would be so easy to stay, to fall back into his warmth and believe that this time was different, that he meant every word. But a small voice inside warned her, Don't lose yourself again.
Ryan had never shown this side of himself before. Not like this. His affection felt real, raw, and unguarded. It was like the walls he always kept up had finally come down, and now she was seeing a version of him she didn't quite know how to handle.
At breakfast, he kept watching her, his gaze soft and steady. When he reached across the table and gently brushed her hand, her chest tightened. "You're quiet," he said gently.
Emily gave a small smile and held her coffee cup tighter. "Just thinking," she replied, keeping her voice light.
Back at work, everything felt different. Ryan messaged her more often than usual—short, sweet notes that made her heart flutter but also left her feeling unsure of where they stood.
Ryan: Missed you the second you left my place this morning.
Ryan: Lunch today? My treat.
Ryan: Stop overthinking. I can hear you from here.
Each message felt like a reminder of the night before, of the words he had whispered in the dark, of the way he had looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered. And as much as she wanted to believe him, to trust that this was real, the fear of getting hurt again held her back.
By the end of the day, Emily felt like she was balancing on a tightrope, her emotions close to slipping. She wanted to believe things were different this time, that Ryan truly meant what he said. But the fear of giving him everything and ending up hurt again still lingered.
Lying in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, she realized the hardest part wasn't trusting Ryan—it was trusting herself.
A few weeks into their new project, a new teammate joined—Catherine, a bright and energetic recent graduate who quickly grabbed everyone's attention. With her charm, sharp wit, and energy, she easily drew interest, especially from the male colleagues who found reasons to hang around her desk or offer help she didn't really need.
As a senior team member, Emily was asked to help guide Catherine through her onboarding and get her up to speed on the project. At first, she enjoyed Catherine's energy and eagerness to learn. But one afternoon in the break room, as they sat together going over the project timeline with coffee in hand, something shifted unexpectedly.
Catherine leaned in slightly, a faint blush on her cheeks, and asked, "So, what's the deal with Ryan? The creative director?" Emily froze for a second, tightening her grip on her coffee cup as she tried to stay composed. Catherine lowered her voice, as if sharing a secret. "He's kind of amazing, isn't he? The way he runs meetings, and that smile—" She trailed off, her eyes shining with admiration, and something else that made Emily's stomach knot.
Emily forced a polite smile, carefully keeping her tone neutral. "He's definitely good at what he does," she said.
Catherine didn't notice the tension, leaning back with a dreamy sigh. "I think I might have a little crush on him," she said, her cheeks turning even redder. Emily's heart sank, though she kept her face calm and nodded like it was just another casual chat. But inside, her emotions swirled—jealousy, frustration, and doubt all bubbling to the surface.
She wanted to say something, to hint that Ryan wasn't available, but she couldn't. Their relationship was a secret, something they had agreed to keep quiet to avoid gossip, even though Ryan never really minded. So Emily just nodded again, managing a vague, "He's definitely… something," before steering the conversation back to work.
Back at her desk, Emily couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her chest. Catherine's words stuck with her, a reminder of how fragile the line was between her work life and her private relationship with Ryan. No matter how hard she tried to keep them apart, deep down she knew they would eventually clash.
*****
The office buzzed with its usual energy the next morning, but to Emily, everything felt off. There was a tension in the air she couldn't ignore. She had just settled at her desk, sipping coffee and checking emails, when Catherine showed up, her face glowing with excitement—something about it instantly made Emily uneasy.
Catherine leaned casually against Emily's desk, her voice dropping to a whisper as she looked around to make sure no one else was listening. "Guess what happened last night?" she said, eyes gleaming with pride and mischief. Emily's stomach turned, but she kept her face calm, her grip on her coffee cup tightening.
"I went with Ryan to meet the client for dinner," Catherine said, clearly pleased with herself. "And let's just say… things got a little interesting after that."
Emily's heart skipped a beat. Her thoughts spun as she tried to make sense of Catherine's tone. "Interesting how?" she asked, keeping her voice steady even though her emotions were anything but.
Catherine smirked, leaning in even closer. "Let's just say we ended up spending the night together. At a hotel."
The words hit Emily hard, her chest tightening as she tried to stay calm. She wanted to believe it wasn't true, that Catherine was just exaggerating or reading too much into things. But the way she said it—so sure, so casual—left little room for doubt.
Emily's thoughts jumped to the night before, to the message Ryan had sent: Client dinner running long. I'll call you later.
She had assumed he was just caught up with work. But now, she wasn't so sure.
