A secret rendezvous

The next morning, the office hummed with its usual rhythm. Marc navigated through the busy corridors, his mind still grappling with the events of the previous night. The weight of his choices lingered, a nagging reminder of the tangled web he'd woven.

As he was heading to the printer, the storage room door opened and he was dragged inside.

Tension crackled in the air, their gazes locking with an intensity that spoke volumes. No words were needed. Marc's hand found the door, his movements deliberate as he closed the space between them whilst locking it from the inside. His hands reached for Claire's hips, pulling her into him, a silent invitation that spoke of longing and forbidden desire.

Claire's breath hitched as their lips met, a fervour igniting between them that neither could deny. The closet seemed to shrink around them as they lost themselves in each other, their passion igniting like wildfire.

Marc's hand tangled in Claire's hair, pulling her even closer as their bodies pressed together, a symphony of desire and longing that consumed them both. Every touch, every kiss was a silent confession of the emotions they'd tried to bury. As he reached for his trousers, Claire put a hand against his chest to stop him.

With a fleeting glance that spoke volumes, they parted, their hearts pounding in sync with the guilt and excitement of their illicit encounter. Their moment of heated passion left them breathless, both knowing the danger of what they'd ignited yet unable to resist the magnetic pull drawing them together.

After adjusting her skirt and blouse, Claire gave Marc a few moments to collect himself and calm the arousal he was feeling.

Claire's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her fingers fidgeting with an unspoken tension. "Marc, I didn't pull you in here for this, we still need to talk about it" she murmured, a hint of nervousness lacing her words.

Marc's pulse raced, his mind still reeling from the intensity of their momentary lapse in judgment. He nodded, trying to regain composure, but the lingering rush of their heated encounter echoed between them.

"Yeah, I know," Marc replied, attempting to mask the flickers of desire that lingered. He sensed there was more to Claire's apprehension than their impulsive rendezvous.

Claire hesitated, her gaze flitting away briefly before returning to meet his. There was an unspoken weight to her words, a depth in her eyes that hinted at the shared secret yet to be unveiled.

Later that afternoon, Marc was lost in thought, mindlessly walking to the coffee machine his gaze lifted, only to lock onto Ethan Moretti, who stood a few steps away, engrossed in a conversation with Rosie. Marc's unease from his earlier encounter resurfaced, intensified by the sudden realisation that Ethan's presence on this floor could complicate matters further. What was he doing down here?

Ethan turned, catching sight of Marc. His expression remained impassive as their eyes briefly met before Marc averted his gaze, reaching for a mug with unsteady hands.

"Good morning, Marc," Ethan's voice was calm, devoid of any inflexion.

"Morning, Mr. Moretti," Marc replied, attempting to mask his discomfort and pass him quietly.

"Marc, a word, please."

Marc turned, his heart quickening as he faced Ethan's composed demeanour. "Sure, what's up?"

"Keep your personal affairs outside the office," he stated, his tone firm but measured.

A jolt of surprise and embarrassment ran through Marc, caught off-guard by Ethan's directness. "I, uh, it's not…" Marc stumbled over his words, attempting to explain but failing to find the right words. Did he know?

Ethan's expression remained stoic. "Just a friendly reminder," he concluded before striding away, leaving Marc with a sense of unease and a heightened awareness of the consequences of his actions.

As the day unfolded, Marc grappled with Ethan's warning, his unease mounting. The encounter left him feeling exposed, his actions scrutinized in a way he hadn't anticipated. The weight of his double life grew heavier, each glance from colleagues feeling like an accusation. It was time he came clean.