Worth the Risk: A Friends to Lovers, Workplace Romance

Five years ago, on the verge of one of the biggest decisions of my life, I had what should have been a fleeting encounter with a handsome stranger on a train. Little did I know that moment would change everything.

Now, after a breakup that’s left me shaken, I escape into the fantasy world of social media, posting an innocent little video of my business partner.

But when the romance book community finds it, the video goes viral, and my secret can’t stay hidden any longer.

Even worse, he wants to play along.

But now, everything’s different.

He’s standing too close, his gaze more intense than ever.

I can feel the magnetic pull between us, the unspoken words hanging in the air, and I can’t stop wondering: What if I had chosen him all those years ago?

The tension between us isn’t just a spark—it’s a wildfire. Every glance, every touch threatens to set off something beyond our control.

Austin was always the risk I couldn’t take. But now he’s right here, making it clear that pretending isn’t an option anymore. Our professional lines are blurring, and my heart is racing—torn between preserving what we’ve built and risking it all for the chance at something more.

I thought I knew what I wanted. I thought I knew who I wanted.

But now, the only thing I’m sure of is that Austin was the risk I never took—and it’s a choice I can’t stop second-guessing.