Chapter 7: The Final Encounter
Months passed, and the rumors began to die down, but the tension between Neil and Sia never fully dissipated. They continued to avoid each other, their once passionate affair now reduced to a painful memory. But neither could forget, and the wound never fully healed.
One evening, long after most of the office had gone home, Sia found herself in her office, staring blankly at her computer screen. She couldn’t focus, her mind constantly drifting back to Neil, to what they had shared, and what they had lost. She knew she should have moved on by now, but the ache in her heart refused to fade.
A soft knock at her door broke her from her reverie. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up to see Neil standing there, his expression a mix of sadness and longing. They hadn’t spoken in months, but the connection between them was still there, as strong as ever.
“Can I come in?” he asked, his voice soft.
Sia nodded, unable to trust her voice.
Neil stepped into the office, closing the door behind him. He looked at her, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them was heavy, filled with all the words they had left unsaid.
“I miss you,” Neil finally said, his voice cracking with emotion. “I know we made the right decision, but... I miss you, Sia. Every single day.”
Sia felt her heart break all over again. She had missed him too, more than she could ever put into words. But she had to be strong, for both of them.
“I miss you too,” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. “But we can’t go back, Neil. It’s too dangerous. We’ll destroy each other.”
“I know,” he said, stepping closer to her. “But I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop wanting you.”
Sia’s resolve wavered as he closed the distance between them, his presence overwhelming. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, the familiar scent of him filling her senses. She wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms, to feel his touch one last time.
But she couldn’t.
“We can’t,” she whispered, even as her body screamed for him.
Neil reached out, his fingers brushing her cheek, sending shivers down her spine. “Just one last time,” he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation. “Please, Sia. I need you.”
Sia’s heart pounded in her chest as she looked into his eyes, seeing the same need reflected back at her. She knew it was a mistake, that it would only lead to more pain, but in that moment, she didn’t care. The world outside didn’t matter. All that mattered was the way he made her feel, the way they made each other feel.
Without another word, she closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his in a kiss that was both desperate and tender. Neil responded instantly, his arms wrapping around her as he pulled her close. The kiss deepened, and for a moment, all the pain and heartache disappeared, replaced by the overwhelming love they felt for each other.
But as they broke apart, the reality of their situation came crashing back in. Sia pulled away, tears streaming down her face.
“I can’t,” she choked out, stepping back. “I can’t do this again, Neil. It’s too much.”
Neil’s face fell, but he nodded, understanding the truth in her words. “I know,” he said softly. “I just... I had to try.”
Sia wiped her tears, trying to compose herself. “We need to move on, Neil. It’s the only way we’ll ever find peace.”
Neil looked at her, his eyes filled with a sadness that mirrored her own. “I’ll never forget you, Sia,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “You’ll always have a piece of my heart.”
Sia’s heart ached at his words, but she knew they were true. “And you’ll always have mine,” she whispered.
With one last, lingering look, Neil turned and left the office, leaving Sia standing there, her heart shattered but resolute. She knew this was the end, the final chapter in their tumultuous affair. It was time to let go, to heal, to move on.
But as she watched him walk away, Sia knew that no matter how much time passed, she would never forget Neil. He had changed her, made her feel things she had never felt before, and for that, she would always be grateful.
As she closed the door to her office, Sia took a deep breath, ready to face the future—alone, but stronger than before.
