Alex and Kitty could hardly keep their hands away from one another. Glimpses stolen, each skin contact sparking fire in them. It was something they knew wasn't right, one mistake would put them in hot water with their employer and colleagues. But they couldn't help but be drawn to each other.
They stole kisses and sneak fondlings in deserted conference rooms and vacant offices, always sneaking back and forth when they could. Bold initially, the near-getting-caught increased an extra element of thrill to their clandestine affairs.
But as weeks unfolded, the tension of containing such a secret became too much of a burden for either to bear. Both were taut, apprehensive, and anxious about someone discovering their illicit affair. Kitty would jump at the slightest sound at someone walking into the conference room, whereas Alex would be sweating bullets for unexpected meetings with his boss.
They lay there on one another in the narrow stairwell, clinging to each other tightly as they wrapped their arms around the other. They heard footsteps coming up the stairs and barely had enough time to release from the embrace when Sara came into view around the corner, her arms overflowing with files.
"Oh!" Sara exclaimed, opening her eyes wide with shock. "I didn't know anyone was in here."
Alex and Kitty both kept staring each other in the eye, their chests pounding in their chests. Sara turned to them, a knowing look crossing her face.
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me," she winked and headed downstairs.
Alex and Kitty let out a simultaneous sigh of relief as their shoulders unstressed themselves and the tension seeped out of their muscles. But they knew, however, that they couldn't keep pushing their luck. It was only a matter of time before someone else caught them, or their secret somehow slipped out.
They tried to be more careful after that, but it wasn't straightforward. The attraction between them was undeniable, and they found themselves drawn to one another like moths to a fire. They started making plans to meet up outside of the office, to take their relationship out of the office and into the world.
But even those plans were done at risk. They had to avoid being seen in public together, had to go to great lengths to come up with elaborate cover stories for missing work functions and social events. It was tiresome, always glancing over their shoulders, always fearful of what would happen if the secret came out.
And then, one night, it did. They were walking down the street after a late meal, fingers clasped, when they approached the face. It was Mr. Johnson, their boss, and he seemed shocked, incensed.
"Alex," he told them with his voice even and cold. "Kitty. Care to tell me what is going on here?"
Alex and Kitty looked at each other with silent communication that passed between them. They both knew that their secret was out, so they cannot turn back now. No matter how tough this may prove to be, there must be consequences to face.
"What you're seeing is nobody's business," Alex returned, his voice hard and steady as fear churned in his stomach. "Kitty and I are in love with each other, and we're not going to apologize for that."
Mr. Johnson's complexion reddened with fury, his fists clenched at his sides. "You are breaking company policy. Both of you can be fired over this!"
Kitty took a step forward, and her eyes were literally burning with defiance. "We won't go quietly. And we'll make it public, just what we're running from."
Let's just say we have. compromising information about some of your own activities, Alex added his voice low and menacing.
Mr. Johnson paled. "Fine," he muttered. "But if ever I lay eyes on you two together again, there will be hell to pay."
We are released but still stretched tight, Alex and Kitty stroll off, their hands still entwined, rounding the corner, Alex leaning in close.
"We did it. We held our ground."
Kitty smiled. "We did more than that. We chose each other."
But as they walk off into the darkness, neither of them notices the dark figure on the street, ringing a phone to an ear.
"Yeah, I saw them,
the voice whispered. "You were right. They're keeping something more than a relationship."
The line went dead, the figure sprinted into the night.