The atmosphere at Smith Enterprises was especially tense that morning. The usually busy hallways were filled with whispers and curious glances. “Have you heard? ” one of the administrative employees whispered.
“Yes, Henry Smith hired a new assistant. ” “Does she know about the rule? ” “I doubt it. This is going to be a disaster.
” The rule in question was simple but firm. Henry Smith didn’t touch women, ever. Not a handshake, not even an accidental brush. Some thought it was billionaire eccentricity, while others had wild theories about some mysterious trauma.
The fact remained, no one dared get too close to him. But Sophia Morris, the newly hired personal assistant, knew nothing about this. It was her first day. The looks people gave her were a mix of pity and curiosity, as if she were a lamb walking straight into the lion’s den.
“Morris! ” Emma, the executive secretary, called out urgently. “Mr. Smith needs a tie.
Grab one and take it to him now. ” Sophia blinked. “Sorry, what? Wait, just a tie?
No big deal. ” She walked to the executive dressing room and opened the cabinet where Henry’s ties were kept. And that’s when a small problem arose. There were about 50 of them.
“All right, what color would a cold, untouchable CEO wear? ” she murmured, panicking and grabbing them all. With her arms full of ties, she marched toward the CEO’s office. She knocked.
“Come in. ” She stepped inside and found Henry Smith standing by his desk, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt. He looked up at her and frowned. “What is that?
” “Ties. ” Sophia said, stopping in front of him. “All of them? ” “I didn’t know which color you preferred, so I brought them all.
” Henry stared at her a moment before sighing long enough to summon patience he didn’t have. “Give me one. ” She dumped them all on his desk and randomly picked one to hand him. A patterned one.
With tiny rubber duck prints. “Oh. ” She grabbed another. Navy blue.
He nodded. She smiled, relieved. She turned to leave—and then she saw it. He was tying his tie the wrong way.
He was absolutely destroying the fabric as if trying to strangle an invisible ghost. “This is a crime against corporate fashion. ” Sophia stepped closer without thinking. She raised her hands.
“Wait, you’re doing it wrong. Let me. ” And then she touched him. The moment her fingers brushed the skin of his neck, Henry froze.
Sophia felt his body tense. Just as suddenly, “No. ” Henry jumped back as if electrocuted. “Oh my god, what happened?
” “You touched me. ” “Uh, I was just fixing your tie. ” Sophia frowned. She thought he was overreacting.
“Never do that again. ” “Okay, relax. I’m not radioactive. ” Henry ran a hand over his neck as if trying to erase thee feeling.
His breathing uneven, his eyes tormented. “You don’t understand. ” “Then make me understand,” Sophia shot back. “Because honestly, this makes no sense at all.
” “I can’t be touched. ” “What do you mean, can’t? Do you explode? Turn into a frog?
” “This is not a joke. ” His tone was pure desperation. He was really shaken. Henry looked away, his jaw clenched.
“Just don’t do it again. ” She sighed. “All right, I won’t touch you again. ” Henry’s shoulders relaxed slightly.
“You can go. ” “Fine, boss. No touching. But one day, I’m going to figure out what’s so scary about it.
” She walked out in a hurry. When thee door closed behind her, Henry touched the spot where her fingers had been. His heart was still pounding. This had never happened before.
But for some inexplicable reason, her touch was still there, and that changed everything. The entire office seemed to be a sea of curious stares as Sophia walked out, her face flushed, her expression confused. She had no idea what had just happened. She walked to her desk and dropped into her chair.
“So, you survived. ” Max Turner, the head of finance, leaned against her desk, coffee in hand. “What do you mean by survived? ” “No one touches Henry, ever.
” “Okay, this is getting weird. Why not? ” “Because he just can’t stand it. No woman can touch him.
” “Well, he could have warned me before having a meltdown. ” Max’s eyes widened. “You touched him? ” “Technically, yes, but it was his fault.
He had his tie all wrong. ” Max looked at her as if she had just spilled coffee on the US Constitution. “You put your hands on him? ” “I just fixed his tie.
” He laughed. “Congratulations, Sophia. You just broke 20 years of protocol. ”
Henry couldn’t focus on work.
