He jolted upright in bed; cold sweat, tangled sheets, and one name on his lips.
"Mara."
His apartment was dark.
His thoughts weren't.
Her voice.
Her silence.
The way she didn't even flinch when she handed in her resignation.
He tried to go back to sleep.
Didn't work.
He tried calling.
Straight to voicemail.
"I can't lose her," he whispered, already grabbing his car keys.
Rain was falling like it had something to prove.
The city was quiet; except for the pounding in his chest.
When he pulled up outside her apartment, he didn't think.
He just ran. Up the stairs. No elevator. No breath.
And knocked.
Once.
Twice.
Then;
"What the hell…"
The door opened.
Mara Daniels.
Messy bun. Pajamas. Slightly sleepy.
Still prettier than peace.
"Are you serious?" she asked, blinking. "It's 3AM."
He just stared.
Chest rising and falling. Heart in ruins.
"I can't sleep."
"I can't breathe."
"You left and I didn't chase you, and that might be the dumbest mistake I've ever made."
She folded her arms. Slowly.
"You made a few."
"I know," he breathed. "And I'll regret every one if you don't let me fix it."
A pause.
A heartbeat.
"You're wet."
"I ran."
"You're stupid."
"I'm in love with you."
Silence.
Then;
She sighed. Long. Heavy.
And opened the door just a little wider.
"If I let you in, you're explaining everything. With tea."
"Anything. I'd read a whole NDA out loud if it means you'll look at me again."
She almost smiled.
Almost.
He stepped in.
The door closed.
And the night began to forgive them.
Mara padded quietly into the kitchen.
He followed behind like a boy who didn't want to wake his mother.
Which was ironic; considering he once ran billion-dollar meetings without blinking.
But right now?
He was nervous about where to put his hands.
She pulled two mugs from the cabinet;
No small talk.
Just silence, like the storm outside had followed them in.
"Chamomile okay?"
"Perfect," he murmured. "Just like you."
She gave him a side-eye so sharp it could've sliced through the rain.
"Don't start."
He almost smiled.
Almost.
She placed the mugs on the table, slid one toward him, and finally… sat.
The light above them was warm. Soft. Kind.
A yellowish hush that made everything feel a little more human.
"You showed up at my place. In the rain."
"I didn't plan to. My feet just… moved."
She looked down at her tea.
"You're late."
"I know."
"I waited."
"I know."
"I cried."
"I know. I'm sorry, Mara."
She finally met his eyes.
"Why didn't you say anything? After the kiss… after everything?"
He swallowed.
"Because I'm not good at this. Feelings. Love. You."
"You're not supposed to be good at me. Just honest." She shot back
He nodded.
"Then let me start now. I wanted you the moment you said 'I'm not your assistant. I'm your asset.'"
"And I lost you the moment I forgot you're also a woman with a heart."
Silence again.
The kind that holds too much.
Then softly, she asked;
"Do you still want me?"
"Yes," he breathed. "But not just in my office. Not just as my assistant. I want you in my mornings. My messes. My forevers."
Her eyes softened.
She didn't say a word.
Just reached across the table, fingers brushing his; and somehow, in that moment, everything loud in the world went still.
Outside, the rain whispered.
Inside, two hearts started listening again.