Friday morning.
Emma was in the office pantry, making coffee for Marcus. This had already become a daily routine. Emma arrived early, cooked breakfast at home, and then made coffee in the office.
Sarah, one of Emma's coworkers in the same department, entered the pantry while carrying an empty cup.
Sarah was a woman in her early thirties who had been working at the company for five years. Sarah was someone who was social and loved to talk about office gossip.
"Morning, Emma," greeted Sarah with a warm smile.
"Morning," answered Emma while focusing on the coffee Emma was making.
"Emma, can I ask you something?" asked Sarah with a gentle tone but full of curiosity.
Emma felt nervous suddenly. Emma knew this kind of tone usually meant personal questions.
"What?" answered Emma carefully while continuing to make the coffee.
"About you and Marcus," said Sarah while sitting at the pantry table.
Emma felt her heartbeat accelerate. Emma thought that everyone already knew that their marriage was a business contract. But what if someone was suspicious about something else?
"What about us?" asked Emma with careful tone.
"Well," Sarah started speaking with a gentle manner, "I see you and Marcus. You two look very close. Much closer than a boss and secretary usually are. You two look like I don't know, like a real married couple."
Emma didn't answer immediately. Emma focused on the coffee she was stirring.
"And I am just curious," continued Sarah with a nurturing voice, "whether this is a real thing. Or is this still a business arrangement like everyone knows?"
That question. A question that Emma was afraid to answer. A question that could expose the fact that their relationship had changed from a simple transaction into something much deeper.
Emma stopped stirring the coffee. Emma took a deep breath.
Emma thought about the right answer. Emma thought about Marcus. Emma thought about the last few weeks that were full of changes and discoveries.
"Sarah," said Emma with careful words, "I appreciate that you care. But our relationship is complicated to explain."
"That means yes?" asked Sarah with a knowing smile.
Emma looked at Sarah. Emma saw Sarah's eyes that were full of genuine curiosity. Not curiosity that was mean or judgmental. Sarah was a good friend. Sarah just wanted to know.
"At first," Emma started speaking, "we got married because business reasons. Marcus needed to be married to get his inheritance from his father. I needed money for my sister's surgery who is sick."
Sarah listened without interrupting. Sarah just heard Emma speak.
"But," continued Emma with a soft voice, "many things changed over time. Marcus is no longer the cold person that I knew at first. Marcus now is caring. Thoughtful. Supportive. And I..."
Emma hesitated for a moment. "I started to see Marcus not as a boss. Not as a business contract. But as a person that I care about. A person who is important to me."
Emma felt her eyes getting watery while speaking.
"So is that real?" asked Sarah.
"Yes," answered Emma with a weak but sincere voice. "It is real. But it is not a simple love story. It is something that grew from an unexpected situation. Something that became genuine over time."
Sarah smiled. Sarah looked happy hearing this.
"I know," said Sarah.
"Know what?" asked Emma with surprise.
"I know Emma likes Marcus," said Sarah with a gentle tone. "If you see Emma's face when talking about Marcus or working with Marcus it is obvious. Your eyes shine. Your smile is different. Everything about you changes when Marcus is around."
Emma felt embarrassed hearing this.
"And Marcus," continued Sarah, "Marcus has already become a completely different person since you came. Marcus used to be like a robot. Cold, efficient, but there was no warmth. But now? Marcus laughs. Marcus smiles. Marcus looks like a real human being."
"So," Sarah stood up and held Emma's hand, "I am happy for you two. You both deserve to be happy. And you two both look very happy."
Emma felt relieved. Relieved because Sarah was not judgmental. Relieved because Sarah was actually supportive. Relieved because someone else could see that Emma and Marcus truly cared for each other.
"But Sarah," said Emma with an urgent tone, "please don't tell anyone else about the initial business arrangement. We are not ready for people to know yet."
Sarah thought for a moment. "Okay, that is your secret. I will not tell. But Emma," Sarah looked into Emma's eyes, "I am happy for you two. You both deserve happiness. And it looks like you have already found it together."
They left the pantry. Emma carried the coffee for Marcus.
Sarah went to her own desk.
Emma entered Marcus's office. A room that was now familiar and comfortable for Emma. A room that had already become like a second home.
Marcus was working on his laptop. Marcus looked up when Emma entered.
"Coffee ready?" asked Marcus with a smile.
"Yes," answered Emma while placing the coffee on Marcus's desk. "Fresh and hot."
Marcus looked at Emma with more careful observation. "You okay? Your face looks different. Like something happened."
Emma didn't know what to say. Emma thought about the conversation with Sarah. Emma thought about the fact that people already noticed the changes in their relationship.
"Marcus," said Emma, "I want to tell you something."
"What?" asked Marcus, looking concerned.
"Sarah just asked me about us," said Emma. "She noticed that we are very close. She asked whether this is real or still a business arrangement."
Marcus listened quietly. Marcus didn't interrupt.
"And I told the truth," continued Emma. "I told her that at first it was a business arrangement, but now it is real."
Marcus stood up from his chair. Marcus walked to Emma.
"What did Emma tell her?" asked Marcus with a careful tone.
"I told her that I care about Marcus," answered Emma sincerely. "I told her that our relationship grew into something genuine."
Marcus looked into Emma's eyes. There was something in Marcus's eyes that changed. Eyes that were previously cold and business-focused now looked warm and personal.
"Emma," said Marcus with a deep voice, "I have already realized something. I have realized that I like you. More than like. I love you, Emma."
Hearing these words, Emma felt her heart stop for a moment. Emma felt electricity run through her entire body.
"Really?" asked Emma with a voice that shook slightly.
"Really," answered Marcus with absolute certainty. "I have realized this for a long time. But I was afraid to say it because I was afraid you would reject me. I was afraid this would ruin everything we have already built."
"Marcus will not ruin anything," said Emma with a firm voice. "Because I also love you. Really love. Not just care. Not just affection. But real, deep, genuine love."
Marcus reached out and touched Emma's face with a gentle touch. Marcus's hand on Emma's cheek was warm and tender.
"I love you too," said Marcus again, like he wanted to make sure Emma heard and believed completely.
Marcus leaned in and kissed Emma. A kiss that was not rushed or tentative. A kiss that was confident and full of emotion. A kiss that showed all the feelings that Marcus had already suppressed all this time.
Emma kissed back with the same passion and intensity.
When they let go from the kiss, Emma felt slightly light-headed.
"Is this a dream?" asked Emma.
"No," answered Marcus with a soft chuckle. "This is real. We are real. Our relationship is real."
They embraced each other in that office. An office that before this was a place about business and work. Now it had become a place about connection and love.
"Marcus," said Emma while still in the embrace, "I want the whole world to know. I want to tell everyone that I love you."
"Then we will tell them," said Marcus with certainty. "There is no reason to hide anymore. There is no reason to pretend that this is still just business. Because it is not. This is real. This is the most real thing in my life."
Emma pulled back slightly to look into Marcus's eyes. Emma saw complete sincerity in Marcus's eyes. Emma saw that Marcus truly meant every word he said.
"I also never felt something like this," said Emma. "I never thought that my life could become like this. With someone who cares. With someone who truly sees me and appreciates me."
"Well, believe it," said Marcus with a soft smile. "Because it is real. And I will never let you go. I will never let this end."
They sat on the sofa in Marcus's office, still in an embrace, watching a beautiful sunset from the large office window.
An office that was previously cold and formal now felt warm and personal because of the presence of two people who truly loved each other.