"Wow," Emily said finally, her voice carefully neutral as she forced a smile. "That's… quite a story."
Catherine laughed, clearly pleased with herself. "I know, right? I mean, I didn't expect it to happen, but… well, Ryan's just so magnetic, you know? It's hard to resist."
Emily nodded, her smile feeling more like a grimace as she tried to keep her emotions in check. "Yeah, he's… something," she said, her voice trailing off as she turned back to her computer, hoping Catherine would take the hint and leave.
But Catherine lingered, her excitement undimmed. "I mean, I know it's probably not a big deal to him, but… I can't stop thinking about it. Do you think he'll want to see me again?"
Emily's chest tightened, her fingers gripping the edge of her desk as she fought to keep her voice steady. "I really couldn't say," she replied, her tone clipped. "Ryan's… complicated."
Catherine nodded, seemingly oblivious to the tension in Emily's voice. "Yeah, I figured. But still… it's exciting, you know? I mean, how often does something like this happen?"
Emily forced another smile, her mind racing as she tried to figure out how to extricate herself from the conversation. "Yeah, exciting," she echoed, her voice hollow.
Finally, Catherine seemed to sense that Emily wasn't in the mood to chat, and with a final, satisfied smile, she walked away, leaving Emily alone with her thoughts.
As soon as Catherine walked away, Emily's calm facade fell apart. Her hands shook as she reached for her phone, her mind spinning with questions she wasn't ready to face. Had Ryan really spent the night with Catherine? Were all his promises—about love, about wanting to make things work—just empty words? Or was Catherine twisting the truth to feel important?
Emily wanted to ask Ryan, to get the truth straight from him, but the fear of hearing him confirm it kept her silent. Instead, she sat at her desk, staring blankly at her screen, lost in a storm of doubt, anger, and hurt.
The rest of the day drifted by in a haze. Emily went through the motions, but her thoughts stayed locked on Ryan and Catherine. She tried to tell herself it wasn't true, that Catherine was just stirring things up—but the doubt had already taken root, and it kept growing.
By the time Emily left the office, she felt like she was moving on autopilot, her emotions a mess she couldn't sort out. She knew she had to talk to Ryan, to hear the truth, but the fear of him confirming her worst thoughts left her frozen.
*****
The team dinner at the upscale restaurant was meant to be a casual celebration after a successful project. But for Emily, it felt tense and uncomfortable. As soon as they arrived, she chose a seat at the far end of the table—away from Ryan. She told herself it was to avoid drawing attention, to keep things professional, but deep down, she knew it was because she still hadn't gotten over what Catherine had said. The hurt and doubt were still fresh, and she wasn't ready to face him.
Catherine didn't waste the opportunity. She quickly sat beside Ryan, all smiles and charm, laughing at his jokes and brushing his arm in ways that felt intentional. From across the table, Emily watched, her stomach twisting as she tried to stay focused on other conversations. But Catherine's closeness, the way she leaned in and laughed just a little too loud, was impossible to ignore.
Ryan looked uncomfortable. He kept glancing at Emily, his face a mix of confusion and frustration. But she avoided his eyes, keeping her attention on her plate or the people around her. She couldn't bring herself to look at him, afraid of what she might feel—or what he might see in her. The tension between them hung in the air, heavy and obvious, even if no one else seemed to notice.
As the dinner went on, Catherine grew more obvious in trying to get Ryan's attention. She leaned in close to whisper in his ear, her hand resting on his arm longer than necessary. Emily felt her chest tighten. She wanted to step in, to say something—but she couldn't without revealing too much. So she stayed quiet, forcing a smile while pushing food around her plate, her appetite gone.
When the dinner finally wrapped up and people began to leave, Catherine made her move. As Ryan stood, she walked up to him with a bright smile and asked sweetly, "Ryan, could I trouble you for a ride home? It's kind of out of the way for everyone else."
Ryan paused, glancing toward Emily, who stood nearby pretending to chat with a colleague. He could feel the distance between them and knew something had shifted—but now wasn't the time to fix it.
"I'm sorry, Catherine," he said, polite but clear. "I've got an early morning and need to head straight home. Maybe someone else can give you a ride?"
Catherine's smile faltered, but she quickly nodded. "Of course, no problem. I'll figure something out."
Ryan nodded and looked around for Emily, but she was already gone. She had slipped out quietly, her heart pounding as she stepped into the night. The cold air hit her face, but it didn't ease the storm inside. On the ride home, her mind spun with questions she wasn't ready to face. Had Ryan really spent the night with Catherine? Were his words—about loving her and wanting to make things work—just lies? Or was Catherine twisting the truth for attention? Emily didn't know, but the doubt was impossible to ignore.