His eyes locked on a report, but none of it made sense. The charts, thee spreadsheets, everything looked jumbled. And all because of a single touch. He ran his fingers along the collar of his shirt.
He should have felt discomfort, disgust, anxiety, but he didn’t feel any of that. Worse, he didn’t feel anything bad at all. And that terrified him. The last time someone had touched him like that, two decades ago, it had been a disaster.
Since then, his body learned to reject any physical contact from a woman. But then why was Sophia different? He needed to test it. Two hours later, his secretary called Sophia.
“Mr. Smith wants you to go to his office. Bring the report on thee investor meeting. He wants you to hand it to him directly.
” Sophia grabbed the papers and walked in. “Here is the report, Mr. Smith. ” He reached out his hand.
She hesitated a second, then extended the papers. The moment his fingers brushed hers, his body tensed again. A shock ran through his nerves. His heart skipped a beat.
Trying to play it off, he grabbed the papers too quickly, causing one sheet to slip and fall. Out of reflex, Sophia bent down to pick it up. Just as she stood, Henry bent down, too. The result?
Forehead to forehead. A light bump, but enough to create an awkward silence. His eyes were way too close to hers. Sophia held back a laugh.
“If this was a reflex test, congratulations, you passed. ” Henry cleared his throat, straightening up. “That wasn’t a test. ” “Oh, sure.
Bumping heads is a great work method. ” “Mr. Smith? Are you nervous?
” “I don’t get nervous. ” Sophia smirked. “Then you won’t mind if I do this. ” She raised her hand slightly.
Henry took a step back so fast he nearly tripped over his chair. Silence. Sophia laughed. “Wow, for someone who never gets nervous, that was a pretty dramatic reaction.
” Henry shot her a sharp glare. “That’s enough for today. You can leave. ” Sophia walked out still laughing.
Henry, for the first time in years, had no idea how to handle this. She was a problem—and worse, he was starting to like it. Over the next few hours, Henry noticed his eyes searching for Sophia even when he didn’t mean to. In the cafeteria, he saw her laughing with colleagues and felt an absurd irritation.
During a meeting, he noticed she bit her lip when focused, and his brain stored that information. And to his absolute frustration, he discovered she talked to herself. He saw her typing, mumbling, “Who came up with these ridiculous spreadsheets? Were they designed to torture assistants?
If I mess this up, I bet he’ll glare at me like I just ruined his entire life. ” Henry raised an eyebrow. Was she talking about him? He shouldn’t care.
But he did. And then it happened. Sophia made a small mistake. Just a formatting error, nothing catastrophic.
But Henry called her in. He held up the report. “What is this? ” “A piece of paper.
” She smiled. He pointed out the mistake. She sighed. “Okay, I admit it.
I forgot to align the columns in the second chart. But let’s be honest. No one ever died because of a misaligned table. ” She turned to leave, but he blurted out, “Do you always talk to yourself?
” She froze. “You saw me talking to myself? ” “Yes. ” “Oh no.
This is terrible. ” “Why? ” “Because I try to seem at least somewhat normal, and now you know I have this flaw. ” “Talking to yourself is a flaw?
” “Isn’t it? ” “No. ” She stared at him a second, then burst into laughter. And in that moment, Henry realized how comfortable he felt.
She didn’t seem impressed by his wealth. She didn’t treat him like an untouchable figure. Without realizing it, he was starting to like that. But he couldn’t allow it.
If this continued, he would lose control—and Henry Smith never lost control, ever. He caught himself noticing irrelevant things, like the way she furrowed her brow when concentrating, or the way she played with her bracelet while reading. This had to stop. But one thing unsettled him more than anything: the touch.
For 20 years, he had avoided any physical contact with women. And then Sophia appeared, and nothing happened. No disgust, no discomfort, no urge to pull away. That thought tormented him.
He couldn’t shake it. He remembered 16 years ago, when he wasn’t yet the financial mogul. Back then, he was just a young heir trying to prove his worth. He believed in love.
His heart belonged to Amelia Wright, a woman with a sweet smile. He gave himself completely to that relationship, until the day he discovered the truth. She didn’t love him. She loved his money, his status.
And when a more powerful man appeared, she left him without hesitation. The breakup was humiliating. He remembered her holding his hands and saying, in the coldest voice imaginable, “You were never enough. ” Those words cut into him like blades.
