I got out of bed as slowly as possible the next morning, trying not to make a sound.
Rick was still asleep, his face turned toward the window, his breathing steady and quiet. The sheet had slipped low around his waist. I didn’t let myself look too long.
I moved carefully around the edge of the bed, picking up my clothes from the chair, grabbing the towel that had fallen near the bathroom door. I didn’t turn on the overhead lights. Just the soft wall light by the
vanity.
I showered fast, kept my movements quiet, folded the towel neatly when I was done. I changed into jeans and a soft cream top I’d packed, brushed my hair, and stood in front of the mirror just staring at myself.
There was nothing to be awkward about. I told myself that over and over. We were adults. I needed the release. He gave it to me. It wasn’t the first time he’d done that for me, even if he didn’t remember. This wasn’t new, only the context was.
I stepped out of the bathroom and glanced his way again.
Still asleep.
I grabbed my bag and sat on the farthest edge of the couch to wait.
Eventually, he stirred, stretched and pulled the covers back and got up like it was just another day.
No acknowledgment, no tension and nothing.
I was already tense. Every step I took beside him felt off–balance, like I was walking too close to a wall. I clutched my bag tighter as we headed down the hall.
Then, of course, it slipped from my fingers.
The zipper came undone halfway, and everything spilled across the floor.
I dropped to my knees instantly, scrambling to gather my things, hoping, praying, he wouldn’t react.
But I heard his footsteps stop. Then I saw his shoes. Then his hand, calm and steady, pick up the one thing I really didn’t want him touching.
The black lace lingerie.
He didn’t even flinch.
Just held it between his fingers like it was nothing, dropped it into the bag, and grabbed the rest of the items with me without saying a word.
I kept my eyes down.
“Has this always made you shy?” he asked suddenly. His voice was quiet, smooth, but it carried a hint of something smug under all that cold.
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I looked up, heart thudding. His face was unreadable and serious, not smiling and not teasing like someone playing around.
Just watching me.
“You didn’t seem this shy last night.”
I froze. Why on earth would he still go ahead and bring last night up.
He zipped the bag, stood, and walked off like he hadn’t said anything at all.
I followed him silently down the hall, back to the car.
The drive was completely quiet, except for the low hum of the engine and the occasional wave hitting the coast as we pulled away from the estate.
I kept glancing at him out of the corner of my eye.
He didn’t say anything until the third time.
“You keep looking at me,” he said, voice flat.
My face flushed instantly. I stared straight ahead. “I’m not.”
“You are.”
I didn’t answer. I crossed my arms and pressed my back against the seat, eyes locked on the passing trees. My skin was hot all over. I could feel his smirk even if I didn’t look at him again.
When we pulled into the driveway, I was already reaching for the handle before the car fully stopped.
I stepped out, my heart speeding up as the front door opened.
“Mommy!”
Lena’s voice rang out and then she was barreling down the steps barefoot in her tiny pink pajamas, hair wild and sticking up in curls.
I dropped my bag on the ground and knelt just in time to catch her in my arms.
She clung to my neck like a monkey, legs wrapped tight around me. I hugged her close, breathing her in, kissing her head over and over.
“I missed you so much,” she said, her little voice muffled in my shirt.
“I missed you more,” I whispered.
She leaned back, her small face beaming, then turned toward Rick who had just stepped onto the front
step.
She looked at him curiously for a second, head tilted, and then she launched forward and wrapped her arms around his leg.
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Rick froze.
I watched, holding my breath.
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He looked down like someone had just tossed him a kitten. His mouth parted slightly and he glanced at me like he was waiting for instructions.
Lena grinned up at him, “hi, Rick.”
His hand lifted awkwardly and hovered over her head before patting her curls once. “Hi,” he said, a little
stiffly.
She giggled and held tighter.
He shifted slightly, clearly out of his element, but he didn’t shake her off. His hand lowered again and rested carefully on her shoulder like he was trying not to break her.
It was weirdly adorable.
I smiled without meaning to.
That’s when Rick’s father stepped into the hall and cleared his throat.
“We need to talk,” he said.
The moment broke instantly. Rick peeled Lena off his leg gently and gave her a small nudge toward me. She held my hand as we followed his father into the formal sitting room.
He stood in front of the fireplace, arms crossed.
“The media team handled it,” he said. “We’ve gotten most of the photos flagged and taken down but it was close. Too close.”
I sat straighter.
He looked at me directly. “I can’t risk something like this happening again. So from now on, you’ll be kept under closer watch.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“It means,” he said, “you’ll be working in the family company. Specifically, as Rick’s personal secretary. Starting tomorrow.”
My stomach dropped. I glanced at Rick. His expression didn’t change. No surprise. No disagreement.
“Are you serious?” I asked.
“You’ll have access to everything. That means less room for… distractions,” he said. “And more control over your schedule. It’ll be easier to manage your image.”
“I didn’t agree to this.”
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“You agreed when you signed the contract,” he said without missing a beat. “Now this is how we move forward, do your part.”
I stared at him, blood pounding in my cars.
Rick finally spoke. “We’ll figure it out.”
His father left the room without another word.
I sat there, heart hammering, Lena’s tiny hand still wrapped around my fingers.
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