It all started as harmless admiration. I respected my boss for his leadership, his intelligence, and the way he carried himself. We worked well together, shared ideas, and built a solid professional relationship. But lately, things have shifted in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

One afternoon, while we were going over a project in his office, the conversation took an unexpected turn. He told me he had something on his mind, something personal. At first, I thought it was about work or some stress he was dealing with, but then the words came out: “I’m in love with you.”

My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t sure I heard him correctly, but the look in his eyes left no room for doubt. He wasn’t joking, and this wasn’t a moment of confusion. He was serious—deadly serious. He went on, saying how his marriage of ten years had been on shaky ground for a while, how I was the reason he had found happiness again, how he was willing to leave his wife for me.

I sat there in shock, the room suddenly feeling smaller, like the walls were closing in. I wasn’t sure how to respond. On one hand, there was a part of me that had always liked him—a light crush, nothing more. But love? No, I wasn’t there, not even close. And the thought of being the reason for his divorce, of causing someone else’s pain, made me deeply uncomfortable.

As he spoke, I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. This was no longer a professional relationship. His feelings had crossed a line, and now I was caught in the middle of something messy, something that could affect both our lives in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to lead him on, but I also didn’t want to hurt him or make things worse.

“Please don’t do anything drastic,” I finally said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I like you too, but I’m not in love. And this… it’s complicated.”

He looked at me with a mix of hope and despair, as though he believed he could convince me, that if I gave him time, I’d come to feel the same way. But deep down, I knew the truth. I wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment, and I wasn’t willing to be the reason his life fell apart.

Since that day, I’ve been walking on eggshells around him, dreading every interaction, unsure of how to navigate this new, awkward dynamic. The professional boundaries that once existed are blurred, and I feel trapped between his affection and my own hesitation.

I just wish things could go back to the way they were.