Serena's POV
I saw the way his brows furrowed while he stared at his phone, and I bit my lips.
"I have to leave, Princess. I have something important to do."
My heart fluttered. Did he just refer to me as a princess? Even Ethan never addresses me with endearing terms in our three year relationship.
'What are you doing, Serena? I snapped out of it.' I scolded myself internally.
"Serena, did you hear me?" Alexander's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I nodded forcefully.
Placing one final last kiss on my forehead, he walked out.
After making sure that he was gone, my legs weakened, and I slowly dropped to the floor. How could my boss kiss me?
What was going on in his mind? I thought we both agreed that we would stay away from each other without bringing the night up, but he didn't seem to look like one who was willing to let go.
For the first time in my existence, I felt confused. I didn't know how to react.
I buried my face in my palms. Alexander affected me... and that was without a doubt. I needed to stay away from him. I didn't understand what games he was trying to play, but I couldn't fall. That was something I couldn't do. He was my boss.
I sat there on the floor longer than I should have, my mind revolving around one single truth I didn't want to accept. Alexander affected me too much. He affected me more than he should... more than I could afford.
I finally pushed myself up, dusting my palms against my thighs, determined to shake off the feeling. I needed air. Possibly a cold shower. I needed something to reset my brain.
As I stepped toward the kitchen to grab a bottle of water, a faint sound drifted in from the corridor outside my apartment.
A dull thud. Then another.
I frowned. It wasn't unusual for people on my floor to slam doors or stumble in late at night, but this... this sounded different. It sounded off. It felt like someone leaning heavily against the wall.
I tried to ignore it.
Another noise followed. But this time, it was closer, just right outside my door.
My spine straightened instantly.
Maybe it was just my neighbour from 3B, the one who always came home drunk. Maybe he was looking for his keys again. Maybe—
Suddenly, there was a loud bang on my door which snapped me out of my thoughts.
I jumped back, clutching my chest as my heartbeat skyrocketed.
"Serenaaa..." a slurred voice dragged out my name, thick with alcohol.
My blood ran cold.
No. No, no. I'd recognised that voice anywhere. My neighbour's cousin. The same one who always stared at me too long in the hallway. The one who once asked if I lived alone and smiled like he was picturing something he shouldn't.
I took one silent step back while wondering what he wanted from me.
"Open up," he slurred again, jiggling the doorknob. "I know you're in there. Saw you come in earlier..."
Fear shot through my body.
Oh God. My breath caught in my throat.
He leaned harder on the door, rattling it against the lock. "Just wanna talk. Don't be rude."
My throat tightened. My phone was on the console table. If I moved now, he'd hear me. He was too close. Too awake despite the alcohol.
The door handle snapped down again. Hard.
I gasped.
My body moved before my mind caught up, slipping quietly to the table as my fingers fumbled for my phone. I didn't even think about who to call… until my fingers hovered over one specific name.
Alexander. We had been asked to save his number earlier today. And I did.
Ridiculous. Completely insane. But in that moment, instinct drowned logic. He was the only person whose presence felt like safety, even if it made no sense.
The door shook again and my breath trembled.
And before fear could choke me, I tapped his name.
The phone rang once. Twice.
"Pick up," I whispered.
Then—click.
"Serena?" his voice came through, sharp, and sounded worried. "What's wrong?"
I opened my mouth but no sound came out as the drunken voice behind the door muttered, "Open the damn door."
"A-alexander... help me... please."
The door was forcefully kicked open.