Transient Ties

I was just trying to get to work. A simple Tuesday, nothing fancy. No mental gymnastics. No emotions. Just my research reports and some leftover plantain chips in my bag.

But then I saw him.

Standing right at the entrance of the company like a statue sent from Mount Olympus itself. He was tall—definitely more than 1.8 meters—and dressed like he had just walked out of a fashion magazine. Black pants hugging his lean legs. White shirt slightly unbuttoned at the top, revealing a glimpse of that sinful collarbone and an Adam's apple that moved with maddening precision. His suit jacket casually draped over his left arm, a set of car keys dangling effortlessly in his right hand.

I stopped.

Literally paused.

My heart forgot how to beat.

Oh no.

I instinctively tried to sneak into the building like a rat avoiding a floodlight, hoping he wouldn't notice me—but of course he did.

Of course Michael noticed.

His eyes were already locked on me.

"Well hello there, Kim," he said, striding towards me like he owned the pavement.

I stood, caught, awkwardly forcing a smile.

"Hello Michael... what are you doing here?"

His smile stretched wider. "I'm your new boss. My father sent me to manage this branch."

Wait. What?

New boss? Michael?

The words echoed in my head. I blinked. Once. Twice. No, I wasn't hallucinating.

He didn't even look sorry about it—just stood there looking like a Greek god with admin privileges. Great. Just great. I had only recently begun to exorcise the traces of Michael from my system. Now he shows up—with a promotion.

Coincidence? I wasn't so sure.

Part of me actually believed he came here on purpose.

But I didn't say that out loud.

"Oh okay, welcome boss, I'm running late. See you around" I said in one breath and hurried in.

After work, I stood at the roadside waiting for a taxi when I heard a horn. I turned—Michael, again, this time behind the wheel of a sleek black car. He rolled the window down.

"Need a ride?"

Everything in me screamed yes—free ride, air-conditioned comfort, and Michael in a white shirt—but I ignored it. I shook my head. "No thanks. I'll wait for a taxi."

He frowned. "You sure?"

"I'm sure. Besides... you're the boss now. I don't think it's a good idea for employees to get too close to the boss."

He tilted his head slightly. "You're not avoiding me because I'm the boss. You're avoiding me because I'm... me."

My throat tightened.

He had seen right through me.

"Well... yes," I blurted awkwardly. "I'm avoiding you because you're you - the boss."

He leaned on the wheel, watching me. "If I weren't the boss... would you still be avoiding me?"

I didn't answer. Just stared at the pavement. I couldn't lie—he would see right through that too. But I also had no intention of getting in that car.

He sighed. "Kim, we're both adults. You don't have to avoid me. Whatever happened... happened because you were intoxicated. That's it."

My eyes snapped up. Intoxicated? What exactly happened that night? He did say I said awkward things like "I want to bite you"... ugh.

But now, the statement "whatever happened" planted seeds of possibility. Had I... done more? Had I touched him? Said things? Begged?

I stared at him, speechless.

"Come on," he said, softly. "What are you so scared of? That you've fallen for me? That being around me will make those feelings deeper?"

"Excuse me?" I scoffed. "Why are you so eager to give me a lift? Shouldn't CEOs be... less patient? You're acting like this is a slow-motion kidnapping."

He laughed. "Then call it a kidnapping."

I smiled despite myself. "Go home, boss."

I turned and stopped an approaching taxi.

As it drove away, I caught him in the rearview mirror—smiling, shaking his head.

Step one of solving a problem is recognizing that there is a problem.

And I, Kimbia Kahlamai, have a problem.

A very tall, sexy, well-dressed, testosterone-dripping problem.

I don't even know when it got this bad. Maybe it was back in university, during all those study sessions. Or was it after spending time together in D-City?

Back then, I thought I had feelings for Michael—tiny, manageable, schoolgirl crush feelings. But after dating and loving Alvin, I realized what I had with Michael wasn't love.

It was lust. Pure, dangerous, unscripted lust.

I didn't even feel this with Alvin.

And now, it's worse. Because this isn't just about desire anymore.

It's familiarity. It's temptation. It's proximity.

This morning, when I saw him standing there, all sleek and handsome... I didn't just feel nervous. I felt hungry. I wanted him to pin me against a wall and…no, no, no.

This isn't love.

It's a fire that'll burn me alive.

So I have to stay away from him.

I have to keep my boundaries.

I have to protect my peace.

I have to... run again.