Craving Him

Susan

It had been a week. Seven excruciatingly long days.

The first two days were manageable—or so I convinced myself. After our conversation where I made it clear last week that whatever happened between us was a mistake, Elliot had taken me at my word. Or at least, that’s what it seemed like. He didn’t stop by my office. He didn’t acknowledge my presence when we passed each other in the hall.

But by day three, things started to change.

I walked into work that morning, coffee in hand, only to find a note on my desk from Gerald.

“Please see me immediately regarding your office assignment.”

What on earth?

When I arrived at his office, Gerald greeted me with that ever-present, professional smile of his.

“Good morning, Ms Hart. I hope you’re doing well,” he began, his tone overly chipper.

I raised an eyebrow, already suspicious. “What’s this about my office assignment?”

“Ah, yes. There’s been a change,” he said, sliding a folder across his desk toward me. “Mr. Prescott has decided it’s best to relocate your office to the marketing department’s wing. It’s a better fit, considering your role as the marketing manager.”

I blinked at him, stunned. “Gerald, my office has always been on the executive floor. It’s close to all the decision-makers, and it’s convenient for meetings and briefings. Especially since I haven't completed my contract yet. Why would I be moved now?”

He hesitated for a split second, then replied, “This came directly from Mr. Prescott. He believes it’s a more strategic placement.”

Strategic placement?

The phrase rolled around in my head as I left his office, clutching the folder that outlined my “new” office details. By the time I reached my desk, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to scream, cry, or march straight to Elliot’s office and demand an explanation.

But I did none of those things.

Instead, I packed up my things in silence as the facilities team arrived to help with the move. I kept my head down, refusing to meet the curious gazes of my colleagues.

I couldn’t let them see how much this bothered me.

The new office was fine. Spacious, even. But it wasn’t my office.

It was on a completely different floor, far away from the executive suite where all the important decisions were made. And most importantly, it was far away from Elliot.

I couldn’t help but feel like this was intentional.

Was this his way of punishing me? Of putting distance between us after I’d pushed him away?

By day five, the silence from Elliot had grown unbearable.

He walked past me in the hallway that morning without so much as a glance in my direction. It was like I didn’t exist.

At first, I tried to convince myself that this was what I wanted. After all, I had been the one to insist that our night together was a mistake. I had been the one to draw the line.

But now, sitting in my new office, isolated from everything I’d grown used to, I couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling in my chest.

I missed him.

That night, I sat in my apartment, staring blankly at my laptop screen. I’d spent the entire week trying to focus on my work, trying to prove that I didn’t need Elliot Prescott’s approval or attention to succeed.

But no matter how hard I tried, he was always there. In the back of my mind.

Every time I thought about the way he’d touched me, the way he’d looked at me that night, my stomach twisted into knots.

And now, he was acting like none of it had ever happened.

What hurt the most was the realization that I wanted him to care.

I wanted him to fight for me, to prove that I wasn’t just another passing interest.

Instead, he’d done the exact opposite.

By the weekend, I couldn’t take it anymore.

I stared at my phone, debating whether to text him. But every time I started typing, I deleted the message.

What would I even say?

“Hi, Elliot. Just wanted to know why you’ve decided to act like I don’t exist after moving my office to another floor?”

Ridiculous.

Instead, I poured myself a glass of wine and curled up on the couch, letting my thoughts spiral.

Why had he changed so suddenly?

Why had I let myself care so much in the first place?

Somewhere deep down, I already knew the answer.

I didn’t just miss him.

I craved him.