The Office Rival: An Enemies-to-Lovers Romance

Slowing down the pace until I’m at a standstill, my tired body falls onto his, careful of my protruding stomach.

In silence, with him still inside me, we lay together, my head lying against his chest. His heart is beating loud, and I wonder if it beats for me. Maybe only me?

“Presley,” he murmurs, running his hands through my hair.

“Mmm…”

“Presley…”

I open my eyes, and Haden is sitting on the chair beside the table, dressed in his jeans and a tee. The sunlight is filtering through the sheer white curtains and into the room. I squint my eyes and then open them abruptly.

“We need to leave in an hour, and I’ve already ordered your breakfast.” He moves his attention to his phone, typing without looking at me.

It was just a dream.

Shit! What the hell did my imagination go and do? It made me think Haden would give me the best sex of my life, and worst of all, that he wanted only me, and I was in love with him.

In my awkward and compromising position, I roll toward the other side of the bed which is closer to the bathroom door. I quickly get out and lock the door behind me. Staring in the mirror while I allow the water to run, my body appears flushed, my hair is a tangled wild mess, and my lips look swollen and plump. I have no choice but to take a cold shower to wash off the intense desire I have for him.

It all felt so real.

The way he touched me.

The words he spoke.

I exit the bathroom, dressed and with my hair pulled back into a ponytail. Food sits on the table, and if it weren’t for the baby, I would be out of this room so fast, hungry or not. I eat my toast in silence and follow by polishing off some juice.

“You ready to go?” he asks, a little too politely for my liking.

I simply nod, unable to make conversation.

“Are you okay? You were having a restless sleep.”

I grab my purse and pull my suitcase along. “Just a nightmare.”

“Me, too. Must be the heat in the room.”

“Maybe. Thank God it wasn’t real.”

It’s the last thing I mumble before we exit the room and head back to reality.

Seventeen

I was quiet the entire flight home, trying my damnedest to ignore a dream that felt entirely real. Luckily, we weren’t sitting together. The overweight man next to me and his body odor were more pleasing than the Jerk himself.

At the airport, it was an obligatory goodbye before we parted our ways.

I made it my priority upon our return to attend to the paternity test. It was the only communication we’ve had, and even then, it was short and to the point. Soon, he would have the answer he so desperately craves, and maybe luck would be on both our sides, and the baby’s Jason’s.

Yes, I am that screwed up that I prayed for the easier way out of this whole mess.

Days passed without us talking at work or even via text, and after a week, I let it all go. Whatever bond, friendship, or connection we had

over that weekend has now passed. It’s strictly business, and even then, he won’t make eye contact with me. I am not sure what I did wrong. After all, he was the one who invaded my dreams and gave me the best sex of my life.

Distracting myself came easy when I focused my energy on moving into Kate’s. Boxes were all packed and ready to go, neatly organized into categories, color-coded, and alphabetically in order. I placed the remaining boxes into storage along with some furniture until I can figure out my next move. The apartments are overpriced in the city, and while we got top dollar for ours, I have a child to think about—a whole new life I need to think about for at least eighteen years.

It begged the question of whether or not I will settle down in the city. I do have a job to think about but am certain I can pick one up on the West Coast. I also took the liberty of researching my rights as the primary parent and whether or not I can make a decision like that.