Page 14 of Holiday Temptation

I pull away before she can, the weight of my past decisions and the potential mistakes of the present crashing down on me. The easy camaraderie, the spark between us, now feels like a distant memory.

"I think we should call it a night," I say, my voice cold and distant.

Emily stops in her tracks, her confusion evident. "Did I... did I do something wrong? Was it something Darby said?"

My mind races. The truth is, her presence, our growing closeness, terrifies me. The fear of vulnerability, the possibility of getting hurt again, is too overwhelming. But how do I explain that to her? How do I admit that the very thing that's drawn me to her is what's driving me away?

"It's not you, Emily," I mutter, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's just... complicated."

She looks hurt, her eyes searching mine for some hint of understanding. "Dominic, talk to me. Please."

But the walls are already up, and I find myself retreating further into my shell. "I think it's best if we just go our separate ways tonight."

The hurt in her eyes is unmistakable, and it cuts deeper than I care to admit. "Okay," she replies, her voice shaky. "If that's what you want."

Without another word, I turn and stride away, the weight of my decisions pressing down on me. But as I walk, the nagging thought remains: am I pushing away the very thing that might heal my wounded heart?

The quiet of my apartment is stifling, a stark contrast to the festive atmosphere at the tree lot. The dim light casts long shadows on the walls as I make my way to the living room, where I spot a neatly wrapped package on the coffee table. It must have been slipped into my bag when I wasn't looking.

The tag reads, "To Dominic, From Emily."

Hesitating for a moment, I slowly pull at the ribbon, unwrapping the package to reveal a hand-carved wooden ornament. It's a miniature depiction of the city skyline, meticulous in its detail. Tucked beside it is a small note.

"For our tree. May it remind you of the good moments amidst the chaos. -E."

The simplicity of the gift, coupled with the profound thoughtfulness behind it, leaves a lump in my throat. It's a stark reminder of the evening I ruined, of the walls I hastily erected to keep Emily at a distance.

Sitting back, I close my eyes, allowing the weight of regret to wash over me. I've been here before, haven't I? Pushing people away, clinging to my fears, letting the past dictate my present. But Emily is different. She's challenged me, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and made me question the walls I've built around my heart.

The ornament feels heavy in my hand, not because of its weight but because of the emotions it stirs within me. The pull I felt toward Emily from the start, the camaraderie we shared, and the growing feelings I've been fighting all come rushing back.

A realization dawns upon me. In trying to protect myself, I might have pushed away the very thing I needed the most. The fear of getting hurt again had overshadowed the possibility of finding something genuine, something real with Emily.

I need to make things right, I think, setting the ornament gently on the table. I can't let fear dictate my life.

Not anymore.

Chapter 8

Emily

Thecity'susualmorninghum sounds more distant today, muted by the snow that still clings to the buildings and pavements. I clutch my coat tighter around me, exhaling a sigh that crystallizes in the brisk air. As I walk toward the Grange Corporation building, every step feels heavier than usual.

The way Dominic's face had tensed up at Charles' insinuation that we were a couple, how abruptly our evening had ended—it's a cocktail of emotions that no amount of distance seems to dull.

"I'm an idiot," I mutter under my breath. The holiday lights, previously so enchanting, now only serve as reminders of the risk I took. A risk that now feels like it might have been a mistake. I can't shake off that sinking feeling in my chest. Had I read him all wrong?

Sure, Dominic has this powerful, impenetrable exterior, but there had been moments. Moments where he seemed to let me in, where the world outside seemed to blur, and all that mattered was the space between us. How could those moments mean nothing? How could they fade so quickly?

A stray curl escapes from my ponytail, slapping against my face, drawing my attention to a couple walking ahead of me, holding hands and laughing. The woman throws her head back, and for a moment, she looks so carefree, so happy. An overwhelming envy wraps around my heart, choking me. I've always tried to be that girl, the optimistic one, the one who finds the silver lining. But right now, I feel like the world is in black and white.

And I'm the one being erased.

I think of my parents' divorce, the façade I put on to convince everyone—and maybe myself—that everything was okay. I remember the sting of losing my last job just before the holidays. And then, starting my temp position at Grange Corporation and finding out that Dominic, my enigmatic boss, wanted to cancel the one thing that always brought joy to my winters: the Christmas party.

I've always risen above, always fought back with a smile. But the weight of it all—my parents, my job, Dominic—it's become too much. I just want... no, Ineedsomething to go right. For once.

I take the elevator up to my office and am just getting settled at my desk when a notification pops up on my computer. I click on the notification, and my heart skips a beat. It's an invite from Dominic, a meeting titled "Holiday Review" with HR. The time? Right now.

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