Chapter 7: Jealousy and Distance

The televised gala was buzzing with excitement. Cameras flashed as celebrities stepped out of limos, and the world watched as the glitz and glamour of the event unfolded. Aaron Pierre, dressed in a sleek black tuxedo, made his entrance with a confident smile on his face. Beside him, looking effortlessly stunning, was Vanessa Hudgens. She had always been his go-to plus-one for events like these, and their friendly camaraderie had always made headlines.

Kimberly sat on her couch, eyes glued to the screen, as Aaron and Vanessa posed for photographers. She couldn’t help the pang in her chest when she saw them laughing, their shoulders brushing as they smiled for the cameras. It was a typical red-carpet moment, but to Kimberly, it felt different. She had been with Aaron through countless meetings, late nights, and personal moments that no one else saw. And yet, there he was, with someone else, looking too comfortable, too perfect beside her.

Kimberly knew she had no right to feel this way. After all, Aaron was her boss. Their relationship—if you could even call it that—was strictly professional. But seeing Vanessa’s hand on his arm, the way they seemed so at ease together, sparked something deep inside her that she didn’t want to confront.

She huffed, setting her wine glass down on the coffee table, her fingers tapping impatiently against the edge. "This is ridiculous," she muttered to herself. She wasn’t one to let jealousy take control, but the more she watched, the more it ate at her. It was as if a part of her had been secretly hoping for something more with Aaron, something she couldn’t have.

She forced herself to look away from the TV and took a deep breath, trying to shake the uneasy feeling settling in her stomach. She was better than this. She knew better than to get involved in workplace drama, especially with a guy like Aaron. He was charming, successful, and used to women throwing themselves at him. The last thing he needed was a personal assistant complicating things.

But the thought lingered, gnawing at her, as she grabbed her phone and started scrolling aimlessly. She wasn’t proud of how possessive she felt, but she couldn't deny it. She just wanted Aaron to herself for once. But that wasn’t going to happen.

---

Later That Week

The next time Aaron walked into the office, he was clearly exhausted, his usual confidence dimmed by the long hours on set and the late-night gala event. He had a rare moment of downtime, a few hours before his next commitment, and he decided to stop by the office to check in.

Kimberly was at her desk, her back to him as she organized some files. Her posture was stiff, but Aaron could tell she was working hard as usual. He took a moment to appreciate the way she looked today—effortlessly chic in a high-waisted skirt and a fitted blouse. He’d been thinking about her all night, despite the gala and the distractions.

“Hey,” he said, trying to sound upbeat, but the exhaustion in his voice was evident. “Long night. How are you?”

Kimberly didn’t look up right away. When she finally turned to face him, her expression was neutral. Almost cold.

“I’m fine, Mr. Pierre,” she replied curtly, returning her gaze to her desk.

Aaron blinked, surprised by her tone. Normally, she was professional but warm. The icy distance she was putting between them was new, and it made something twist in his chest.

“Is everything alright?” he asked, his brow furrowing as he stepped closer to her desk. “You seem a little... off.”

Kimberly’s eyes flicked up to his briefly before quickly returning to the paperwork in front of her. “I’m just fine, Mr. Pierre,” she repeated, her words clipped, as though she were deliberately keeping him at arm’s length.

Aaron took a step back, confusion settling in. “Kimberly, what’s going on? You know you can talk to me.”

But she didn’t answer. Instead, she simply nodded and went back to her work, not giving him the courtesy of a real response. The silence between them grew thicker, the unspoken tension suffocating him.

He opened his mouth to say something, but the words caught in his throat. He knew better than to push her when she was like this. She was mad—about what, he didn’t know. But something about the way she was acting made him feel like he’d done something wrong.

After what felt like an eternity, he cleared his throat and turned toward the door. “I’ll leave you to it then. We’ve got a lot coming up this week.”

Kimberly didn’t acknowledge him as he left, her back still turned to him, as if he were just another stranger passing by.

---

Later that evening, Aaron tried to shake off the interaction with Kimberly. He told himself it was nothing—just a bad day, maybe even just her frustration with his demanding schedule. But deep down, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something had shifted between them.

He wondered if it had something to do with Vanessa. She had been his date to the gala, but it wasn’t like that. It was always just business—until now. And now, it seemed like Kimberly was distancing herself from him, refusing to acknowledge the subtle bond they’d formed.

Aaron sighed, running a hand over his beard as he stared at the reflection of the city skyline in the glass. He wasn’t sure what he was doing or where this was going, but he knew one thing: things between him and Kimberly weren’t as simple as he thought.

