Selina woke up earlier than usual, yet her body felt heavier than ever. The restless thoughts from the previous night still lingered like an echo she couldn't silence. Every time she tried to close her eyes, she saw Andrew's face — the way he'd looked at her before telling her to leave. The sadness, the hesitation, and that tiny spark that scared her more than anything.
She sighed and pulled the blanket tighter. "Get it together, Selina," she whispered to herself.
After forcing herself out of bed, she brewed a cup of coffee and flipped through her work files, pretending to focus. But the truth was, her mind was elsewhere. She kept asking herself why Andrew's words had hurt her so much — and why his silence hurt even more.
By the time she arrived at Vel's Cooperation, the office was already buzzing. The tension that had settled over the building since Vanessa's return was still thick in the air. Andrew had become quieter, sterner, and somehow colder. Everyone could feel it, even if no one dared to talk about it openly.
"Good morning, Miss Whyte," one of the staff greeted politely.
Selina gave a faint smile and nodded, heading straight to her desk. She tried to bury herself in her work, but it didn't help.
Meanwhile, in Andrew's office, the mood wasn't any better. Papers lay scattered across his desk, his laptop still on the login screen. He'd been staring at the same page for half an hour when Gabriel walked in without knocking.
"Man, you look like you wrestled with your conscience all night," Gabriel teased, flopping into the chair opposite Andrew.
Andrew looked up with a sigh. "You ever feel like you're losing control of your own life?"
"Every Monday," Gabriel grinned. "But yours looks worse."
Andrew rubbed his temples. "Vanessa came by again yesterday. She keeps acting like nothing ever happened."
Gabriel's smirk faded a little. "And Selina?"
"She saw it. The kiss. She looked… hurt."
Gabriel leaned forward. "You care about her."
Andrew's head snapped up. "She's my employee."
Gabriel raised a brow. "That's not an answer, Andrew. You can't lie to yourself forever. You've been on edge since she came into your life."
Andrew didn't respond. He just turned his chair toward the window, watching the grey clouds gather above the city.
.......
Downstairs, Selina was delivering documents to the design department when she overheard two employees whispering near the printer.
"Did you see the lady who came yesterday? She's gorgeous — and bold enough to kiss the boss right in his office."
"Vanessa Moore," the other whispered. "She's the ex everyone talks about. No wonder the boss looked so upset this morning."
Selina froze. She quickly turned away before they could notice her and hurried back to her desk. Her hands shook slightly as she arranged the papers, but she forced herself to focus. You're just his secretary, she reminded herself. You have no right to feel this way.
......
That evening, the sky was dark and heavy with clouds. The sound of thunder echoed in the distance as the first drops of rain began to fall. Most of the staff had already gone home, but Selina stayed behind to finish a report Andrew needed in the morning. When she finally stepped outside, rain was pouring hard.
She stood under the company's awning, hugging her bag close. Her phone battery was dead, and there were no taxis in sight. Then, a familiar black car stopped beside her. The window rolled down.
"Get in," Andrew's voice came, calm but firm.
Selina hesitated. "It's fine, sir. I'll wait for the rain to stop."
"Selina," he said again, softer this time. "Please."
Something about the way he said her name made her heart falter. She slowly walked to the car and slid into the passenger seat, rain dripping from her hair onto her coat. The interior smelled faintly of leather and Andrew's cologne a scent she'd come to recognize too easily.
The drive was quiet, except for the rhythmic patter of rain against the windows. Neither of them spoke, but the air between them was thick with unspoken words. Finally, Andrew broke the silence.
"About what happened yesterday," he began, his voice low. "I didn't mean for things to happen that way."
Selina looked straight ahead. "You don't have to explain, sir. It's your life. I'm just your secretary."
Andrew's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "You're not just anything, Selina."
She turned to him, startled, but he didn't look at her. His jaw was tight, his eyes on the road. The rain grew heavier, almost blinding. When lightning struck nearby, he slowed the car.
"It's not safe to drive in this," he said quietly. "My apartment's a few blocks away. We'll wait there until it clears."
Selina wanted to protest, but one look at the storm outside convinced her otherwise. So she nodded silently.
.......
When they arrived, Andrew led her into his apartment modern, quiet, filled with soft warm lights. He handed her a towel.
"You can dry your hair," he said.
"Thank you," she replied softly.
She stood awkwardly near the sofa while Andrew poured two cups of coffee. The silence between them wasn't cold anymore , it was uncertain, filled with a tension neither of them understood how to handle.
Andrew finally spoke. "Selina, about earlier… when I said you matter — I meant it."
Selina's eyes flickered up. "Why would you say that to someone who's only here for work?"
He stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "Because you've changed something I thought was unchangeable."
The air seemed to thicken as he stopped just inches away. Selina's breath caught, her heart beating faster. Andrew reached out slowly, almost hesitantly, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face.
He didn't know what possessed him ,maybe it was the rain, or the warmth of her eyes — but for a moment, he leaned closer.
Then, as if realizing what he was doing, he froze. He stepped back quickly, his hand falling to his side.
"Get some rest," he said, voice barely steady. "You can take the guest room."
Selina nodded faintly and walked away, but her mind was spinning. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep. Not after that.
Andrew remained in the living room, staring at the window as the rain poured harder. He didn't know what this feeling was only that it scared him more than anything.