Matched with my boss

Chapter 17

Chapter 17



Daphne

I arrived at my building around eleven at night, much later than I had planned. The afternoon with Sofia had turned out far more interesting than expected, especially after Ian’s unexpected arrival and the discovery that the real estate agency had apparently rented out the same apartment to both of them. The situation left me perplexed, and even Sofia was confused, though she couldn’t stop laughing at how absurd it all seemed. They decided to visit the real estate office the next day to clear things up, and all I could do was wish her luck amidst such an unexpected mess.

My mind was still processing what had happened as I walked toward the building. The night air was cool, a gentle breeze brushing against my skin, helping me feel a little more relaxed after the chaotic evening. I could already picture my bed, warm and inviting, waiting to wrap me in comfort and help me forget about everything for a few hours.

Just as I was approaching the entrance, something caught my eye. A glimmer of light, the reflection of something that made me turn my head toward the parking lot.

That’s when I saw him. Jake was there, leaning against his car, a bouquet of flowers in one hand as he looked at his phone. My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, I froze in place, unsure if I was actually seeing what I thought or if it was just an illusion brought on by exhaustion and wine. He hadn’t texted me to say he was coming, so seeing him there was completely unexpected.

“What is he doing here?” I wondered, as a mix of emotions coursed through me—confusion, surprise, but also joy and a spark of excitement I couldn’t deny. I felt a smile begin to form on my lips, and before I realized it, I was already walking toward him, my steps echoing softly on the pavement.

“Jake?” I called, trying to keep my voice steady but unable to hide the surprise entirely.

Jake looked up from his phone, and when his eyes met mine, his face lit up with a sweet, genuine smile. He put his phone away in his jacket pocket and straightened up, walking toward me at an unhurried pace. When he was just a few steps away, he leaned in and, without saying a word, placed a soft kiss on my lips as a greeting.

The kiss took me by surprise. I hadn’t expected such an intimate gesture at that moment, but as soon as his lips touched mine, an indescribable warmth spread through my body. It was a simple kiss, brief, but charged with something I couldn’t explain—a mix of sweetness and restrained need. When he pulled back, my heart was racing, and I could only look at him with a surprised smile.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to keep my voice from revealing how fast my pulse was. “You didn’t tell me you were coming.”

Jake smiled and shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“I couldn’t resist seeing you,” he said with disarming sincerity. “I didn’t want to wait until it was convenient. So here I am.”

He handed me the bouquet of flowers, and my heart melted instantly. They were fresh flowers, vibrant in color—a mix of daisies and lilies that gave off a sweet, natural scent. I couldn’t help but smile as I accepted them, feeling a wave of happiness wash over me.

“They’re beautiful, Jake. Thank you.” I looked into his eyes, grateful, and without thinking twice, I stepped forward to hug him.

Jake wrapped his arms around me, and I sank into the warmth of his chest. I could hear his heartbeat, strong and steady, and I felt an immense peace being there, enveloped in his embrace under the soft glow of the parking lot lights. He tightened the hug slightly, and I could feel him inhale deeply, as if trying to memorize my scent, as if this moment was as important to him as it was to me.

We slowly pulled apart, but he kept his gaze locked on mine, his smile still tender.

“Did you have a good evening with Sofia?” he asked, his tone warm and calm, as though he genuinely wanted to know every detail of my day.

I nodded, though I couldn’t help but make a playful face.

“Yeah, it was… interesting, to say the least,” I laughed lightly. “There was a little incident with the apartment. Apparently, there’s an error with the real estate agency, but it’ll be sorted out tomorrow. But it’s such a beautiful place.”

Jake raised an eyebrow, surprised.

“Really? I hope it gets resolved quickly.”

“It will,” I said with a smile. “But anyway, what about you? Didn’t you have something better to do than wait here?”

Jake shook his head, his smile turning playful.

“Nothing’s better than seeing you. Mind if I come up with you for a while?”

I felt a warm blush spread across my cheeks as I glanced toward the building entrance. For a moment, I hesitated, but there was nothing I wanted more than to keep being with him.

“Sure, let’s go up,” I said finally, smiling.

I giggled when his knuckles brushed the back of my neck in a soft caress before he kissed me again. Then we walked through the building doors, heading to the elevator. The atmosphere in the elevator was cozy, and though we didn’t say a word during the ride, Jake’s presence beside me made words unnecessary. We exchanged glances, and when the doors opened, he gently took my hand, sending a spark of electricity through me from head to toe.

When we reached my door, I pulled out my keys and turned them with a click, letting the door swing open. Jake stepped closer to me, standing very near. I could feel the warmth of his body and how his gaze searched for mine. He wrapped his arms around me again, this time closer, more intimately. Our bodies were so close I could feel his breathing syncing with mine.

“Thanks for letting me in,” he murmured, his voice low and soft, as if this moment was just ours.

I shook my head, smiling.

“You don’t have to thank me. I’m happy you came.”

And it was true. Having him there, in my home, holding me like this, was all I needed to feel at peace. Jake leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead before brushing his lips against mine again, this time more slowly, with more intention.

I lost myself in the kiss, forgetting about time and exhaustion. It was just him and me, in my little safe space.

Finally, we pulled apart, and he gave me a smile before whispering,

“I think I really needed to see you tonight. This was exactly what I needed.”

