I Slept with My Boss and Ran Away

Terrence Sterling’s heart skipped a beat as he leaned in closer, careful to observe. Unconsciously, his face was almost next to Meredith’s face. Suddenly, Meredith opened her eyes, and Terrence Sterling’s handsome face was right in front of her, bathed in moonlight, giving him a chilly aura.

They were too close, close enough to hear each other’s breathing. Meredith blinked, her gaze falling on his Adam’s apple as it bobbed, incredibly enticing. Their eyes met, and a wave of ambiguity filled the air.

His gaze shifted from her eyes to her lips, to her collarbone… Her dark hair cascading behind her head, their position was undeniably suggestive. From his perspective, it all felt familiar.

The faint scent of mint from her body stirred up physical memories within him, and his lips slowly drew closer to hers, uncontrollably inching towards her. Meredith tensed, squeezing her hands, her heart racing. “Mr. Sterling,” she gasped.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Her voice snapped him back from his trance, his lips stopping just a millimeter away from hers. He couldn’t understand why he felt this uncontrollable desire towards her. Regaining his composure, Terrence Sterling felt slightly embarrassed.

“Um… sorry,” Terrence Sterling stammered, unable to meet Meredith’s eyes. As he sat up, his hand supporting him on the edge of the bed suddenly gave out, causing him to lean down, his lips meeting hers.

Meredith’s eyes widened in shock, her mind going blank. Terrence Sterling’s abdomen tightened as her lips, soft and sweet, triggered memories from that night. The woman beneath him had been just as soft and sweet, tempting him further.

Terrence Sterling deepened the kiss, losing himself slightly in the moment. Meredith felt suffocated, struggling to breathe, her mind in chaos, cheeks flushed, heart pounding. A draft of cold air jolted her back to reality, and she pushed Terrence Sterling away, quickly sitting up.

Terrence Sterling’s awakening realization of his actions towards Meredith left him repentant. “Meredith, I’m sorry,” he muttered, feeling somewhat remorseful for his impulsiveness.

Meredith was too flustered to look directly at Terrence Sterling, mumbling, “It’s… it’s okay.”

“Meredith, have you ever been to The Grandmere Hotel?” Terrence Sterling’s question reflected the familiarity he felt towards Meredith, prompting her heart to skip a beat. Did he remember?

Eyes meeting his, Meredith denied any involvement, too scared to admit otherwise. Terrence Sterling felt a pang of disappointment at her denial.

“I… apologize,” Terrence Sterling mumbled, “My arm wound just stung a bit.” His explanation felt unnecessary. His arm hurt, he fell on Meredith, a kiss would have sufficed, why deepen it? Why this uncontrollable urge?

Terrence Sterling found the explanation lacking. Besides the woman from The Grandmere Hotel, only Meredith elicited such desires in him. Fiona, in comparison, only brought annoyance. At times, he wondered if it was the alcohol’s effect that made him overlook Fiona’s flaws that night.

In a state of sobriety, he couldn’t bring himself to touch Fiona, feeling some aversion towards her. “It’s… it’s fine,” Meredith repeated mechanically, “I… I need to use the bathroom.”

She found an excuse and retreated into the washroom, the hospital room having a separate one. Looking at her reflection, her blushing face alarmed her, and she splashed cold water to regain composure.

Had she been drinking, she might have gathered the courage to pursue Terrence Sterling, but sober, she hesitated, afraid to act rashly. Meredith touched her lips, tingling, the memory of their heated kiss still fresh. His fiery gaze was seared in her mind, the potential for further intimacy evident if she hadn’t intervened.

Last time, she could blame it on alcohol, but now, self-deception wasn’t an option. She couldn’t blur the lines with Terrence Sterling. He was her boss, he had a girlfriend, stepping outside that room could lead to disastrous consequences she couldn’t bear.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Meredith whispered, “Stay awake, Meredith. Things that don’t belong to you, don’t covet them. Otherwise, the consequences are not something you can bear.”

Meredith had struggled through hardships, lacking the luxury of frivolity. She couldn’t afford heedless actions.