Page 34 of My CEO Neighbor
Chapter Eight
Monica
Monica's alarm went off at the usual time, but instead of her body's natural rhythm waking her gently, she jolted awake from dreams filled with emergency lighting and the taste of Ted’s mouth on hers.Her sheets were twisted around her legs like she'd been fighting in her sleep, and her skin felt hypersensitive.
Monica sat up and immediately regretted the movement.Every muscle in her body ached in places that confirmed exactly how thoroughly Ted had taken her, the way he'd gripped her thighs, the sound he'd made when he buried himself inside her, the possessive edge in his voice when he came.
Stop.Monica forced herself out of bed and into her morning routine, desperate to reclaim some sense of normalcy.Green tea with honey, exactly the way she'd been making it for years.Watering her fire escape herbs, whispering good morning to each plant like they were old friends.
But even the familiar ritual felt wrong.Every time she reached for the basil, she remembered telling Ted about her plants.Every sip of tea tasted like the confession she'd made about brewing extra, hoping he'd knock on her door.
What had she been thinking?
Monica unrolled her yoga mat with more force than necessary, trying to channel her frustration into productivity.Mountain pose.
Breathe into intention.Exhale the chaos of yesterday.
Except breathing reminded her of Ted's panic attack, the way his chest had seized with anxiety until she'd guided him through it.The way he'd looked at her afterward, like she'd performed some kind of miracle instead of basic human kindness.
Forward fold.Surrender what doesn't serve.
But what if what didn't serve her was also the most incredible sexual experience of her life?What if surrendering meant letting go of the way Ted had kissed her?
Monica's practice lasted fifteen minutes instead of her usual thirty before she gave up.Her mind was too chaotic, her body too aware of its own responses.Every stretch reminded her of different kinds of flexibility.Every breath carried the feel of his body against hers.
She showered rubbing at skin that still felt marked by Ted's hands.But the soap couldn't wash away the memory of his fingers tracing her spine, or the way he'd whispered her name against her throat.
By the time Monica left for her beach class, she was running ten minutes behind schedule and feeling more rattled than she had since her corporate panic attack days.
The drive to Golden Gardens should have been meditative, but instead Monica found herself checking her rearview mirror obsessively, half-expecting to see Ted's Porsche behind her.Which was ridiculous, because Ted would be preparing for his rescheduled investor meeting, the one that was apparently more important than acknowledging what had happened between them.
Ted had looked at his phone and immediately shifted into corporate mode, his voice going professional and distant.He'd made it clear that their elevator encounter was an inconvenient detour from his real priorities.
Monica had simply saved them both the embarrassment of pretending otherwise.
Six students showed up for sunrise yoga, her usual regulars plus Margaret, who always booked private sessions for her anxiety.Monica set up the mats in their familiar semicircle and tried to channel the calm authority her students expected.
"Good morning," Monica said, testing her voice.It sounded normal enough."Let's begin in mountain pose, finding our center."
But Monica's center felt like it had been relocated somewhere in the vicinity of Ted's apartment.As she guided the class through their opening sequence, part of her attention was split between her students and wondering what Ted was doing right now.Was he reviewing his presentation?Practicing his pitch in the mirror?Had he already forgotten about yesterday, filed it away as a momentary lapse in judgment?
"Breathe into your heart center," Monica instructed, but the words felt hollow.Her own heart center felt cracked open, raw and exposed in a way that made focusing impossible.
"Monica?"Margaret's voice cut through her distraction."Are you feeling all right?You seem scattered."
Scattered.Monica prided herself on being centered, grounded, the kind of teacher who could hold space for others because she'd found peace within herself.She forced a smile."Just tired.Long day yesterday."
Long day.As if six hours trapped in an elevator with Ted could be summarized so casually.
The class continued, but Monica could feel her students' uncertainty.Her usual rhythm was off, her voice lacking the warm authority they'd come to expect.During warrior poses, she forgot to offer modifications.In final relaxation, she rang her singing bowl too early, cutting short the meditation.
"Thank you," Monica said as students rolled up their mats, but even the gratitude felt forced.
Margaret lingered after the others left, her expression concerned."Are you sure you're okay?”
"I'm fine," Monica said, but the lie felt thin."Just processing some changes."
