No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 41- Chasing after her

But it wasn't enough to quiet the storm in my head.

Aiah.

Her voice still echoed in my mind, the way she said my name, the way she sounded like she was on the edge of breaking. Damn it, why did she have to call me? Why now?

Carefully, I untangled myself from Ethan's hold and slipped out of bed. I needed air.

Walking over to the balcony, I lit a cigarette and took a slow drag. It was a habit I picked up years ago-one that Ethan hated, but never really stopped me from doing.

I exhaled, watching the smoke curl into the night sky.

I should let this go.

I should forget she ever called.

But I knew myself better than that.

With a sigh, I pulled out my phone and stared at the call log. The unknown number. Aiah's number.

I hesitated for a second before typing a message.

Mikha: What do you want, Aiah?

I hovered over the send button.

Should I?

Would it change anything?

Before I could overthink it, I pressed send.

And just like that, I had opened a door I wasn't sure I was ready to walk through.

The next morning, I buried myself in work.

I sat in my office, scanning through reports, finalizing proposals, and answering endless calls. Anything to keep my mind occupied-anything to stop my thoughts from drifting back to her.

My phone vibrated on my desk, pulling me out of my focus. I glanced at the screen.

Unknown Number.

I didn't need to guess who it was.

I exhaled sharply, debating whether to pick up. After last night, I thought she wouldn't reach out again. But here she was, still trying to get through.

I let the call ring out.

A minute later, a message popped up.

Unknown: Mikha, please.

I clenched my jaw, gripping my pen tightly.

What the hell did she want from me?

Didn't she already take enough?

Pushing the phone aside, I forced myself to focus back on the documents in front of me. I refused to let Aiah disrupt my life again.

Not this time.

I exhaled sharply, pushing my phone away. Focus, Mikha.

I had too much on my plate to be distracted by her. Aiah was my past. And I refused to let her ruin the present I had built.

A knock on my office door pulled me out of my thoughts. "Come in," I called without looking up.

The door opened, and Ethan stepped inside, his usual calm demeanor in place. He carried two cups of coffee, setting one on my desk before settling into the chair across from me.

"You look like you need this," he said, studying me closely.

I let out a small chuckle, shaking my head as I took the coffee. "That obvious?"

"You've been tense since last night," he pointed out. "Want to talk about it?"

I hesitated, swirling my coffee absentmindedly. Ethan knew about Aiah. He knew the story-or at least, the version I was willing to tell. But I wasn't sure if I wanted to open that door again.