The soft hum of an engine idled outside my apartment just as I zipped up my last bag.
Before I could even double-check my checklist, my phone buzzed.
Michael:"I'm outside."
I peered through the door, and there he was, leaning against the sleek black SUV, looking effortless in a fitted navy blazer and slacks,
with sleeves rolled just enough to expose a hint of his forearm and a watch.
My stomach flipped, whether from nerves or something else, I didn't know.
A knock on the door followed, and I opened it to find Mr. Michael standing there with a small smile.
"Ready?" he asked.
"As I'll ever be," I replied, hoping my voice didn't crack.
His driver moved forward, politely reaching for my suitcase.
Behind me, Sophie hovered with a smirk on her face, arms crossed, clearly trying to hold in the last-minute commentary itching to spill out of her mouth.
"I'll be back soon," I said to her.
"Mm-hmm," she sang, then leaned in for a hug. "Call me before your flight takes off, and when you land.
And don't forget to gist me everything, especially the off-the-record bits."
I swatted her playfully, and she whispered just before letting me go,
"Remember, one shared hotel room, dim lights, and his deep voice? Seduce responsibly."
"Sophie!" I hissed, cheeks burning.
But Michael raised a brow from the door as if he'd caught just enough to spark curiosity.
As I stepped out, I turned one last time to see her waving like a proud mischief-maker.
The SUV ride was quiet at first".
We both pretended to scroll on our phones, but the silence wasn't awkward; it was charged.
He finally spoke, eyes still out the window.
"I hope I didn't throw you off by not giving you more time to prepare."
"A little," I admitted. "But you gave me two days. That's something."
He nodded. "Truth is, I didn't want too much time to pass… I needed this trip."
I glanced at him. "For the project?"
His eyes finally met mine.
"Not just the project."
My heart thudded in my chest, and I had no clever reply.
As the city blurred past us and the airport signs came into view, I realized something: this trip wasn't just a business opportunity.
It was a turning point.
And I wasn't sure if I was ready for what was waiting on the other side of it".
Arrival at the Airport ✈️
The hum of early morning traffic surrounded us as Mr. Michael's sleek black SUV pulled into the private terminal lane.
I sat quietly in the back seat, watching the airport come into view, sleek glass, bustling travelers, flashing flight boards.
My suitcase was neatly packed, but inside me? A whirlwind of uncertainty.
The car rolled to a gentle stop, and before I could open the door, Mr. Michael stepped out first, circling to open mine.
"Here we are," he said with that soft, composed tone of his.
"Are you ready?"
Ready? Not entirely. But I nodded anyway. "Yeah… just nervous, I guess."
His eyes lingered on mine for a second longer than they should have, steady, unreadable.
"You'll be alright," he said. "It's just a trip."
Just a trip? I wasn't so sure.
A whole week together on business, with emotions from that stolen kiss still clinging like static electricity.
My heart thumped unevenly as the driver hoisted my luggage onto the trolley.
I turned for one last look before walking into the terminal, and there he was, Michael, standing tall, hands tucked in his pockets,
watching me like I was both a mystery and a storm cloud.
The glass doors slid open, ushering us into the polished interior of the private terminal.
The check-in process was swift, surprisingly smooth, and first class had its privileges, after all.
As we walked toward the lounge, Michael leaned closer and said just loud enough for me to hear,
"We'll have a few hours before the flight boards. Make yourself comfortable… and try not to overthink."
Easy for him to say.
The lounge was cozy, secluded".
Rich leather chairs, warm lighting, and the scent of fresh espresso floating in the air.
I took a seat by the window, watching planes taxiing on the runway, wondering if I was flying toward clarity… or chaos.
Michael returned moments later with two mugs.
"Green tea," he said, offering one to me. "I remember you like that."
I blinked. "You remembered?"
He smiled lightly. "I notice things."
My fingers brushed his as I took the cup. And in that brief contact, every moment from the office replayed in my head.
The kiss. The tension. My confusion.
I sipped the tea to steady myself. "Thanks."
He settled into the seat beside me, comfortable in silence. But I was far from calm.
I could feel the invisible string tightening between us.
Outside, a plane took off, slicing through the morning sky.
Inside, I realized this trip was already shaping up to be more than just business".
One Key, Two Fates
The hotel stood tall and regal, its glass façade reflecting the golden afternoon sun.
A doorman in a dark blazer greeted us with a polished smile as Mr. Michael and I stepped out of the car.
Our luggage followed, rolled in by the bellhop.
I was already tired from the flight, my nerves still frayed by the hours of sitting beside a man I couldn't quite read anymore.
We walked into the lavish lobby, with gold accents, soft jazz playing overhead, and the faint scent of lemongrass in the air.
It should've felt luxurious. Instead, it felt like walking into a trap I hadn't prepared for.
Mr. Michael strolled confidently up to the front desk while I followed behind, distracted by the weight of the week ahead.
"Reservation under Michael Asher," he said to the receptionist.
She clicked through her screen, her brows pinching slightly.
"Ah… sir, it appears there was a system glitch.
The company's reservation system had a double-booking.
All rooms are currently occupied except…" She paused, glanced at me awkwardly, "…a deluxe king suite."
I blinked. "A what?"
She cleared her throat. "One room. One bed."
My eyebrows shot up. "You can't be serious."
She winced apologetically. "I truly am sorry, ma'am.
There's a huge conference in town this week. Every hotel nearby is full."
"There has to be a way," I said quickly, panic rising. "Check again.
Or give us something, anything, even if it's smaller!"
"I've checked, ma'am," she said gently. "There's no other availability."
I looked up at Mr. Michael, waiting for him to object too, but instead, he turned to me with calm eyes and shrugged.
"It's just one week," he said. "We can manage sharing."
I stared at him in disbelief. "Michael, you and I… in the same room?"
A pause.
"I'll sleep on the couch, if that helps," he added, lips twitching in a small, amused smile.
"You can draw a line with pillows and pretend it's the Berlin Wall."
I exhaled. What was I supposed to do? Sleep outside?
"Fine," I muttered, defeated. "But no funny business. I swear."
"No promises," he teased under his breath, just quiet enough for me to wonder if I imagined it.
Our bags were quickly whisked away, and we followed the bellhop into the elevator.
I stayed silent, my arms folded.
The quiet ding of each passing floor echoed louder in my ears than it should've.
When we finally stepped into the room, I stopped dead in the doorway.
It was beautiful.
…And dangerously intimate.
Warm tones, velvet curtains, and a stunning city skyline through the tall windows.
A glass partition separated the bed area from a small sitting space with a velvet couch and a minibar.
And smack in the middle of the room?
A king-sized bed dressed in crisp white sheets and golden throw pillows.
"Oh my goodness," I whispered. "This is not happening."
Michael tipped the bellhop, then turned to me, setting his suitcase down.
"You can take the bed. I'll manage."
I dropped onto the couch with a groan. "This is going to be a long week."
He chuckled, loosening his tie. "It doesn't have to be.
We're adults. We'll survive."
I shot him a glare. "I know exactly what kind of trouble adults can get into when they share a room."
Michael grinned, but didn't reply. Instead, he tossed his blazer on the armchair and walked to the minibar.
"Drink to calm your nerves?"
"I'd rather drink to teleport out of here," I muttered.
Still, I took the glass of sparkling water he handed me and sipped slowly, trying to breathe.
Because if the mix-up was already this much of a mess… what would happen when night fell?
And what would happen if that kiss from the office… wasn't the last?