Page 24 of Mated To My Boss

I spin my chair around and stare out the windows behind me, reminding myself that air's still coming into the room. My senses are too overwhelmed by her scent to think straight.

"What do you want to talk about?" I ask.

"I think we need to be honest with each other," she says, her voice calm. "About what happened at the hotel."

I turn my chair back slowly. Madeline has taken a seat across from me, her posture relaxed yet dignified. There's no attempt toseduce or manipulate—just an open, straightforward request for conversation.

"What's there to talk about?" I ask, though I know perfectly well what she means.

"I just want to understand where we stand, Nate," she says. "We can pretend that night didn't happen, but we both know it did. And it meant something—at least to me."

I try my best to maintain my composure, though every part of me wants to cross the distance between us. "We can't keep doing this, Madeline. I already told you there's nothing for us to continue."

She sighs softly, her expression more resigned than hurt. A heavy silence follows, suffocating me and forcing me to talk.

"Whatever you haven't done yet is fine. I'll do it tomorrow. I'm sure you'll be back to working with your aunt now."

"This isn't about work," she says quietly. "And I'm not trying to pressure you into anything. I just ..." She pauses, gathering her thoughts. "I just thought we deserved some clarity."

"Madeline—"

"You don't owe me anything," she continues. "If you truly want me to keep my distance, I will. I respect your boundaries from now on."

Her pointnowisn't lost on me—a gentle acknowledgment of how things were different years ago. How she was different.

"I'm not going anywhere," I assure her. "I don't mind you being here but we have to keep our distance from each other. It's not good for either of us."

"Because of the bond?" she asks. "Because every time we're near each other, it feels impossible to ignore?" Her directness catches me off guard. No games, no manipulation—just honesty.

"There are no feelings," I reiterate. "I already told you that the sex between us was just that."

"I understand," she says, rising from her chair. "Thank you for being honest."

She moves toward the door, and panic suddenly rises in my chest.No, don't go. Not like this."Why did you come here?" I ask, the question bursting from me before I can stop it.

She turns back, her hand on the doorknob. "To this office today, or to this city in general?"

"Both. You could have left your pack and gone anywhere else, but you chose not only to come to my city, but also to where I work."

"I came for a few reasons," she admits. "Yes, you were one of them. But I also came because my aunt is one of the best lawyersin her field, and I genuinely want to learn from her." She meets my gaze steadily. "I know you might not believe this, but I've built a life for myself that doesn't revolve around finding a mate. Law school, my friendships—they matter to me."

My jaw tenses, struck by the sincerity in her words. This isn't the desperate, clingy girl who once pursued me relentlessly. This is a woman who knows her worth.

"And now?" I ask. "What do you want now?"

"Honestly? I want to know if there's any possibility for us," she says. "Not as some fated bond that forces us together, but as two people who might actually care about each other. If there isn't, I'll accept that and move on."

Her vulnerability, combined with her strength, stirs something deep within me.She's offering me a real choice. Not manipulation, not pressure—just a genuine chance.

A knock on the door interrupts us. We both look toward it, the moment suspended between us.

"Nate?" Olivia calls. "The client from Parker Industries is on line one."

Madeline offers a small smile. "You should take that. We can talk another time." She turns to leave, and I find myself rising from my chair, not ready for her to go.I don't want her to walk away. Not now. Not when everything feels different.

"Madeline, wait—" But she's already opening the door, offering a polite nod to Olivia before stepping out.

I sink back into my chair, my thoughts racing.What am I doing? Why can't I just let her go?

---