Chapter 6: The Thin Line

The next day, Aaron found himself in the office earlier than usual. His thoughts had been restless all night, circling back to the awkward encounter with Kimberly, and now he couldn’t stop thinking about her as he worked. She had that effect on him—always in the back of his mind, whether he wanted her there or not.

Kimberly arrived a little after him, as always, her presence immediately commanding attention in the room. Today, she wore a sleek black blazer over a simple white blouse, paired with tailored black trousers that made her look both professional and effortlessly chic. Her curves were noticeable, but she wore it all with such confidence that it only made her look even more powerful. It was hard not to notice, and Aaron hated how often his gaze lingered on her as she moved through the room.

“Morning,” Kimberly said, her voice polite but still holding that professional edge. She went straight to her desk, glancing over the files she had prepared for the day. Aaron could tell she was putting up the same wall she always did, keeping things professional, keeping herself at a distance.

But as the day wore on, it became clear to Aaron that it wasn’t just him. Kimberly’s attention seemed to flicker in his direction just as often. He caught her glancing at him during meetings, her gaze lingering for a moment longer than necessary before quickly looking away. She was aware of the tension too, and she wasn’t ignoring it, even if she pretended to.

At the end of the day, as the office started to empty out, Aaron found himself standing near the elevator, waiting for his ride to pick him up. Kimberly was standing a few feet away, gathering her things. The air between them felt thick with unsaid words, and Aaron couldn’t help but ask, “You’re sure everything’s good for the event tomorrow?”

Kimberly nodded, her gaze meeting his for a moment. “Everything’s set, Mr. Pierre. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”

She was close enough now that Aaron could almost feel the heat radiating off her, and for a moment, neither of them moved. The silence was comfortable, but it also held a certain tension, one neither of them could shake.

Finally, she smiled—this time, the smile was genuine, a soft curve of her lips that made something inside Aaron stir. "Good night, Mr. Pierre."

“Good night, Kimberly.”

As she left, Aaron leaned back against the elevator doors, letting out a slow breath. She had a way of making him feel both at ease and on edge, and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep his distance.

The next morning, the office hummed with its usual rhythm, but Aaron’s thoughts kept circling back to Kimberly. The encounter from the night before had left him restless. She was always professional, always composed, but the way she carried herself—the way she wore her curves in those outfits that were just tight enough to leave little to the imagination—drove him crazy.

It wasn’t even about the clothes. It was about the confidence in the way she wore them, how she never seemed self-conscious or apologetic for owning her space. Every glance, every subtle movement she made, seemed to catch his attention more than he wanted it to.

Aaron cleared his mind as he stepped into the conference room, ready to lead the meeting. He had to stay focused.

As Kimberly entered, she moved with that same professional air, her tailored blazer hugging her figure in all the right places. She glanced at him briefly before taking her seat at the far end of the table, her gaze flicking to her notes as she prepared for the meeting. She always came prepared, and Aaron respected that. But there was something different in the air today, something heavier, that was hard to ignore.

As the meeting went on, Aaron found his focus waning, his mind wandering. He couldn’t help but watch Kimberly, catching glimpses of the curve of her waist as she moved, the subtle way her hips swayed when she stood. Every time she spoke, her voice was clear and articulate, her confidence a perfect complement to her beauty. But it was the way she moved in and out of the room that kept drawing his attention.

At one point, Marcus leaned over to Aaron, whispering something about the upcoming gala event. Aaron snapped back to attention, realizing he had been staring. His heart skipped a beat, his mind rushing to reorient itself.

"Keep it together," he muttered to himself.

By the time the meeting ended, the tension was almost unbearable. It was like an invisible thread tethering them together, pulling tighter and tighter, but neither of them willing to acknowledge it.

---

Later that day, as Aaron made his way back to his office, he found Kimberly standing at his door, her back to him. She was reading something on her phone, but the moment she heard his footsteps, she turned around, her eyes meeting his.

“Mr. Pierre,” she said, her voice soft yet professional. She always addressed him formally, even when they were alone. Aaron didn’t know if it was to keep the boundaries clear, or if it was just her way of maintaining control. Either way, it always struck him as a little... distant.

“Aaron,” he corrected, pushing the door open and stepping inside. “You don’t have to keep calling me that.”

Kimberly hesitated for a moment, as if weighing her options. “Alright, Aaron,” she finally replied, with a slight smile that made his heart beat just a little faster.

Aaron stepped past her, taking a seat at his desk. “What’s up?”

She held up a folder. “Just wanted to go over the final details for tonight’s event. Everything looks good so far. I’ve made sure all the VIPs are accounted for, and the schedule is tight.”

Aaron nodded, taking the folder from her. As his fingers brushed against hers, he felt an electric jolt run through him. It was subtle, but unmistakable. He could see her eyes flicker up to his, before quickly looking away. Her pulse had quickened, just like his.

The air between them thickened again, and Aaron had to force himself to focus on the folder in front of him, reviewing the notes. He couldn’t keep getting distracted like this, especially not by her.

But then, the scent of her perfume wafted over to him—a mix of jasmine and sandalwood—and for a moment, he just closed his eyes, letting it fill his senses. She was too close. Too tempting.

After a long, silent moment, Kimberly spoke again, her voice quieter now. “I’ve also made sure you’ll have a little time to relax before the event. Just in case you want a break.”

Aaron looked up, surprised. “Relax?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kimberly met his gaze, and this time, there was something unspoken in her eyes. Something that lingered between them like a whisper in the dark. “You’ve been working hard,” she said, her voice almost tender now. “You deserve it.”

Her words struck him more than he expected. He cleared his throat and sat up straighter in his chair. “Thanks, Kimberly.”

She nodded, and for a moment, neither of them said anything more. It was as if the space between them had grown too tight to bear, yet neither of them was willing to acknowledge it. Finally, Kimberly broke the silence, her professional mask slipping back into place.

“I’ll leave you to it. You’ve got a lot to prepare for.”

“Thanks, Kimberly,” he replied, his voice lower than usual. “I appreciate it.”

As she turned to leave, Aaron couldn’t help but notice the way she moved—how her hips swayed with a confidence that made his chest tighten. His eyes lingered on her until the door closed behind her, leaving him in the silence of his office.

It was going to be harder than he thought to keep his feelings at bay. Kimberly had a way of getting under his skin—her confidence, her beauty, the way she wore her curvaceous outfits that made it hard to look away.

But he had to stay professional. At least, that’s what he kept telling himself.