Distance.
That's what I chose.
And for a moment…
It worked.
"Take your medication."
Nina placed it on my desk.
I nodded.
"Thank you."
"You scared everyone yesterday," she added.
"I'm fine."
But I wasn't.
Not fully.
Because every time I felt better physically…
Something else got worse.
Him.
Elias.
He hadn't come to see me again after the hospital.
No late-night messages.
No quiet check-ins.
No unnecessary presence.
Just work.
"Miss Jessy, the CEO wants the updated file."
Of course he did.
I stood up.
Composed.
Prepared.
But the moment I stepped into his office…
Everything shifted.
"Sit."
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
Cold.
I sat.
He didn't look at me immediately.
Just flipped through the file in silence.
"You delayed section three," he said.
"I needed to verify the data."
A pause.
"Good."
That surprised me.
Then finally…
He looked up.
And that was the problem.
Because his eyes didn't look at me like before.
They held.
Longer.
Deeper.
Like he was trying to figure something out.
Or maybe…
Stop something.
"You should be resting," he said.
"I'm fine."
"You said that yesterday."
"And I meant it today."
Silence.
"You're stubborn."
"You noticed."
A small pause.
Then—
Something almost like a smile.
Almost.
"You're also reckless," he added.
"I don't have the luxury of being careful."
That hit something in him.
I saw it.
"You do," he said.
"No," I replied softly.
"I don't."
Silence again.
Then—
"Jessy."
My name.
Not formal.
Not distant.
Dangerous.
I looked up.
And for a second…
Everything else disappeared.
"You're not alone," he said.
That again.
I shook my head slightly.
"We've had this conversation."
"And you keep ignoring it."
"Because it doesn't change anything."
"It could."
Silence.
Too much silence.
Because now…
This wasn't just concern.
This was something else.
"Why do you care?" I asked.
There it was.
The question.
He didn't answer immediately.
And that…
Said everything.
"I should get back to work," I said quickly.
"Jessy."
I paused.
But I didn't turn.
"Don't make this harder than it has to be."
My chest tightened.
I turned slowly.
"You're the one making it harder," I said quietly.
Silence.
Then I walked out.
But behind me…
He didn't move.
Because for the first time…
Elias wasn't in control.
That evening…
He didn't go home.
He stayed in his office.
Lights dim.
City glowing outside.
But his mind…
Wasn't on work.
It was on her.
Jessy.
Her voice.
Her strength.
Her refusal to depend on him.
Everything about her…
Pulled him in.
And that was the problem.
Because Elias didn't get pulled.
He chose.
He controlled.
He decided.
But this?
This felt different.
Unplanned.
Unwanted.
Unavoidable.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Sir, your mother called again."
Silence.
Of course she did.
"She says it's important," the assistant added.
Elias exhaled slowly.
"When is it not?"
"She mentioned the dinner."
That made him pause.
The dinner.
Right.
"I'll handle it," he said.
The assistant nodded and left.
Elias leaned back in his chair.
Family.
Expectations.
Control.
Everything he had mastered.
Everything he never questioned.
Until now.
Because for the first time…
There was something in his life that didn't fit into that world.
Jessy.
Meanwhile…
Across the city…
Vanessa sat in a softly lit restaurant.
Elegant.
Calm.
Controlled.
Cypher sat across from her.
Distracted.
"You've been quiet," she said, sipping her drink.
"I'm just thinking."
"About her?"
Silence.
That was enough.
Vanessa smiled slightly.
But it didn't reach her eyes.
"You're slipping," she said softly.
"I'm not."
"You are," she replied calmly.
"And I don't like losing what's mine."
Cypher frowned.
"She's not—"
"Careful," Vanessa cut in.
Her tone changed.
Subtle.
But sharp.
"You chose me," she reminded him.
"I know."
"Then act like it."
Silence.
But her eyes?
Already calculating.
Because this time…
She wouldn't just react.
She would plan.
Back in the hostel…
I sat quietly.
Hand resting on my stomach.
Everything felt…
Different.
Not because of Cypher.
But because of Elias.
The way he looked at me.
The way he spoke.
The way he cared…
Even when I told him not to.
"This is dangerous," I whispered to myself.
Because I knew one thing.
If I let this grow…
It wouldn't end simply.
Not with a man like him.
Not with a life like mine.
And definitely not…
With everything that was coming.