Heartache

As Clara observed Julia, worry and curiosity flooded her thoughts. Something significant had happened, something that had shaken Julia to her core since Julia was acting a little strange and secretive.

The remainder of the day stretched before Kelvin like an endless, hazy expanse. His mind was clouded with thoughts of the rejection he had just experienced. Sitting at his desk, he stared blankly at his computer screen, unable to muster the focus to tackle his work. The weight of his unrequited feelings for Julia pressed heavily upon him, suffocating his motivation to work.

"Why did she reject me so quick just like that?" Kelvin mumbled to himself, the words escaping his lips with a tinge of sadness. He knew the reason, of course. The professional boundaries between them as boss and employee had stood as a hot heated barrier. But understanding the reasoning didn't ease the pain that throbbed within his chest.

A pang of longing surged through Kelvin as he imagined a different outcome, a