That was when he realized that human touch could deceive, that affection could be fake, that any closeness could be a trap. And so he built his rule. He distanced himself. He stopped trusting.
And 20 years passed. Until Sophia Morris. Determined to cut this off at the root, Henry walked to her desk. Sophia looked up, almost choking on her granola bar.
“Mr. Smith? ” He crossed his arms. “From now on, we will keep our relationship strictly professional.
” “Wait, wasn’t that already obvious? ” “No jokes, no touching, no unnecessary proximity. ” “Sorry, boss, but unnecessary proximity? We barely talk outside of work.
What do you think I’m doing? Trying to seduce you? ” He hadn’t expected that. “I didn’t say that.
” “Then why are you acting like I’m some kind of threat? ” He opened his mouth to argue but found no words. Because she was right. He was overreacting.
But he needed to react this way. It was the only way to regain control. “Just follow the rules,” he said firmly. Sophia narrowed her eyes but didn’t argue.
“All right, boss, whatever you say. ” She went back to typing. For some reason, the idea of Sophia not paying attention to him anymore bothered him deeply. The next day, he was surprised to find himself irritated by her perfect professionalism.
Late in the afternoon, he called her in and handed her a cup of coffee. She raised an eyebrow. “You bought me coffee? ” He looked away.
“The barista made a mistake. I grabbed it by accident. ” She knew that was a lie. “Oh, right.
Because baristas mix up two identical coffees for the same person all the time. ” He didn’t respond. She tried to suppress a smile. Henry Smith was trying to make amends.
Maybe, just maybe, he was more confused than he let on. That night, Henry realized something even worse than his issues with touch. He realized that no matter how much he tried, Sophia was already in his head, and there was nothing he could do to change that. He had a charity auction to attend, and he needed a date.
Traditionally, CEOs attended these events with a companion. In his case, all options were equally irritating. And then he made an impulsive decision. “Sophia.
” “Yes? ” “I have a charity event tonight. I need a date. You’re coming with me.
” She blinked. “Excuse me? You’ve spent thee past few days making it very clear that you don’t want unnecessary closeness, and now you want me to go to an event with you? ” “Yes.
” “Mr. Smith, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you’re sending some very mixed signals. ” “Just accept it. It will be better than taking anyone else.
” He ignored her sarcasm. “Dress appropriately. I’ll pick you up at 7:00. ”
At exactly 7:00, Sophia was ready.
Her black thin strapped dress hugged her curves with elegance. Her hair, usually in a messy bun, now cascaded in soft waves. When Henry arrived in a flawless black tuxedo, he paused when he saw her. “Is there a problem?
” He blinked. “None. Let’s go. ” At thee event, she noticed how many eyes were on him.
“You seem pretty popular here. ” “Popular isn’t the right word. ” As they spoke, guests approached. Then Amelia appeared.
A tall blonde woman with sharp eyes, in a red dress. “Henry? ” “Amelia. ” Sophia felt the tension.
This was the woman who had broken his heart. Amelia eyed Sophia. “I’m surprised to see you here with a date. ” Sophia saw an opportunity.
She slipped her arm through Henry’s and smiled. “Oh, he’s a gentleman. He’d never let me come alone. ” Henry stiffened.
Amelia forced a smile. “Is that so? Well, Henry has always been reserved. ” “Maybe he was just waiting for the right person to break that reserve.
” Amelia studied her but didn’t respond. She walked away. Henry sighed. “That was unnecessary.
” “I refuse to let an ex downplay my presence. ” “You enjoy causing trouble, don’t you? ” “Let’s just say I’m good at leveling the playing field. ”
Hours later, when they finally left, Sophia sank into the car seat.
“That was more exhausting than a full day at the office. ” Henry drove in silence. She glanced at him. “So, was the event a success?
” “Yes. ” She smiled. “And what about me? Did I pass as a formal event companion?
” He glanced at her briefly. “You were tolerable. ” She laughed. “Is that the closest thing to a compliment I’m going to get?
” He didn’t answer. But for the first time that night, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his face. Sophia noticed, and she liked what she saw. At her building, she turned to him.
“Thanks for taking me. ” He nodded. “Good night, Sophia. ” As he watched her walk in, he felt something strange.
