By midweek, Emma and Liam had fallen into an easy routine at work. They were each other’s sounding boards, bouncing ideas off one another,and even sharing the occasional lunch break.Working with him felt almost effortless—likethey’d known each other far longer than just a few days.

Emma wasn’t sure when her small crush on him had crept in, but now it was undeniably there. She found herself looking forward to the moments when he’d lean over her desk, close enough that she could smell his cologne, or when he’d send hera quick, funny text from across the room.

But as much as she enjoyed Liam’s presence, her bond with Captain Marvel continued to tug at her heart. He was her daily dose of humor and support, the one who knew her quirks without ever having seen her face. It was as if she was living two separate lives, each one fulfilling in its own way.

One morning, as she was getting ready for work, her phone buzzed with a text from Captain Marvel.

∆ Captain Marvel: Morning, Pepper. Just had the most amazing bagel. Have you ever tried the caféon Pine? Life-changing. Seriously.

Emma laughed as she replied.

∆ Pepper: Oh, I know that place! Their bagels are my go-to. You’ve got good taste, Captain Marvel.

∆ Captain Marvel: Always here to impress. So, how’s work with the consultant? Still interesting?

∆ Pepper: Still interesting. He’s actually really great to work with. It’s funny—he has the same kind of humor as you, which is a huge compliment.

There was a pause, and she wondered if she’d been too forward. It was strange, hinting at similarities between her texting buddy and her

real-life coworker. But before she could overthink it, his response popped up.

∆ Captain Marvel: Well, I’ll try not to be too jealous of Mr. Consultant. But if he steals my “official Pepper side kick” title, we’ll have a problem.

Emma smiled, but she couldn’t shake a feeling in her gut—like she was playing a game with stakes higher than she’d realized. She had Liam in her day-to-day life, this charming, witty guy she worked with and was undeniably attracted to. And then there was Captain Marvel, her secret texting partner who’d become something more than a friend, even if she couldn’t fully define it.

That day at work, she kept sneaking glances at Liam, looking for something that could bridge her two worlds. But her curiosity took a turn when,during a lunch break, Liam left his phone on the table as he went to grab coffee. A notification flashed on the screen.

Emma’s heart stopped.

There, plain as day, was the name “Pepper” in his recent messages.

She stared at the phone, her mind reeling, piecing together the impossible realization. Liam was Captain Marvel. It was as if everything she knew had just shifted.

The person she’d been texting all this time, the guy she’d confided in and shared her weirdest quirks with, was sitting just a few feet away, oblivious to her discovery.

When Liam returned with his coffee, Emma plastered on a neutral smile, hoping he couldn’t see the turmoil brewing inside her. She felt like

she was walking on a tight rope, each step loaded with the risk of spilling her secret. But how was she supposed to act normal when her texting confidant was right in front of her, laughing,sipping coffee, and completely unaware of what she now knew?

As they wrapped up lunch, Emma felt a strange mix of excitement, panic, and—she hated to admit it—a little embarrassment. Here was the guy she’d told her most personal thoughts to, a stranger-turned-friend, and now they were… coworkers?

The entire situation felt surreal.

That evening, after work, Emma found herself staring at her phone, debating whether to text him.

Part of her wanted to keep the secret, to stay hidden behind the comfort of “Pepper and Captain Marvel.” But another part of her, a braver part,wanted to come clean. After all, now that she knew the truth, how could she keep pretending?

She took a deep breath and typed out a message.

∆ Pepper: So, Captain Marvel… what if, hypothetically, I told you I knew who you were?

There was a long pause, long enough that Emma started second-guessing herself. Maybe she’d been too blunt, too forward. But then her phone buzzed with his reply.

∆Captain Marvel: Hypothetically? Well, I’d say that’d be very impressive. Considering we’re supposed to be keeping this anonymous. Why, are you trying to blow our cover, Pepper? ;)

Emma chuckled, feeling a bit of her nerves ease. She decided to keep the tone light, testing the waters.

∆ Pepper: I’m just saying, if I figured it out, you wouldn’t be able to deny it.

∆ Captain Marvel: Fair enough. But then again, hypothetically, wouldn’t you want to stay anonymous? Isn’t that the whole fun of it?

She paused, feeling the weight of his words. Part of her did want to stay in this safe, anonymous bubble they’d created, where she didn’t have to

worry about the consequences of their connection.But another part of her, the part that had grown attached to him, was tired of the walls they’d built.

After a moment, she typed a careful reply.

∆ Pepper: Hypothetically, yeah, maybe. But sometimes, real life gets a little too close to ignore.

∆ Captain Marvel: You’ve got me curious now. Are you saying… there’s a chance we have met?

Emma’s heart raced, her fingers hovering over her screen. How much was she willing to reveal? She hadn’t planned for things to get this real, hadn’t prepared for her two worlds to collide so suddenly.

∆ Pepper: I guess what I’m saying is… I think it’s possible. But what would you do if we had met?

His response came quickly, as if he’d been waiting for this question.

∆Captain Marvel: Honestly? I’d probably tell you that I’d been hoping for this to happen. That meeting you in real life sounds a lot less scary than I thought it would.

Emma’s heart pounded as she read his words. Suddenly, her nerves eased, and she felt a thrill— like they were standing at the edge of something big, waiting for one of them to take the leap. Her fingers moved, typing out a confession before she could talk herself out of it.

∆ Pepper: Well, Captain… what if I told you we have met? Today, in fact.

This time, the silence was heavy, and Emma felt the tension building, her entire world hanging on the edge of his response. Finally, her phone

buzzed, and she braced herself as she read his reply.

∆ Captain Marvel: Wait. Are you serious?

Emma let out a shaky breath, her fingers trembling slightly as she typed.

∆ Pepper: Yes. We work together. You’re my “consultant.”

There was a long pause, one that made her wonder if she’d made a mistake. Maybe she should’ve kept their connection safe and anonymous, avoiding the complications of the real world. But then, his reply appeared on her screen, and she felt a mixture of excitement and relief.

∆ Captain Marvel: Wow. I had no idea. This… this changes everything, doesn’t it?

∆ Pepper: Maybe. But I think we both knew it was coming, one way or another.

∆Captain Marvel: True. So… where do we go from here, Pepper?

Emma thought about it, feeling the thrill of possibility. Maybe she didn’t have all the answers yet, but there was one thing she knew for sure: she wasn’t ready to let this connection go.

∆ Pepper: How about… we grab a coffee tomorrow. As ourselves.

Another pause, and then his answer came, simple and sure.

∆ Captain Marvel: I’d like that, Emma.

She stared at her phone, letting the reality of it sink in. They were stepping into the real world,

leaving behind their personas as “Pepper” and “Captain Marvel.” And while it was nerve- wracking, it was also exhilarating.

For the first time, she felt ready to meet him— really meet him— and see what their connection could become.

As she drifted off to sleep that night,she couldn’t shake the feeling that her world was about to change in ways she’d never anticipated.