Chapter 4 A LOVE SHE CAN'T EXPLAIN

A Love She Can't Explain

Ema woke up the next morning feeling like her chest was full of stones. Sam hadn't called. Not even a text. Just cold silence, as if the previous night never happened. As if her tears didn't matter. As if her voice didn't crack when she said, "I can't do this with you anymore."

She pushed the thought aside, dressed up quietly, and rushed to the office. Shedrack arrived early again-earlier than everyone. His presence filled the entire top floor like a wave. People stepped aside when he walked past. His energy demanded attention, and whether they admitted it or not, everyone felt it.

When Ema entered his glass office, he was already seated, suit sharp, eyes locked on his tablet. And as if he sensed her, he lifted his gaze.

That gaze...

It stopped her breath for a second.

"You're late," he said calmly.

She checked the time.

" I-I'm two minutes early, sir."

"I know," he replied, still watching her. "I just wanted to see if you'd argue."

A playful challenge.

Unnecessary.

But it made her heart skip anyway.

She placed the files on his table and cleared her throat. "Here are the presentation notes, sir."

He didn't even glance at them. His eyes were still on her face, studying her quietly, like he could tell something was wrong.

"What happened to your eyes?" he asked finally.

Her heart jumped. She tried to look away. "Nothing."

"Sore eyes don't just happen," he said. "Were you crying last night?"

Her chest tightened.

Why was he asking as he cared?

Why was his voice so gentle?

Why was he looking at her like he wanted to break whoever hurt her?

She lied quickly. "I wasn't crying. I'm fine."

"Ema."

Just her name.

Deep voice. Low. Sharp.

And it melted something inside her.

"Yes... Sir?" she whispered.

"Don't lie to me," he said. "I'm your boss. I'm not blind."

She swallowed. "It's personal."

He leaned back, crossed one leg over the other, and tilted his head the slightest bit.

"Is it him?"

Her breath hitched.

He didn't know Sam.

He didn't know anything about her relationship.

How did he read her so fast?

"I don't want to talk about it," she said again, forcing a smile. "Let's just work."

"Fine," he said, but she could feel his gaze burning through her.

............

A few hours later, they were in the conference room preparing for a meeting with the board. Shedrack kept giving her instructions, but she noticed something-he was distracted. He kept turning his head to look at her, almost like he wanted to ask something but couldn't.

And then, just before the meeting started, he stepped closer.

Too close.

"Ema," he said quietly.

His voice was softer than she'd ever heard it.

"Yes, sir?"

"If anyone... doesn't treat you the way you deserve..."

He paused and clenched his jaw as if he was choking back anger.

"...you should leave them."

Ema blinked, shocked by the emotion in his voice.

"What?" she whispered.

He looked away quickly, as if he regretted saying it.

"Forget it. Focus on the meeting."

No, she couldn't forget it.

His tone carried something heavy.

Something almost... protective.

...........

The meeting went smoothly-well, for Shedrack. For Ema, her hands kept shaking every time his shoulder brushed hers. She felt the heat radiating off him like he was a furnace.

And whenever he spoke, the entire room obeyed.

Power.

Confidence.

Contol.

Shedrack didn't need to shout.

He didn't need to dominate.

He was Dominance.

After the meeting, as they walked back to the office, a group of female employees whispered loudly near the elevator.

"See as his assistant fine," one said. "No wonder oga is always calling her."

"I hear say she follow am stay late yesterday night," another said.

"That girl had better be careful. His ex will destroy her life."

Ema froze.

Her head bowed immediately.

Shedrack turned around sharply.

His voice was cold.

"You three," he said. "My office. Now."

They swallowed hard.

Everybody went silent.

"Sir, we didn't-"

"You were gossiping about my staff," he cut in. "That will not repeat itself."

Ema tugged his sleeve gently.

"Sir... It's okay."

He turned to her.

"No, it's not."

"But-"

"Ema."

Her heart trembled again.

"We don't tolerate disrespect here."

He turned back to them.

"One more incident like this, and you're fired."

They apologized and ran off.

Ema pulled him aside, looking frustrated.

"Why did you do that?"

"They disrespected you."

"It's not a big deal."

"It is to me."

Those words shook her.

Why her?

Why did her pain affect him?

Why did he react like someone she was something precious to him?

She took a step back, needing space. "Sir... please don't make things harder for me."

He frowned. "Harder?"

"The whole office already talks," she said quietly. "I don't want problems."

"You won't have problems," he assured her. "As long as I'm here."

"That's exactly what scares me," she whispered.

His chest rose sharply.

For the first time since she met him...

Shedrack looked uncertain.

Like he didn't know whether to step forward or stay away.

"Ema..." he finally said.

Soft.

Deep.

Almost pleading.

But she shook her head, broke eye contact, and rushed away, leaving him standing there - fists clenched, jaw tight, eyes burning with something he couldn't express.

.............

Later that night, as she packed her bag, her phone vibrated.

Sam:

We need to talk.

Her stomach twisted.

She didn't reply.

Then another message.

Sam:

If you are seeing that man, just tell me. Stop making me look like a fool.

Ema's heart broke all over again.

Before she could process it, a voice came from behind her.

"You shouldn't look that sad when you're about to go home."

She turned.

Shedrack was leaning on the office doorway, watching her.

Again.

Like he knew she needed someone.

Like he felt her pain through the walls.

"Sam?" he asked, reading her expression.

She froze. "Sir... please don't ask."

He walked closer.

Slow, deliberate steps.

"I'm asking," he said.

"Because whoever is hurting you...

doesn't deserve you."

Her throat tightened.

"Why do you care?" she whispered.

He stopped right in front of her.

"I don't know," he admitted.

"But I can't seem to stop."

Her breath caught.

Electric tension filled the air - thick, heavy, dangerous.

Shedrack held her gaze like he was fighting himself.

Like he wanted to touch her.

But he forced himself not to.

"Goodnight, Ema."

He turned away before he crossed a line.

But Ema...

She stood there shaking, realizing one thing:

Her boss was beginning to feel something he shouldn't.

And deep down...

She was too.