Chapter 5 - The Consequences

Days turned into weeks, and their affair continued, each encounter more intense, more desperate than the last. The secrecy of their relationship became a burden, one that grew heavier with each passing day. Neil’s work began to suffer, his performance slipping as he became more consumed by his relationship with Sia. Rumors started to circulate in the office, whispers of an inappropriate relationship between a senior employee and an intern. The tension was palpable, and Sia knew it was only a matter of time before their secret was exposed.

One afternoon, as Sia sat in her office, her phone buzzed with a message from Neil. It was simple, just two words: We’re screwed.

Her heart pounded as she read the message, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach. She quickly left her office, her mind racing with possibilities. When she found Neil in the hallway, his face was pale, his eyes wide with panic.

“They know,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “Someone saw us.”

Sia felt the ground shift beneath her. All the fear, the guilt, the anxiety that had been building up for weeks came crashing down on her at once. She grabbed Neil’s arm and pulled him into a nearby empty office, closing the door behind them.

“Who?” she demanded, her voice harsh with panic.

“I don’t know,” Neil said, running a hand through his hair. “But I overheard some of the guys talking about us. They said they saw us together last night.”

Sia’s mind raced, trying to find a way out of this, but every path led to the same conclusion. There was no escape. They had been careless, and now they were going to pay the price.

“We need to end this,” she said, her voice breaking.

Neil looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of desperation and sorrow. “Sia, I—”

“No,” she cut him off, her tone firm even as her heart shattered. “It’s over. We can’t do this anymore.”

She could see the pain in his eyes, the same pain that was tearing her apart inside, but she couldn’t let it sway her. This had gone too far, and if they didn’t stop now, it would destroy them both.

Sia turned to leave, but Neil grabbed her arm, pulling her back to face him. His touch was both a comfort and a torment, reminding her of everything she was about to lose.

“I don’t want to lose you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Sia’s resolve crumbled at his words, the tears she had been holding back spilling over. “Neil, please,” she choked out, her voice trembling. “We have to let go.”

For a moment, they just stood there, locked in each other’s gaze, both of them torn between what they wanted and what they knew was right. But in the end, Sia knew there was only one choice.

She pulled away from him, every step feeling like a knife to her heart. “Goodbye, Neil,” she whispered, before slipping out of the office.

Read Chapter 6: The Aftermath