Ryan swore under his breath as he saw her leave, frustration building fast. He didn't wait for Catherine to sort out a ride or for anyone to notice he was gone. He headed straight to his car, one thought driving him—he had to get to Emily.
On the way to her apartment, his grip on the wheel was tight, his mind racing. Catherine's behavior, Emily's silence, the heavy tension at dinner—it was all a mess he had to make right.
When he reached her place, he knocked, heart pounding. Emily opened the door, her face guarded, eyes red as if she'd been crying.
"Emily," he said, his voice low but urgent. "We need to talk."
She didn't look at him, her voice trembling as she replied, "I don't think there's anything left to say."
Ryan stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently grasp her arm. "Don't do this," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "Don't shut me out again Emily. Whatever you're thinking, whatever you're feeling—just talk to me."
Emily finally looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of hurt and anger. "What's there to talk about, Ryan? Catherine made it pretty clear what happened between you two. And I… I can't do this anymore."
Ryan's expression darkened, his grip on her arm tightening slightly. "Nothing happened, Emily. I don't know what she told you, but it's not true. I would never—"
Emily's eyes narrowed, her voice trembling but firm as she crossed her arms. "She said you spent the night together. At a hotel. That's pretty specific, Ryan. And you didn't even mention it to me. How am I supposed to believe you?"
Ryan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Yes, I booked her a room at the hotel because she was too drunk to get herself home. But I didn't stay. I left immediately. James stayed behind to ensure she was okay. That's it."
Emily froze, her breath catching in her throat. "James? Your assistant James?"
Ryan nodded, his expression serious. "Yes. I left him there to make sure she was settled and safe. I didn't even step foot inside the room, Emily. I swear to you."
Emily's mind raced, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place. "But Catherine… she seemed so sure. She said you spent the night together."
Ryan's jaw clenched, his voice low and urgent. "I don't know why she's saying that, but it's not true. Maybe she was drunk or just confused. But I didn't do anything, Emily. I would never betray you."
All the doubt, fear, and insecurity Emily had been carrying pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe. She drew in a deep breath, her voice unsteady as she finally spoke.
"Ryan… I owe you an apology," she began, her eyes downcast as she struggled to find the right words. "When Catherine told me that she spent the night with you at the hotel, I… I panicked. I didn't want to believe it, but I couldn't help it. Because that's what we did. That's how we started. And I guess… I guess it made me feel like history was repeating itself."
Ryan's expression softened, his eyes filled with a mix of understanding and concern as he stepped closer. "Emily…"
She held up a hand to stop him. "No, let me finish. I need to say this." She took a deep breath, her voice soft but full of emotion. "It's taken me a while to trust you because… we didn't start like most couples. There wasn't a solid foundation. It began as something physical, and only later turned into something more. But I've always felt like we were trying to catch up, trying to build something real on unsteady ground."
Ryan's gaze never left hers, his expression serious but gentle as he listened.
Emily continued, her voice breaking slightly. "And when Catherine said what she did, it brought all of that back. All the doubts, all the insecurities. I felt like I was losing you all over again, and I didn't know how to handle it. So I shut down. I pushed you away. And I'm sorry for that."
Ryan stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently brush against hers. "Emily, you don't have to apologize for feeling that way. I get it. I do. And you're right—we didn't start the way most couples do. But that doesn't mean what we have now isn't real. It doesn't mean I don't love you."
Emily's eyes filled with tears, her chest aching as she looked at him. "I know. And I love you too. But sometimes… sometimes it's hard for me to trust that this is real. That you're not going to walk away or let me down again."
Ryan's hand tightened around hers, his voice quiet but filled with conviction. "I'm not going anywhere, Emily. I know I've made mistakes, and I know I haven't always been the person you needed me to be. But I'm here now. And I'm not giving up on us."
Emily's breath hitched, her resolve wavering as she looked into his eyes. She wanted to believe him, to trust that this time would be different, but the fear of getting hurt again held her back.
Ryan took a step closer, his voice soft but filled with determination. "We'll take it one day at a time. We'll build that foundation together. But you have to let me in, Emily. You have to trust me."
For a long moment, they stood there, the silence between them heavy with unspoken emotions. Then, finally, Emily exhaled, her shoulders slumping slightly as she nodded.
"Okay," she whispered, her voice trembling but filled with quiet resolve. "One day at a time."
Ryan's expression softened, his hand tightening around hers as he nodded. "One day at a time," he repeated, his voice filled with quiet determination.