Chapter Thirty-Nine
Mariah
Weeks later . . .
I’m sitting at my desk, the computer screen’s glow illuminating my face as I put the finishing touches on my latest article.
The newsroom becomes unusually quiet as the late afternoon lull starts.
My fingers race over the keyboard, and a small smile appears as I recognize how much my life has transformed since last month.
The person who sits at Amara’s desk across from mine has been replaced, showcasing how quickly work environments can change. My new nameplate, glinting in the fluorescent light, reads “Senior Reporter,” a title I’m still getting used to.
I hit Send on my final email of the day, a satisfied sigh escaping my lips. The phone starts vibrating with a new message while I try to grab my bag. It’s from reception: “Visitor for you, Ms. Mackie.”
I can see my forehead crease in confusion. I’m not expecting anyone. Curiosity takes control as I walk toward the elevator, the rhythmic sound of my heels echoing on the shiny floor.
My heart skips a beat when the ground-floor doors slide open. Reuben appears in the lobby, hands tucked into his pockets and a nervous smile on his face.
The sight of him roots me in place as I take him in.
There’s been a shift in his appearance; he now looks relaxed and open.
The formal suit has disappeared, and he wears casual button-down clothes and jeans.
Even though our surroundings have changed, he maintains his powerful gaze, which locks onto mine.
“Reuben,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “What are you doing here?”
He advances, and his smile broadens. “I was in the neighborhood,” he says, a hint of teasing in his voice. “Thought I’d stop by and see how the city’s best investigative journalist is doing.”
When I recall the cruise ship conspiracy exposé I wrote, my face starts to heat up. The exposé achieved major success, resulting in my promotion to hard-hitting reporter.
“I’m doing well,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach. “But somehow, I doubt you came all this way just to check on my career.”
He chuckles, running a hand through his hair in a gesture I find endearingly nervous. “You’re right, as usual. I . . . I wanted to talk to you. About us.”
The sound of his speech makes my heart beat faster. The aftermath of the cruise separates us because we both have too much fallout to deal with. We exchange only short phone calls and text messages.
“Oh?” I manage to respond with a voice that sounds unnaturally high to me. “What about us?”
Reuben scans his surroundings in the packed lobby, and his face becomes more serious. “Not here. Do you want to take a walk with me?”
“I have a better idea,” I reply. “Would you like to come over to my place?”
Reuben looks on in disbelief at my suggestion, and then I laugh because he seems so surprised as I lead him out of the office.
The ignition clicks as the engine springs to life, pounding my heart hard. Reuben settles into the passenger seat beside me, and my face breaks into an unstoppable wide smile.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I say, my voice filled with barely contained excitement as I pull out of the parking lot.
Reuben’s chuckle produces crinkles around his eyes, which make my stomach flutter. “I couldn’t stay away any longer,” he admits, briefly touching mine on the gear shift.
During our city drive, our conversation flows effortlessly. I share my professional advancement, the demanding nature of my new position, and how it feels to see my name attached to major publications.
“I’m so proud of you, Mariah,” he says, his voice warm with sincerity. “You’ve really made a name for yourself.”
A pink wave rises as I get used to receiving such sincere appreciation. “What about you?” I ask, wanting to change the subject. “How’s the company rebuilding going?”
My friend releases a tired sigh while casually brushing his fingers through his hair.
“It’s been . . . intense. The company needs to restore trust while it adjusts departmental structures and handles various legal challenges.
But,” he pauses, his voice softening, “it’s also been liberating.
This situation provides us with an opportunity to reconstruct everything properly. ”
I nod, sneaking glances at him as I drive. He looks more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him, the weight of his secrets no longer bearing down on him.
I don’t realize how fast we’re traveling until I see my apartment building ahead. I engage the parking brake, but we remain seated inside the car. Quiet moments grow between us as thoughts go unspoken and silent exchanges catch our eyes.
The pounding in my chest must be audible to him because it’s so very loud. My thoughts rise rapidly inside me, insisting they must be expressed verbally. With a deep breath, I decide to jump into the unknown.
“Reuben,” I blurt out, my voice higher than usual, “I’ve been going crazy thinking about you.”
