Chapter 66

Despite his desire for rest, sleep remained elusive. Thoughts of the unresolved situation with Lauren haunted his mind, weaving through his thoughts like a persistent echo. Tossing and turning in bed, he found himself unable to shake off the weight of the day's events.

In the early hours of the morning, as the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, Alex reluctantly rose from bed, his mind still plagued by the unresolved conversation with Lauren. He dressed hastily, the anticipation of another demanding day at work looming over him.

Ava, noticing the tension etched on his face, reached out to him. " Are you okay? "

He forced a smile, trying to alleviate her concern. " Just a lot on my mind, but I'll manage "

Leaning in, he pressed a brief kiss to her forehead, promising to return home early once again. With a heavy heart, he bid her goodbye, the longing to resolve the lingering situation with Lauren gnawing at him.

Arriving at the office, Alex hoped for a calmer day, yet the workload awaiting him was just as overwhelming as the previous one. He delved into the tasks at hand, striving to maintain focus despite the weight of the unresolved conversation from the day before.

As the hours passed and the evening approached, Alex managed to wrap up the immediate tasks, hopeful of leaving earlier as promised to Ava. However, just as he gathered his belongings, the door to his office creaked open, revealing Lauren standing there once more.

He sighed inwardly, a mix of resignation and exasperation washing over him at the sight of her. " Lauren, what is it this time? "

Her expression was a mix of determination and vulnerability. " I couldn't stop thinking about our conversation. I need to explain "

Alex's patience wore thin, the weight of the day's responsibilities coupled with the persistent situation with Lauren adding to his frustration. Despite his weariness, he knew he couldn't dismiss her entirely, and a part of him felt a lingering sense of obligation to address her concerns.

" Lauren, I don't think there's anything more to discuss " Alex said firmly, hoping to convey the finality of the situation.

She stepped closer, her eyes pleading for understanding. " Please, just hear me out. It's important "

Reluctantly, Alex gestured for her to take a seat, preparing himself for another round of emotional conversation. " Make it quick "

Lauren took a deep breath, her voice tinged with determination. " I've come to terms with the fact that you love someone else But I can't deny my feelings for you. I know it's complicated, but I needed to be honest. I've never felt this way before "

Alex ran a hand through his hair, grappling with the delicate balance between empathy and professional boundaries. " I appreciate your honesty, Lauren. But this situation cannot continue. We need to maintain a strictly professional relationship "

She nodded, a flicker of sadness crossing her features. " I understand "

Suddenly, she bursted into laughter and Alex stared at her warily. Had she gone crazy? He asked himself.

Lauren read his mind and laughed some more " I'm crazy, yeah I know. It's surprising how I came to be like this. I've always had anything I wanted and this feels strange "

" I really should get used to being told No " She laughed but Alex could see it was a fake one as it didn't reach her eyes.

As she left the office, a weight lifted off Alex's shoulders, yet a sense of unease lingered. He couldn't shake off the feeling of discomfort at the unresolved emotions between them.

The drive home was fraught with conflicting thoughts. The impact of his interactions with Lauren weighed heavily on his mind, creating a barrier between the anticipation of returning to Ava and the sense of responsibility towards his work environment.

Upon reaching home, Alex found Ava in the kitchen, engrossed in preparing dinner. Her serene presence offered a stark contrast to the chaos of his day. Yet, as he greeted her, a cloud of tension hovered between them, the remnants of his interaction with Lauren casting a shadow over their evening.

Ava noticed the subtle change in his demeanor, her intuition picking up on the turmoil within him. " Is everything alright? "

He hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to divulge the complexities of his day. " It's just work " he replied evasively, not wanting to burden her with the intricacies of his professional life.

As they sat down for dinner, the conversation flowed, but an undercurrent of unease persisted. Alex found it challenging to shake off the lingering impact of his encounter with Lauren, the emotional residue seeping into the tranquility of their home.

The evening unfolded in a semblance of normalcy, yet the distance between Alex and Ava seemed palpable. Despite her attempts to engage him in light-hearted conversation, his mind remained preoccupied, torn between the obligations of work and the desire for a harmonious life with Ava.

As the night wore on and they retreated to bed, the gulf between them felt more pronounced. Ava had made it a habit to sleep in his room without anyone knowing. Maggie was a wise woman and she knew something was going on between them but refrained from asking her directly, respecting her private. She thought Ava would tell her whenever she felt comfortable with it.

Alex lay awake, wrestling with conflicting emotions, the weight of his professional responsibilities clashing with the yearning for a sense of normalcy in his relationship with Ava.

She was his woman, he wanted her to be and wanted to go about it the right way but he was scared. He was scared to ask her out officially but he didn't want to push her away. He felt she was okay with the way things were and might not be comfortable with him asking her out. That was the last thing he wanted, he thought. And he was scared of being rejected too, yeah. So what could he do? He had no idea. He looked up some dating tips online but stopped when he didn't see what fitted his woman.