---

Later That Week

The evening had fallen, and the quiet of the city filtered in through the large windows of Aaron’s apartment. The modern decor, sleek furniture, and minimalistic feel made the place feel less like a home and more like a carefully curated space.

Kimberly sat on the couch, her legs tucked beneath her as she stared at the glass of wine in her hands. She had agreed to come over—reluctantly, at first—when Aaron had insisted they needed to talk. He had told her to leave her work at the office, that this conversation was long overdue. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but as the minutes passed, the air between them grew heavier, thicker with unsaid words.

Aaron had sent his staff home for the night, the only person left in the apartment besides them was the housekeeper, who was now gone as well. The apartment, with all its elegance, suddenly felt too big for just the two of them.

Kimberly’s mind was racing. The tension earlier in the office hadn’t been easy to ignore. She couldn’t stop thinking about Aaron’s date to the gala, Vanessa Hudgens. She had done everything to push it aside, to act like it didn’t bother her, but it gnawed at her in ways she wasn’t willing to admit.

When Aaron walked into the living room, his usual confident stride was a little slower tonight. The exhaustion was evident in his eyes, his jawline sharper than usual as if the weight of the world rested on him. His tuxedo was gone, replaced by a casual black t-shirt and sweats, but even in his relaxed state, he still had that presence.

“You made it,” he said, his voice warm but weary, breaking the silence.

Kimberly nodded but didn’t speak right away. She could feel the space between them—emotional distance that had been steadily growing ever since the gala. She couldn’t look at him the same way she did before, and the shift unsettled her.

Aaron sat across from her on the coffee table, leaning forward slightly, his hands clasped together. He didn’t beat around the bush.

“Kimberly, I need to know what’s going on with you. Lately, you’ve been distant. And I don’t understand it.”

She winced slightly, his words catching her off guard. The vulnerability in his voice hit her harder than she expected. It made the lump in her throat feel even more unbearable.

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, almost too quickly, as she looked down at the wine glass in her hand.

He raised an eyebrow. “Really? You’re fine?” His voice was soft, almost gentle, but it carried an undeniable edge of frustration.

Kimberly met his gaze now, feeling the heat rise to her face. “What do you want from me, Aaron?” Her words came out sharper than she intended, but the anger she felt was more directed at herself than him.

“I want you to talk to me,” Aaron replied, his tone firm but not unkind. “I don’t like this... whatever this is. The coldness. The distance. I thought we were past this.”

Kimberly let out a breath, her fingers tightening around the stem of the wine glass. She hated this—hated feeling like her emotions were so out of control, like they were spilling out of her without her permission.

“I just don’t get it,” she admitted, her voice quieter now, softer. “Why do you have to do this? Why do you need to have someone with you all the time? I can’t keep pretending it doesn’t bother me.”

Aaron looked at her for a long moment, his eyes searching, as if trying to decipher her every word. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and steady. “You’re jealous.”

Kimberly’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t respond right away, not sure if she wanted to admit the truth aloud, but the words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them.

“Yeah. I’m jealous,” she said, a bitter laugh escaping her. “You and Vanessa, always so perfect together. It’s like I don’t even matter. I’m just here, working, doing what I’m supposed to do, and then there’s her, always at your side.”

Aaron was quiet for a moment, processing her words. His gaze softened, and he leaned forward, his eyes never leaving hers.

“Kimberly,” he said softly, his voice almost a whisper, “It’s not like that. You’re more than just my assistant. You always have been. I never meant to make you feel like you don’t matter.”

She looked away from him, her gaze dropping to the floor as if the weight of his words were too much to bear. "I’m sorry," she said, her voice small now. "I just... I don’t know how to handle it."

Aaron stood up and walked over to the window, looking out at the city below. There was a long pause before he spoke again. “I don’t want you to be sorry. I just don’t want things to be awkward between us. You mean more to me than just... work. Then just business.”

The air in the room felt different now, lighter somehow, but Kimberly wasn’t sure what it meant. Was he saying what she thought he was saying? Was this more than just a conversation about workplace tension? Her thoughts were spinning, but she couldn’t make sense of it all.

“Aaron, I...” she started, but the words failed her.

He turned back to face her, walking over to her now. He reached out and gently took the wine glass from her hand, setting it aside on the coffee table before sitting beside her.

“Don’t say anything yet,” he said softly. “We’re not in a rush to figure this out, Kimberly. I just wanted you to know that I care about you. More than I think either of us expected.”

Her breath hitched in her throat as she looked at him. For a moment, the distance between them evaporated, leaving only the undeniable truth of his words hanging between them.