He should have been relieved the night was over, but he wasn’t. Henry couldn’t sleep. The clock read 2:43 a. m.
He stared at the ceiling, knowing exactly what was bothering him. Sophia Morris. The image of her smiling when she teased Amelia. The way her black dress flowed.
The way she held his arm without hesitation, without fear. And worst of all, he didn’t feel the need to pull away. That terrified him. He shut his eyes, trying to push those thoughts away.
But they came back even stronger. The next morning, his eyes found her at her desk, laughing at something Max had said. Something inside him twisted. He stopped next to her desk.
“Is the report ready? ” “Right here. ” She extended the folder. He hesitated half a second before taking it.
She didn’t let go right away. She held it firmly, forcing him to look her in thee eye. “Are you okay? ” “What?
” “You seem off today. ” “I’m perfectly fine. ” She narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. He walked into his office, trying to ignore the fact that she could see right through his cold exterior.
By the end of the afternoon, he called her in. He crossed his arms. “From now on, I want to keep all interactions strictly professional. No unnecessary conversations, no jokes.
” “Are you serious? ” “Yes. ” She tilted her head. “So, I assume that also means you’ll stop staring at me all the time, right?
” He stiffened. “I don’t stare at you. ” “Oh, so it’s just a coincidence that every time I look up, your eyes are already on me? ” “You’re mistaken.
” She laughed. “If you say so, boss. ” She turned to leave. Before he could think twice, the words left his mouth.
“Are you free for dinner tonight? ” She stopped. She turned slowly. “Wait, what?
” “Dinner with me. ” “Is this a joke? ” “No. ” She studied him.
“And here I thought you didn’t want unnecessary conversations. ” “It’s a business dinner. ” “Of course it is. ” She smirked.
Henry realized he had already lost this battle. At thee restaurant, Sophia looked at him. “Why did you bring me here, Henry? ” “I told you, it’s a business dinner.
” “Liar. You didn’t bring me here for business. You’re trying to test something. I saw your face at thee event.
You’re trying to figure out what changed. What happened to you? ” Henry didn’t answer, because for the first time he didn’t have an answer. Worse, he wasn’t sure if he wanted one.
When he drove her home, he parked and sat in silence. Sophia smiled. “I’ll admit that was a nice dinner. ” Henry kept his eyes on thee steering wheel.
“Sophia? ” “Yes? ” He hesitated. Then he finally said what was on his mind.
“What did you do to me? ” Sophia froze. A small smile appeared. “Nothing.
” She opened the door and stepped out. Henry sat there alone with her answer echoing in his mind. He knew that no matter how much she insisted she hadn’t done anything, her touch had changed everything. Now he had no idea what to do about it.
In the days that followed, Henry found himself looking for Sophia, catching her laughter, sensing her presence before even seeing her. And worse, whenever she got close, his body reacted in a way it never had. His heartbeat faster. He noticed little details about her.
Sophia was becoming a distraction, and he couldn’t afford distractions. He needed to fix this. By mid-afternoon, he was in the conference room when he heard her laugh outside. He glanced through the glass wall and saw her talking to Max.
Max leaned slightly toward her, saying something that made her laugh again. Henry clenched his jaw. He walked straight toward them. “Sophia.
” His voice came out harsher than he intended. She turned with a smile, but it faded when she saw his expression. “Yes, boss? ” “I need to talk to you.
Now. ” Max raised an eyebrow. “Well, I guess that’s my cue to leave. ” He walked away.
Henry hated that. Sophia crossed her arms. “What’s the problem? ” He didn’t answer, because he had no idea what to say.
He had called her over on impulse. Sophia tilted her head. “Henry, are you okay? ” He blinked.
He let out a heavy sigh, frustrated with himself. “Forget it. Get back to work. ” He turned to leave.
Then he felt it, a light touch on his wrist. Soft, barely there, but enough to freeze him. He looked down at her hand. His heart pounded.
“Henry,” she said softly, “can you be honest with me? What’s going on? ” He couldn’t tell her, because he didn’t even know. So he pulled away.
“Nothing. Get back to work. ” He walked off, but he knew he had already lost this battle because her touch was still burning on his skin. He did everything he could to avoid her.
