Chapter 57: All out in the open

Esmerelda

I stand there, my heart pounding in my chest, as I try to decipher the expression on his face. It's like a storm of emotions, rapidly changing, never settling on one feeling. I can't tell if he's angry, confused, or perhaps even regretful.

This could be the moment my world comes crashing down. In an instant, I could lose my job and the man I've come to desire. It's not just about the sex, though that's been intense and passionate. It's the way he looks at me, the way his touch sends shivers down my spine, and the pained expression on his face when he has to end our encounters and send me back to my desk.

I know I should say something, but my tongue feels heavy, and my mind is racing with thoughts. I'm afraid that any moment now, he will fire me and walk out of my life forever. The thought of losing him fills me with a sense of dread I can't explain. I stand there, frozen, hoping that he will give me some sign, some indication of what he's feeling and thinking. But his face