I slammed the door to my hotel room behind me and leaned against it, chest rising and falling like I'd just run a marathon.
What the hell was that?
I was supposed to be in control I was always in control. Cold, calculated, detached ─ that's what they called me and they weren't wrong. Feelings had no place in business. Neither did distractions.
And Isabella?
She was a damn distraction wrapped in soft skin and rose-scented hair.
I pushed off the door, peeled off my jacket and walked straight to the bathroom. No lights. Just instinct. My fingers fumbled at the faucet until water gushed from the showerhead I didn't even wait for it to adjust. Stepped right in fully clothed at first, just to feel something other than her.
The icy blast hit me like a slap.
I gasped. Let it wash over me. Down my face, my neck. Let it soak through the shirt that clung to my skin like regret.
What the hell is wrong with me?
She's my employee.
She's off-limits.
She's dangerous.
Not because she's manipulative ─ though I still wasn't sure she wasn't ─ but because she made me feel things I didn't want to feel. Things that made me act like a man instead of a CEO. Like some hormone-driven idiot who could barely function when her leg brushed his arm.
I gritted my teeth and pressed my palms against the cold tile wall.
Her breath against my neck. The weight of her in my arms. The faint sound of her sigh as she slept. That image was branded into my skull now.
This isn't happening. I'm not some fool to fall for wide eyes and soft curves I've seen women like her before. Charming. Sweet. Clever enough to play helpless until they've got you wrapped around their finger.
But still… that laugh. That stupid honest laugh when she wasn't thinking. That spark in her eyes when she challenged me. And tonight─God help me─tonight, she didn't even try anything.
She just fell asleep and I'm the one falling apart.
The water was freezing but it did nothing to put out the fire raging under my skin.
I yanked my shirt over my head and tossed it aside. Then the rest followed as the water hit my bare skin I let out a slow unsteady breath.
I needed to cool down because if this kept up…
I might forget what I'm doing.
And start wanting something I shouldn't.
ISABELLA'S POV
I woke up feeling… oddly refreshed.
For a second I stared at the ceiling in confusion, brain sluggish and unsure what day it was or where I even was. Then the memory of last night came rushing in─the dinner, the mansion, Adrien's complicated family, Caden… and how I must've completely passed out on the way back.
Ugh. Embarrassing.
A knock at the door pulled me from the tangle of thoughts. I blinked and shuffled to the door while still in the dress I was wearing yesterday and peeked through.
"Room service," a cheerful voice sang.
I cracked the door open and found a hostess standing there with a cart─silver domes over warm plates, a jug of orange juice and cut fruits, everything arranged like I was staying in a five-star palace.
Well… I technically was.
"Um… thank you," I said, awkwardly stepping aside as she wheeled it in.
"Compliments of the gentleman," she added with a smile before leaving.
I stood there for a full five seconds after the door shut. Compliments of the gentleman? Was she referring to Adrien? Had he ordered this?
Okay, weird but… not terrible. I mean, breakfast in bed? I could get used to this.
I settled back into bed fluffing the pillow behind me as I opened the trays. Everything smelled amazing. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until that first bite hit my tongue. Heaven.
Between bites, I reached for my phone and shot him a quick message:
"What's our schedule for today?"
A beat passed.
Then his reply came:
"We leave by 1 p.m. Be packed."
Short and to the point. Typical Adrien.
I chewed on my toast and hesitated before texting again:
"Should I return the dress?"
A few seconds later:
"Keep it."
That was it.
No extra words. No emojis. Just those two words.
But my eyes lingered on the message a little longer than I should have.
Keep it?
That was… unexpected. The man who kept talking about professionalism suddenly gifting designer clothes? Huh.
Still, I wasn't about to complain. I smiled to myself and continued eating. I wonder how much I would get if I sold this cloth.
By the time 1 p.m. rolled around I was packed and waiting in the lobby. This time, thankfully Adrien didn't make me drive through a foreign country like I had a built-in GPS chip in my brain. Small mercies.
Still, he was… quiet. Detached. Barely even acknowledged me when I joined him by the car.
We got in and he gave instructions to the driver all while avoiding eye contact like I'd accidentally committed some unforgivable crime in my sleep. I mean I was surprised I woke up in my room but was he mad I'd dozed off? Did I drool on him or something? Snore? Kick him?
Or maybe it was just Adrien being… Adrien.
I sighed quietly and looked out the window as the hotel disappeared behind us.
At least he didn't leave me behind this time.
The airport was cooler than I expected or maybe it was just the sense of relief finally settling in my bones.
The flight back to Country X had been, surprisingly peaceful. Adrien didn't say much─barely looked my way actually. Which for once I was grateful for. No commands. No sharp comments. No ridiculous requests of some sort. Just… quiet.
Maybe he was tired or bored of whatever this was.
Either way I wasn't about to complain. I'm loving the peace, even if I kept one eye open just in case.
Once we landed we made our way through the terminal in silence. He walked slightly ahead of me, hands in his pockets, eyes forward like he had more important places to be.
When we reached the exit, he finally turned to me.
"You can go home," he said, voice cool and collected. "We'll meet at the office tomorrow."
And just like that, he turned and walked off.
No goodbye. No nod. No 'thanks for your great work.'
I stared after him for a second, watching the way he moved─confident, controlled like he had the world figured out.
I sighed.
Right. Boss mode fully activated again.
Pulling my phone from my bag I ordered a cab and headed toward the pickup zone and called Aria that I'm back.