He delegated more tasks. He avoided walking past her department. He forced himself not to look. But the more he avoided her, the more she seemed to be everywhere.
The elevator. The cafe. The office lobby. It was as if the universe was having fun at his expense.
Then she confronted him. She walked into his office and shut the door. “Enough, Henry. What’s going on?
” “I don’t know what you’re talking about. ” “You don’t? Then why have you been avoiding me? ” He didn’t answer.
“If this is about that night, just say it. Did I do something wrong? ” “No. ” “Then why are you acting like I’m some kind of threat?
” “Sophia, it’s nothing. Just forget it. ” She studied him. “Henry, are you afraid of me?
” “Don’t be ridiculous. ” “Then prove it. ” She stepped closer. He didn’t move.
“If you really feel nothing, then there’s no reason to be uncomfortable, right? ” She took another step. She raised her hand and lightly touched his wrist. Henry felt an electric shock.
Sophia smiled. “See, you’re nervous. ” He pulled away. “That means nothing.
” “Of course not. You’re just pale as a sheet and looking like a teenager who just got kissed for the first time. ” “Sophia, stop this. ” “No, because I know there’s something here.
And I’m going to figure out what it is. ” Henry didn’t respond. Because at that moment, he realized she was right. There was something there.
Something he wasn’t ready to face. The next corporate event was on the rooftop of a luxury hotel. Henry knew Sophia would be there. He wasn’t prepared for what he saw.
She wore a deep wine-colored dress, elegant, perfectly fitted, with an open back design. Her hair fell in soft waves. Henry hated the way he felt when he saw her like that. Possessiveness.
That was dangerous. He tried to keep his composure. But then he saw Nathan Carter, a charming, flirtatious businessman, place his hand on Sophia’s waist. Something inside him snapped.
He crossed the room quickly. He gripped her arm. “I need to talk to you. Now.
” She blinked. “We’re in the middle of a conversation. Can it wait a minute? ” Nathan chuckled.
“Relax, Henry. I wasn’t going to steal your girl. ” Sophia’s eyes widened. “What?
No. ” But Henry was already pulling her away. He led her to a secluded area. She yanked her arm free.
“What is your problem? ” “He was touching you. ” “So what? It was just a casual touch.
” “I didn’t like it. ” Sophia was speechless. Then she smiled. “Henry, are you jealous?
” “No. ” “Then what’s the reason for all of this? ” He had no answer. Sophia stepped closer.
“Tell me the truth. ” Henry could smell her. The closeness was suffocating. “There is no truth,” he said, voice low.
She tilted her head. “So, if I did it again with another man, you wouldn’t care? ” He closed his eyes a brief second. Then he gripped the back of her neck and kissed her.
Fast, intense, no hesitation. Sophia froze, but then she kissed him back, grabbing him by thee lapels of his jacket. The world disappeared. When he pulled away first, he saw her staring at him, surprised, breathless.
Then reality hit him. “This should never have happened,” he said, his tone cold. “What? ” “It was a mistake.
” “So, you kiss me like that and now decide it was a mistake? ” He could still taste her on his lips. But he couldn’t let this go. He couldn’t let her have that power.
“Forget it,” he said. Sophia laughed, bitter. “Henry, you are unbelievable. ” He turned to leave.
He felt her hand on his arm. “Don’t run. ” He stopped, but didn’t look at her. She stepped closer.
“You kissed me, Henry. You pulled me in and now you want to pretend it didn’t happen? ” He closed his eyes. Then he said the only thing that could push her away.
“It was just an impulse. That’s all. ” Sophia went still. Then she let go of his arm.
“All right, if that’s how you want to play this, then we’ll play it that way. ” There was no anger, only determination. Henry knew he hadn’t pushed her away. He had just made things even more dangerous.
He did everything to pretend it never happened. He ignored her, buried himself in work, created even more distance. But every time he closed his eyes, he could still taste her. Every time he heard her laugh, he remembered thee warmth of her body.
And every time she walked past without even glancing his way, something tightened in his chest. She was playing dirty. She didn’t confront him. She simply acted as if he didn’t exist.
It was killing him. By Friday night, he went to an upscale bar to unwind. He ordered a whiskey and sat in thee corner. Then he saw Sophia walk in.