His eyes widen as surprise and a potential hint of hope break across his face.
Once I begin speaking, my words rush out continuously.
“Every day, I’ve been wondering what you’re doing, if you’re thinking about me too.
I’ve repeatedly gone through all the time we spent together while carefully examining everything we discussed.
I’ve been driving myself mad, trying to figure out if what I felt was real or just a product of our charade. ”
I pause for breath, feeling the heat on my cheeks. Reuben watches me without saying anything.
“I know it’s probably ridiculous,” I continue, my voice softer now. “This entire relationship began as nothing more than a business transaction. At some point, our relationship evolved into something much deeper than I expected. And I . . . I want you to understand that.”
The quiet after I confess hits me like a wall of sound. The steering wheel becomes an extension of my grip as I stare forward until my knuckles lose their color. After my outburst, I wish for the ability to erase my words so we can restore our simple friendship.
But then I feel Reuben’s hand on mine, gently prying my fingers from the steering wheel. I face him, my breath halting in my throat against the powerful depth of his eyes.
“Mariah,” he says, his voice low and husky. “You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that.”
My heart pounds as I look into Reuben’s eyes, seeing a depth of emotion I’ve never witnessed before. He draws a deep breath while his hand tenderly caresses my cheek.
“Mariah,” he says, his voice low and intense, “I need you to know something. You are not the only person on my mind. I’m . . . I’m in love with you. Deeply, irrevocably in love.”
His declaration stops my breathing and makes my eyes go wide.
“I don’t expect you to feel the same way,” he continues, his thumb softly caressing my cheek. “I just needed you to know. You’ve become everything to me, and I—”
I cut him off, pressing my lips to his in a kiss that conveys everything words can’t. His arms close tightly around me as he pulls us together through the deepening kiss. Our months of building tension reach a breaking point, like an unleashed river after a dam collapse.
As we reach my apartment building, we stumble out of the car, barely breaking apart. I struggle with the keys because Reuben’s lips move down my neck, distracting me from focusing.
Inside the elevator, we find ourselves, and before the doors shut, Reuben pushes me against the wall while his body remains pressed to mine. His hands move across my body as I gasp while trails of fire follow his touch.
We stumble onto my floor, the elevator ding failing to capture our attention. With joined hands, I lead the way to my apartment, exchanging heated kisses and stolen glances.
My eyes widen as he continues, “Because I’ve been going just as crazy thinking about you. Every decision I’ve made, every step I’ve taken to rebuild my company, I’ve wondered what you would think and say.”
My hand reaches his lips, where he presses a gentle kiss against my knuckles. “You’ve become such an integral part of my life, Mariah. I don’t want to imagine a future without you in it.”
Tears start to burn at the corners of my eyes as an overwhelming wave of emotions floods through me. “Reuben,” I whisper, “I don’t want to imagine that either.”
He leans toward me so that our foreheads touch. “Then let’s not,” he murmurs. “Let’s build a future together—for real this time.”
As his lips meet mine in a tender and passionate kiss, I feel like everything in my life has led to this moment. Every pretend engagement and conspiracy leads to danger. Still, those experiences are justified because they bring us to this genuine and sincere connection.
When we finally pull apart, both of us a little breathless, I feel lighter than I have in weeks. Our uncomfortable distance disappears, making room for an intimate connection that feels simultaneously fresh and recognizable.
“So,” I say, a playful smile tugging at my lips, “want to come in and see my place? For real this time?”
Reuben slams the door behind us, and his lips immediately reconnect with mine once we enter. We navigate the apartment while taking off our clothes, and I steer him to my bedroom, where the clothing is left on the floor, forgotten for the time being.
We are both down to our underwear when we reach my bed. Reuben pulls back slightly, his eyes roaming my body with undisguised awe and desire. “You’re beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice husky with want.
I pull him down onto the bed with me, our bodies coming together in a tangle of limbs and heated skin. Every touch is electrifying; every kiss ignites a fire deep within me.
Reuben’s hands and lips explore every inch of my body, learning what makes me gasp and arch against him. I do the same, reveling in the way he responds to my touch, the soft groans he makes against my skin.
Reuben closes the rest of the distance between us and captures my mouth with his.