The low hum of office chatter filled the air, blending with the rhythmic clacking of keyboards and the occasional ringing of phones. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the space, mingling with the crisp scent of printer paper. Elena sat at her desk, her fingers hovering over the keyboard, but her mind was miles away—locked in the remnants of a dream she couldn't shake.
Or rather, a nightmare.
She swallowed, her breath uneven as flashes of the dream surged through her like an unwanted current. Daniel—her ex-husband, the man who had once owned her in ways no one else had. The man who had shattered her in every way but still managed to haunt her body with his touch.
Why now? she thought, shifting in her chair, her thighs pressing together involuntarily.
The memory of his hands on her, the way his fingers had trailed over her skin in the dream, sent an unwanted rush of heat through her. She hated that he still had this effect on her—even in her subconscious. He had been possessive, cruel, and manipulative. He had broken her heart over and over, made her feel small, made her believe she was never enough.
Except in bed.
In bed, Daniel knew how to make her body surrender. He knew how to tease, to punish, to make her need him even when she despised everything about him. It had been his one redeeming quality, the only place where he treated her as something precious.
And that's what had ruined her.
Even now, sitting in her office, supposedly safe and far removed from him, she could feel him. The ghost of his touch lingered on her skin, the memory of his lips on her throat, his hands on her thighs, his grip that was both commanding and addictive.
She exhaled sharply and shut her eyes for a second, willing the images away.
This is ridiculous.
She was happily married now. Nathan was a good man, a patient and loving husband—everything Daniel had never been. She had no reason to think about her ex, let alone crave the phantom sensations he left behind.
Her phone buzzed against the desk, snapping her out of her trance. She glanced down at the screen and saw Mara's name flashing.
Mara.
Her best friend, her safe place. She needed to talk to her.
She quickly unlocked her phone and sent a message.
Elena: Hey, you around later? I need to talk.
Mara: Of course, babe. My place or yours?
Elena: Yours. I'll stop by after work.
Mara: Wine or whiskey?
Elena: Both.
Mara sent back a laughing emoji, followed by a thumbs-up. Elena sighed, setting the phone down.
She needed a distraction.
Shoving the thoughts of Daniel aside, she forced herself to focus on her surroundings. The office was alive with its usual chaos. She worked as a senior marketing strategist in one of the city's most competitive firms. The environment was fast-paced, demanding, and full of personalities she had learned to navigate over the years.
Her eyes traveled across the open-plan office, landing on familiar faces.
There was Kevin, the tech nerd who always had his nose buried in analytics. He was brilliant but socially awkward, preferring numbers over people. Then there was Lena, the ever-ambitious colleague who had been gunning for a promotion for months. She was sharp, cutthroat, and only friendly when it served her.
And, of course, there was Jared.
Jared, the charming flirt of the office. He was attractive, confident, and knew how to use his smile to get what he wanted. Elena had always kept him at arm's length, sensing that he enjoyed the chase more than the catch.
She turned her attention back to her screen, pulling up her latest campaign report.
"Someone looks deep in thought," a voice interrupted.
Elena glanced up to find Jared leaning against her desk, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Just working," she said, keeping her tone neutral.
Jared chuckled. "You sure? You've been staring at that screen for the last five minutes, and I don't think you've typed a single word.
Damn it. Had she really been that lost in her thoughts?
"I'm multitasking," she said smoothly, forcing a small smile.
Jared arched a brow, his eyes flickering with amusement. "Well, let me know if you need a break. Lunch is on me."
She shook her head with a laugh. "I'll think about it."
As he walked away, Elena exhaled slowly.
It wasn't that Jared wasn't attractive—he was. But he was also the type of man who reminded her too much of Daniel. Confident. Possessive. The kind of man who took what he wanted.
She shivered.
Shaking off the lingering discomfort, she refocused on her work. But no matter how hard she tried, her mind kept betraying her—pulling her back into the past, into the memory of Daniel.
Back to the way he had touched her.
She clenched her thighs together, heat rising in her cheeks. It was infuriating how easily her body responded to the thought of him.
No. Enough.
She picked up her phone again, needing another distraction.
Elena: Mara, I think I need to talk sooner than later.
Mara: That bad?
Elena: Yeah. I can't stop thinking about him.
There was a brief pause before Mara responded.
Mara: I'll meet you for lunch. You need a reset.
Elena smiled, relief washing over her.
Mara always knew when to step in.
Elena took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. It was just a dream. Just a stupid, meaningless dream.
But as she sat there, surrounded by the normalcy of her workplace, she knew one thing for certain—
Daniel wasn't done haunting her.
Elena sat across from Mara at their favorite café, the ambient noise of clinking dishes and soft chatter providing a comforting backdrop. Mara's concerned eyes bore into her, waiting patiently for Elena to open up.
"So," Mara began, breaking the silence, "what's going on? You seemed pretty shaken up earlier."
Elena took a deep breath, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her coffee cup. "I had a dream last night," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mara leaned in closer, her expression attentive. "About Daniel?"
Elena nodded, swallowing hard. "It was so vivid, Mara. It felt real. His touch, his voice... everything."
Mara's brow furrowed in concern. "But why now? You've been doing so well. You and Nathan are happy."
"I know," Elena replied, frustration lacing her tone. "That's what's so confusing. I love Nathan. He's everything I ever wanted. But this dream... it brought back feelings I thought I had buried."
Mara reached across the table, placing a comforting hand over Elena's. "Dreams have a way of dredging up unresolved emotions. But it doesn't mean you want to go back to that life."
Elena sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I literally had to leave that city for my sanity. Why is he coming back in my head?" She paused, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I don't know... I love my husband, but I want Daniel too," she admitted, her voice tinged with a mix of shame and longing.
Mara squeezed her hand gently. "It's natural to feel conflicted, especially when someone like Daniel had such a profound impact on you. But remember why you left. He wasn't good for you, Elena."
Elena nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I know. It's just... the physical connection we had. It was intense."
"Physical chemistry can be powerful," Mara acknowledged. "But it's not worth sacrificing your mental and emotional well-being. Nathan loves you, respects you, and treats you the way you deserve."
Elena wiped a stray tear from her cheek, offering Mara a grateful smile. "Thank you. I needed to hear that."
"Anytime," Mara replied, her expression softening. "Just remember, it's okay to have these feelings. But don't let them derail the happiness you've built."
As they finished their lunch, Elena felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Talking to Mara had given her the clarity she needed to confront her lingering feelings about Daniel and reaffirm her commitment to Nathan.