And she wasn’t alone. Beside her, laughing, was Max Turner. Henry felt his blood boil. He hated thee idea of her with any other man.
She hadn’t seen him yet. Then she lifted her eyes in his direction. Their eyes met. A moment of silence.
Then she smiled and turned her attention back to Max as if he wasn’t even there. Henry gripped his glass tightly. She was winning. Ten minutes later, he stood up and walked toward her.
Max noticed him first. “Uh, Henry, what are you doing here? ” Henry looked straight at Sophia. “Can we talk?
” She raised an eyebrow. “Now? ” “Now. ” She seemed amused.
“Sorry, but I’m busy. ” “5 minutes. That’s all I need. ” She glanced at Max.
“Do you mind? ” Max shrugged. As long as he doesn’t kidnap you, go ahead. Henry grabbed her arm and led her to a quieter corner.
She turned, crossing her arms. “Well, what was so important? ” He looked at her, trying to find the right words. “Henry, are you jealous?
” It was like an electric shock. “Don’t be ridiculous. ” “Then why are you here pulling me away from my date? ” “This is not a date.
” “Oh, and you get to decide who I go out with now? ” He didn’t answer. She stepped closer. “Tell me the truth, Henry.
What do you want from me? ” He knew, but he couldn’t say it. So he cupped the back of her neck and kissed her. This time, it wasn’t an impulse.
It was surrender. She responded immediately, gripping his lapels, pulling him closer. When they pulled apart, he saw it in her eyes. No.
Nothing would ever be the same. “Is this still a mistake? ” Sophia asked, breathless. He ran a hand over his face.
“Yes. ” Sophia laughed. “Well, I don’t think so. ” Henry didn’t know what to do anymore.
But he couldn’t run from this any longer. He kissed her again, without thinking, without hesitation. This time there was no tension, no resistance. There was only them, and the undeniable desire they could no longer ignore.
She clutched his shirt tightly. When they pulled apart, breathless, she smiled. “Finally. ” In the days that followed, everything changed.
Henry tried to act as if nothing had happened. But Sophia wouldn’t let him. She looked at him with that teasing smile. She walked just a little too close.
During meetings, she stared at him as if she knew exactly what he was hiding. On Friday, he arrived at the office and found a coffee on his desk. He frowned. “What is this?
” Sophia smiled. “A coffee. ” “Why? ” “Because I wanted to.
” He looked at her, trying to make sense of it. She kept smiling, and then he realized he was smiling, too. He couldn’t deny it anymore. She affected him in a way no one ever had.
That night, she texted him. “I’m outside your building. Are you going to invite me up, or are you going to keep pretending nothing is happening? ” He felt his heart race.
He answered. Minutes later, Sophia stood in front of him. Jeans anda black top. To Henry, she had never looked more beautiful.
She crossed her arms and smiled. “You’re not that hard to break, you know? ” He pulled her close and kissed her. This time, without fear, without hesitation.
He pulled her closer, feeling thee warmth of her body. Sophia didn’t hold back. His apartment was quiet, but the air between them was charged. Henry knew he should stop, but he couldn’t.
The feel of her skin, her scent, the way her lips fit against his, it was all too intense. But the moment Sophia slid her hands over his chest, trying to undo his shirt buttons, he pulled back. Automatic. Instinctive.
Sophia looked confused. “What’s wrong? ” He ran a hand through his hair. “I think this was a mistake.
” Sophia froze. Then she laughed, but it wasn’t amusement. It was disbelief. “A mistake?
Seriously, Henry? You know what? I should have expected this. You always do this, don’t you?
The moment something feels out of your control, you push it away. ” She grabbed her bag and headed for the door. But before leaving, she glanced over her shoulder. “You can’t run from this forever, Henry.
” Then she was gone. Henry stood there, alone. For the first time, he felt truly lost. He buried himself in work.
He avoided her at all costs. If she stepped into thee elevator, he walked out. If she walked into the conference room, he left. But he knew this couldn’t last.
Late one night, she cornered him at his car. She was waiting, arms crossed, determination written on her face. He considered going back inside, but he knew she wouldn’t let this go. He sighed.
