Suddenly, without warning, Matthew lowered his head and captured her lips in a kiss.
The kiss was commanding, filled with intensity, as though he was pouring every pent-up emotion into it.
Stella’s eyes widened in shock, her mind going blank from the unexpectedness of it all.
As moments passed, the kiss began to soften. It became less forceful, more tender-almost as if he was soothing her, or perhaps exposing the vulnerability of his deepest feelings.
Caught off guard, Stella found herself momentarily lost in the moment, and Matthew seized the chance to deepen the kiss.
His lips brushed gently against hers, his tongue softly parting her teeth as it entwined with hers in a dance of passion.
Stella could feel his breath, warm and steady, and the familiar scent of him sent her heartbeat racing. A wave of weakness swept through her body, and before she realized it, her hands instinctively clutched the fabric of Matthew’s shirt.
Just as they were lost in the intensity of the moment, Fernando’s voice echoed from outside the door, breaking the spell. “Mr. Clark, the meeting starts in three minutes.”
Reality came crashing back to Stella. Her eyes widened as she abruptly pulled herself out of the haze. She pushed Matthew away with all her strength, her face turning sharply to the side to avoid his gaze.
Matthew stared at Stella, surprised by the kiss they had just shared.
He hadn’t expected his own impulsive action, but what surprised him more was that he didn’t mind the kiss. In fact, a part of him didn’t want it to end.
“Let’s stop fighting, okay?” he said suddenly, his voice softer than usual.
Stella felt her face heat up, her cheeks burning.
But despite the rush of emotions, her mind had already cleared. She couldn’t ignore the unresolved issues between them. If they didn’t address their problems, more fights would follow.
Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself. “You should go to the meeting. Don’t delay Fernando’s work.”
Matthew frowned, confused. To him, the kiss meant they had already made up.
But after a pause he nodded. “I’ll come see you after work. Let’s talk over dinner.”
“Okay,” Stella replied quietly and walked out of the office, leaving Matthew behind.
Outside, Fernando waited by the door. He noticed Stella’s swollen lips immediately and quickly looked away, feeling awkward but secretly pleased. If they were making up, his life would get easier.
His relief was short-lived as Matthew stepped out with his usual cold expression. “Let’s go to the meeting,” he said sharply, walking ahead without looking back.
Back in her car, Stella’s thoughts kept returning to the kiss.
For the first time in a while, she felt warmth between her and Matthew. Maybe his memory was improving, she thought, and with it, his feelings toward her.
She didn’t want him to go through with the surgery. It was too risky.
She decided to prepare herself for their talk that evening, hoping they could finally clear the air and rebuild their relationship.