Before he knew it, he was standing up, closing the gap between them. It wasn't so much a decision as it was a pull, something unspoken, and the next thing he knew, her lips were on his. It was a slow burn, like two pieces of metal fusing together, an undeniable heat that melted through the edges of everything they’d kept professional between them.

Mel’s hand slid to the back of his neck, fingers lightly tugging at his hair, and for a moment, everything felt right. Jayce couldn’t remember the last time he’d let himself be this relaxed, especially not in his office. But she made it easy.

Just then, the door creaked open.

Jayce froze, his body going still as his heart skipped a beat. His mind raced. All of the mood shattered by the voice that followed.

“Jayce?”

It was you—his partner in the project. Your figure stood there, filling the doorway, your eyes locked on them in stunned silence. For a split second, Jayce’s entire world seemed to pause. The air in the room felt suddenly too thick, and he could practically hear the blood rushing to his ears. The awkwardness was palpable.

He could see your eyes flicker between him and Mel, a mix of confusion and something... else. Annoyance? Hurt?

Wait... why would you feel hurt at all???

The way you stood there, halfway into the room, clearly waiting for an explanation but unable to find the words, made the situation feel even worse.

Mel’s hand was still on him, a subtle pressure that made Jayce realize he should probably step back.

Jayce cleared his throat, trying to put some semblance of order back into the chaos. “Uh… well, this isn’t exactly what it looks like,” he said, though the words felt empty even to his own ears.

Mel, ever the composed one, pulled away slowly, She didn’t seem too bothered, but Jayce knew that didn’t mean this wasn’t going to be a problem.

Hm.