“Sophia, what are you doing here? ” “I’m waiting for you to stop acting like an idiot. ” “It’s not that simple. ” “Yes, it is.
You’re just making it complicated. ” He unlocked the car. She placed her hand over his. He froze.
“Tell me the truth, Henry. Do you want me? Yes or no? ” He shut his eyes.
“Yes. ” She smiled. “Good. ” Then he stopped running.
He looked at her. “What if I mess this up? ” She laughed. “You already are.
” He let out a breath, and then he pulled her into a kiss. This time he didn’t pull back. No fear, no hesitation, no intention of letting her go. She responded without hesitation, gripping his collar, pulling him closer.
Then thunder rumbled. They pulled apart just enough to realize it was about to rain. Sophia laughed. “Looks like thee universe wants to make this scene even more dramatic.
” He made a decision. “Get in the car. ” She studied him. Then she smiled and obeyed.
In the car, silence. Then Sophia spoke. “So, is this the part where you run again? ” “No.
” “Good. Because I was getting tired of that. ” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m not good at this.
” “Good at what? ” “Relationships. ” She laughed. “Neither am I, but I don’t think that’s a problem.
” “What if I mess everything up? ” She met his gaze, unwavering. “Then we fix it. ” He had never met anyone like her, someone who wasn’t afraid, someone who didn’t pull away.
For the first time, he wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, he could stop running, too. They kept their relationship a secret. Henry still wasn’t fully ready. He never talked about it.
He never made it official. And Sophia noticed. One Friday night, at dinner, she finally brought it up. “How long are we going to keep this up?
” “Keep what up? ” “You know what I mean. This. Us.
You act like we’re together, but you keep everything so quiet it’s like we’re hiding a crime. ” Henry didn’t answer. She sighed. “Henry, are you ashamed of me?
” “What? No. ” “Then why does it feel like you’re afraid to admit we’re together? ” “It’s not that.
I just—I’ve never done this before. ” She was quiet a moment. Then gently she asked, “Are you afraid of losing me? ” He felt the weight of those words.
Because yes, he was afraid. Afraid of getting attached. Afraid of opening up. Afraid of trusting and being left behind again.
Sophia reached across the table and took his hand. “Henry, I’m not Amelia. ” He held his breath. “I’m not her.
I won’t walk away when things get hard, but you have to let me in. ” He felt something crack. He wanted to believe her, but he wasn’t sure if he could. And that terrified him more than anything.
In the days that followed, Henry became even more distant, not intentionally, but because he was handling all of this the wrong way. And on Wednesday, everything exploded. Sophia was called into a meeting. Throughout the entire meeting, he barely looked at her.
He acted as if nothing had ever happened. When it ended, she followed him into his office and shut the door. He turned. “What is it?
” “What do you want from me, Henry? Do you want me? Yes or no? ” He said nothing.
She stepped closer. “If you don’t, then tell me now, but if you do, stop treating me like a stranger in front of everyone else. ” He knew he had to make a choice, but he still wasn’t ready. So he made a mistake.
“Maybe it’s best if we end this. ” Sophia froze. Then she laughed, bitter. She grabbed her bag.
“Congratulations, Henry. You got what you wanted. ” She walked out. This time, he didn’t stop her.
And that was the biggest mistake of his life. He stared at the closed door. He knew he had made a colossal mistake. He wanted to believe this was for the best.
But then came thee silence. For the first time in a long time, he realized how unbearable that silence was. Sophia, on the other hand, didn’t want to think about him. She was tired of waiting for him to admit what he felt.
So the next day she simply moved on, or at least she tried. But ignoring Henry wasn’t easy. He was everywhere. And every time she saw him, she could feel his eyes on her.
But this time she didn’t look back. She was determined to live her life without him. In the days that followed, Henry became a different man. Still the same ruthless CEO, but inside he was a mess.
He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. His apartment felt empty. The office felt cold.
And he started to realize something terrifying. He no longer knew how to live without Sophia Morris. But Sophia wasn’t going to wait. On Friday night, she went out with friends.
Henry saw a picture of her on social media. She was at a bar, smiling, holding a drink. Next to her, a man. He couldn’t breathe properly.
This wasn’t just jealousy, it was panic. Because for the first time he realized that she could actually move on without him. And he wasn’t ready for that. That same night, he went after her.
