“So, you want to marry me because your ex came back?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I pulled my hand away from his, breaking the interlace of our fingers. “You know, you’re being childish, Evan,” I said, irritation creeping into my voice. My heart was racing now. Was Alexis really such a threat that he felt the need to rush this?

“No, hon, you misunderstood what I said,” he quickly replied, his voice pleading.

“Then you better explain because I can’t wrap my head around it.” I shook my head, still trying to absorb what was happening. “What I don’t understand is why you’re rushing this. And besides, your ex is already engaged.” Why was this suddenly such an urgent matter?

“Hon, it’s not what you think,” he said, his voice shaky, trying to hold on to my belief in him. “I don’t love Alexis anymore, believe me. You’re the only one I love.”

I knew that. I knew he loved me, but this didn’t make sense. My mind flashed back to how perfect we seemed just a few days ago. How did things spiral into this so fast?

“It’s just that... I’m confused about why she came back,” he admitted, looking down.

“Why would you be confused?” I asked, growing more irritated. “She probably has business here. She was born here in the Southeast, and she has every right to come back.” My own voice was sharper than I expected, but I couldn’t help it.

“Hon, I’m sorry if you think the only reason I want to marry you is because she’s back,” he sighed, running his hand through his hair. “It’s just that... my parents want us to get married as well...”

I blinked at him, my chest tightening. “So, you’re only marrying me because your parents said so?” My voice wavered, and I couldn’t hide the frustration anymore. His reasoning felt flimsy, weak, and for the first time in our relationship, I was genuinely angry at him. My heart ached in a way I hadn’t expected.

“You know what, Evan? I think you should go home. I need to go.”

I didn’t wait for him to respond. I stood up, my hands trembling as I gathered my things. My heart pounded in my chest, each step away from him feeling heavier than the last.

Back at my desk, I couldn’t shake the conversation with Evan from my mind. The way he brought up Alexis—what was I supposed to make of that? Did he really feel threatened by her? Or was it something else?

I stared blankly at my computer screen, trying to focus on the documents in front of me, but my thoughts kept circling back to the proposal. Why now? And why did it feel like Alexis had somehow triggered this whole thing? It didn’t make sense.

I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. It’s not that I didn’t want to marry Evan—I did. But something about the way he brought it up, the timing, and the look in his eyes—it unsettled me. Alexis’s presence seemed to loom over everything, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t just about our relationship anymore.

As I tried to push the thoughts away, I heard Ms. Alexis’s voice from across the office.

“Summer.”

Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see Ms. Alexis standing in her office doorway, her usual composed and intimidating expression in place. “I need you in my office,” she said, not waiting for a response before walking back inside.

Maybe now’s my chance to ask her. I mean, what have I got to lose?

I quickly gathered my things and followed her into her office. She was already seated in her sleek swivel chair when I entered. Closing the door behind me, I took a deep breath. There was no turning back now.

"Boyfriend of yours, Evan Reyes, right?" Ms. Alexis’s words cut through the air with an unsettling calmness. I nodded, not sure where this conversation was going. Why was she bringing him up now? And why did her lips seem to curl into a slight smirk? “You’ll need to give me his number.”

Her request hit me like a wave, confusion building in my chest. "Why would you need his number, ma’am?" I asked, trying to sound polite, though my voice wavered with unease. "I can tell him whatever you need."

"Business, Summer. Business," she replied smoothly, the smirk still there, lingering. But was that really the only reason? “Besides, his family owns one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the region.”

I nodded, still feeling uneasy. Of course, she would know that. Everyone in the industry knew about Reyes Pharmaceutical. But why did I feel like there was more to this than just business?

Her gaze locked onto mine, and I could feel my pulse quicken. There was something in her eyes that I couldn’t decipher—a flicker of something almost playful, yet dangerous. It sent a chill down my spine.

"You know, staring is rude," she teased, breaking the silence with a knowing smile.

I averted my eyes immediately, heat rising to my cheeks. Why was I even staring? And why was my heart racing like this?

Before I could recover, she stepped closer, so close I could feel the warmth radiating from her skin. “You know, if you didn’t have a boyfriend, I’d start thinking you were into women. Or maybe… just into me?” she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur.

I froze. What is she doing? My mind scrambled to catch up with her words, but the tension between us was thick and heavy. I couldn’t deny it anymore—the pull I felt toward her was undeniable.

“Ma’am, I’m not—” I stammered, trying to regain control of the situation, trying to explain something, anything. But before I could even finish, her fingers gently brushed against my cheek.

“Do you want to taste it?” she asked, her words as soft as the touch of her hand. Her lips were close, too close. I could feel her breath—sweet, like strawberries and mint—and my heart hammered in my chest.

This is wrong. I love Evan. My mind screamed at me to pull away, to stop whatever was about to happen. But I couldn’t move. I stood frozen as her lips hovered just inches from mine, and the tension between us grew unbearable.

I should’ve stepped back. I should’ve said something. But instead, I leaned in. Her lips brushed against mine, soft, inviting, and suddenly, my thoughts were no longer my own. The world blurred as I let myself drown in the sensation of her mouth on mine.

For a second, nothing happened. Then, slowly, she responded. The kiss deepened, and everything else—my relationship with Evan, my confusion, the guilt—it all disappeared. In that moment, there was only her.

Her hands slid around my neck, pulling me closer. My body responded on instinct, arms wrapping around her waist, drawing her in. The kiss grew more intense, as if all the unspoken tension between us was unraveling at once. Every touch, every brush of our lips, felt like an electric charge coursing through me. I couldn’t stop it, didn’t want to.

Her soft moans filled the space between us, sending shivers down my spine. How could someone make me feel this way? It felt so wrong—so very wrong—but at the same time, I was helpless against it. The more we kissed, the more I felt like I was losing myself in her.

Finally, we pulled apart, gasping for air. My hands were still wrapped so tight around her waist, her hands remained resting around my neck. Her eyes, filled with questions, bore into mine, and for the first time, I saw something in them that scared me—an emotion I couldn’t name.

"Why?" she whispered, her voice unsteady. "Why did you kiss me?"

I blinked, the weight of her words sinking in. What did I just do? I couldn’t explain it, couldn’t even fully understand it. I shook my head, still dazed. "I... I don’t know," I mumbled, barely able to form the words.

But there was one thing I did know, something undeniable. In that moment, I didn’t want to let her go. And that realization terrified me.