I looked at him, my heart full of emotion, and without saying another word, I leaned against his chest, ready to stay there as long as I could.

Jake stood behind me, looking at me with that warm smile I liked so much.

“Do you want to do something special? We can order food or… I don’t know, watch a movie if you’d like.”

Jake shrugged and smiled with that relaxed air that always made me feel comfortable.

“A movie sounds perfect,” he said, letting his eyes wander around the room. “I think we’re both a bit exhausted.”

I couldn’t agree more. It had been a long day, and after everything that had happened at Sofia’s apartment with Ian and the mix-up, I really needed a moment of calm. I nodded and headed to the living room, where the gray couch was calling to me as if it were the only place I wanted to be.

“Yeah, something light. No dramas or anything complicated. How about a comedy?” I suggested, grabbing the remote and turning on the TV.

“Perfect,” he replied, following me to the couch and collapsing onto it with a sigh that made me laugh.

I settled next to him, choosing a lighthearted comedy I’d seen a few times but that always made me smile. The soft glow of the screen illuminated the room as the familiar sounds of the opening credits filled the air. Jake turned toward me, moving a little closer until his arm slid over my shoulders, wrapping around me gently. Without a second thought, I snuggled against him; his warmth made me feel safe, comfortable.

“Are you comfortable?” he asked, his soft voice resonating near my ear.

I nodded, smiling as I let my head rest on his shoulder.

“Very comfortable,” I replied. “This is exactly what I needed.”

During the first few minutes of the movie, we tried to focus on the plot. But there was something between us, something that made it impossible for my mind to stay still. I could feel my heart pounding every time Jake shifted, every time his arm tightened slightly around me. My attention was divided between the screen and his presence beside me, and I could sense that Jake was a little distracted too.

At one point, he turned his face toward me, his gaze lingering on my lips for a moment before meeting my eyes. His lips curved into a lopsided smile, as if he knew exactly how he was making me feel.

“Daphne…” he murmured, barely a whisper, and I felt a spark of electricity run through me.

“Yes?” I asked, my voice reduced to a murmur as I unconsciously leaned closer to him.

Jake didn’t reply with words. Instead, he closed the distance between us, and his lips met mine. It was a gentle kiss, calm and sweet, yet deep enough to ignite something inside me. My eyes closed, and I let everything else fade away: the movie, the noise from outside, everything that wasn’t him and this moment.

My hand moved to his cheek, caressing it as he deepened the kiss. I felt his other hand rest on my waist, pulling me closer to him, as if he wanted to ensure there was no space left between us. When we finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine, both of us breathing a little faster than usual.

“Is this okay?” he asked, his voice full of tenderness and a hint of vulnerability.

I smiled and nodded, opening my eyes to meet his.

“More than okay,” I replied, and he smiled before pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

We stayed like that, cuddled on the couch, as the movie played on the screen without either of us paying much attention. There was something so simple and natural about being with him like this, as if all the chaos of the world melted away and it was just the two of us, sharing a moment of peace and affection.

Jake held me a little tighter, and I settled against his chest, feeling his heartbeat against my cheek. I could hear his breathing, slow and steady, and before I realized it, my body started to relax completely. I closed my eyes, letting myself be carried away by the sensation of being so close to him. As his fingers softly traced along my arm, I found myself smiling.

“You know, I didn’t think the second time we’d meet in person would end like this,” I said, my voice barely a whisper as I glanced at the screen without really seeing it.

Jake chuckled softly and rested his chin on the top of my head.

“Like this how? A quiet night on the couch?”

I shook my head, smiling.

“No, I mean, I didn’t think I’d feel this comfortable with you so quickly. I don’t usually open up to people so fast. But with you… it’s different.”

Jake was quiet for a moment, then I felt him press another soft kiss to my forehead.

“I feel the same way with you. It’s strange, but in a good way. Like everything just fits.”

I opened my eyes and looked at him. His expression was so sincere that I felt something inside me melt. Before I could think too much, I leaned in and kissed him again, this time with a bit more passion, letting my lips move against his as I felt him pull me even closer.

The kiss deepened, and my hands slid to his neck, feeling the warmth of his skin under my fingers. Jake responded with the same intensity, and for a moment, all that existed was that kiss, the connection between us, and the excitement of exploring something so new yet so powerful.

When we finally broke apart, both of us were smiling and breathing a little harder. I looked into his eyes, getting lost in the mischievous glint that always seemed to be there, as if he knew something I didn’t.

“I think I’m getting used to kissing you,” I said, my voice filled with tenderness and humor.

“I hope so, because I’m getting used to this too,” he replied, brushing my cheek with the back of his fingers.

We stayed quiet for a while, simply enjoying each other’s company. The movie was nearing its end, and neither of us had kept up with the plot, lost in our conversation and soft touches instead.

Suddenly, I realized I didn’t want him to leave. I didn’t want this night to end, not so soon.

“Jake…” I said, lifting my head to look at him. “Do you want to stay the night? I don’t want you to go.”

For a moment, I saw surprise flash in his eyes, as if he hadn’t expected the invitation. He seemed to think about it, his gaze meeting mine as I waited for his answer, my heart beating a little faster.

Finally, he smiled and nodded.

That night, I couldn’t have been happier.