When he walked in and saw her laughing, he knew he had to do something. He walked straight to her. Sophia noticed him, surprised. “What are you doing here?
” He didn’t answer. She narrowed her eyes. “Oh, I see. You pushed me away, and now you show up stalking me?
” “I need to talk to you. ” She laughed. “No. ” “Sophia, please.
” “Now you say please? Where was that humility when you tossed me aside like I was a problem? ” He had no answer. She took a deep breath.
“You know what? Let’s just get this over with. Say what you need to say. ” He hesitated, but he knew he couldn’t run anymore.
So he said the only thing that mattered. “I love you, Sophia. ” She went still. “What?
” “I love you. ” She didn’t say a word. Then she laughed nervously. “Really?
Now you decide to tell me this? ” “I know I messed up. I know I hurt you, but—” She cut him off. “Henry, I waited so long to hear that.
” She sighed. “But now I don’t know if I still want to. ” He felt his chest tighten. She smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes.
“If you really love me, you’ll have to prove it. ” And she walked away. This time he knew he had to chase after her. Because if he didn’t, he would lose her forever.
The next morning, Sophia was at her desk when she heard a commotion. Murmurs, whispers, people holding up their phones. She frowned. “What’s going on?
” she asked Max, who was staring down the hallway. He smirked. “I think your boss has lost his mind. ” Before she could ask, Henry Smith appeared.
But not like usual. He wasn’t wearing his perfectly tailored suit. He was barefoot, holding a massive bouquet of flowers, his suit completely disheveled. Sophia nearly choked on her coffee.
Henry looked nervous, uncomfortable, but determined. He stopped in front of her desk. Then he knelt down. The entire office froze.
Sophia was speechless. Henry spoke. “Sophia Morris. ” He swallowed.
“I was an idiot. A complete, absolute, ridiculous idiot. ” Someone in thee back muttered, “That’s true. ” Henry shot them a deadly glare.
Then he turned back to her. “I ran because I was scared, because I’ve never felt anything like this before, because you did something no one else ever has. You made me feel. ” The room let out a collective sigh.
“And now I don’t want to run anymore. I don’t want to spend another second without you, because without you, nothing makes sense. ” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Sophia’s eyes widened.
He opened it. Inside, a diamond engagement ring sparkled. He gave her a nervous smile. “So, Sophia Morris, will you marry me and put up with me for the rest of your life, even though I’m the most stubborn, difficult man on the planet?
” The office erupted. Max whistled. Sophia felt tears sting her eyes. Then something unexpected happened.
She laughed. Because this was so ridiculously perfect, so Henry Smith, that she couldn’t believe this was the same man who had run from her for so long. She looked at him, kneeling there, and felt her heart overflow. “Of course, I’ll marry you, you idiot.
” Henry let out a relieved laugh, took the ring, and slid it onto her finger. He kissed her, right there, in front of everyone. No one had ever seen Henry Smith so happy. Months later, Sophia stood in front of the mirror in a stunning wedding dress.
She was about to become Henry Smith’s wife. The door opened. Max stepped inside. “Are you ready?
” She took a deep breath. “More than ever. ” Henry stood at the altar, more nervous than at any business meeting. But the moment he saw Sophia walking in, he forgot how to breathe.
She was perfect. For the first time, he wasn’t afraid. She walked toward him, her smile radiant. When she stopped by his side, Henry took her hand and whispered, “You look absolutely stunning.
” Sophia smiled. “And you’re sweating. ” He chuckled. The vows were emotional.
Sophia made him laugh and cry. When it was time to say I do, Henry didn’t hesitate. Because for the first time in his life, he was absolutely certain of what he wanted. And what he wanted was Sophia.
The reception was unforgettable. Max gave a speech that left half the guests laughing until they cried. Sophia dragged Henry onto the dance floor even though he insisted he didn’t know how. And at the end of the night, as they watched the fireworks, Henry pulled her into a tight embrace.
“I never thought I’d be able to have this. ” She smiled. “Have what? ” “Someone like you.
” She kissed him gently. “Well, get used to it because now you’re stuck with me. ” Henry smiled. Because this time he didn’t want to run.
He only wanted to stay forever.
