Chapter 15

My heart drummed so loud I swore it could be heard down the hall the second I shut the door to Ace’s room behind me. My lips were still swollen, my skin still burning. If Mr. Scott saw me flushed, if he caught even a glimpse of guilt in my eyes, everything would come undone.

I smoothed my hair quickly, tugged the hem of my blouse into place, and forced air into my lungs before stepping back into the wide hallway. My legs still trembled, but I tried to hide it.

The sound of Mr. Scott’s voice carried before I saw him. He was just stepping out of his home office, phone still in hand, his brow arched in deep thought until his gaze snagged mine.

“There you are,” Mr. Scott said in a soft tone as he slipped the phone into his pocket. “I was wondering where you disappeared to.”

I offered him the faintest smile I could manage without looking guilty. “Just... walking around. Needed some air.”

He looked at me for a while, and I fought the urge to look away. I kept my head tilted in innocent curiosity, hoping my calm front would hold.

“Did the call go well?” I asked.

The question opened him up instantly. His stern features shifted into something brighter. “Well?” He gave a short laugh, shaking his head. “Sabrina, it was more than well. That was the call I’ve been waiting on for months.” He stepped toward me, his hand brushing briefly along my arm. “It’s a ten-billion-dollar deal. Ten billion. Do you know what that means for my company?”

I widened my eyes in what I hoped looked like genuine awe. “That’s incredible. I don’t even know how to picture that much money.”

His smile deepened at my reaction, a boyish flash hidden under the polished surface of the powerful man he was. “Neither do most people. But for me? It means expansion. I’ve worked so long for this, Sabrina, longer than I care to admit. And now it’s ours.”

Ours? The word pricked me in the chest. I swallowed the sudden tightness in my throat and let my smile linger, nodding as though I were as invested in this triumph as he was.

“You deserve it,” I said softly. “I’ve seen how hard you work. No one else could’ve made it happen.”

His eyes softened at my words. “We’ll celebrate tonight,” he said. His hand pressed to the small of my back, guiding me gently toward the stairs. “Just the two of us. A proper evening out. You’ll wear something beautiful, and we’ll toast to everything that’s finally falling into place.”

My chest tightened. “That sounds wonderful.”

He glanced at me, and I gave him the softest smile I could muster, praying it was enough. As we descended the stairs, he spoke again, his words tumbling out faster now, as if the joy was too big to contain.

“This deal... It’s not just about the money, Sabrina. It’s about power and influence. And once this contract is signed, there isn’t a door in the industry I won’t be able to open.”

I listened, nodding at the right moments, but inside I was adrift. “What happens next?” I asked, partly to keep him talking.

“Next?” He let out a sharp breath, his smile widening. “Next comes the press. The stock will climb, and meetings with investors will follow. And I’ll need to travel. But tonight—” He stopped at the bottom of the stairs, turning to face me fully. His eyes softened as they landed on me. “Tonight, none of that matters. It’s just us tonight.”

My pulse quickened. I nodded once, my throat dry. “I’ll be ready.”

“Good,” he murmured, leaning in just enough that I felt the warmth of his breath on my cheek. Then he pulled back, slipping his phone from his pocket again. “I need to make a few more calls, confirm the finer details. But Sabrina...”

“Yes?”

His eyes locked on mine. “Thank you,” he said simply.

“For what?”

He didn’t answer, but he gave me one last smile before turning away, while I stood in the grand living room, frozen, my hands trembling at my sides.

* * *

By the time we left the house, it was night already. Mr. Scott had dressed in a black, sleek suit that hugged his broad shoulders perfectly, his tie a deep shade of navy that matched the gleam in his eyes. I’d chosen a long silk dress.

Now, as we slid into the backseat of his car, his hand brushed against mine on the seat casually, but my chest tightened. I couldn’t bring myself to pull away.

“You look stunning tonight,” he said softly, almost reverently, as though he hadn’t already said it twice back at the house.

“Thank you,” I murmured, my voice catching. “You look... very sharp yourself.”

A smile curved his lips. “Sharp? I’ll take that.”

The driver wove us through the city until we pulled up to the kind of place that looked plucked out of a dream. Inside, a live artist stood near the small stage, strumming a guitar and crooning into the microphone, his voice smooth. In the center of it all, a polished wooden floor was cleared for dancing.

Mr. Scott’s hand rested at the small of my back as we entered, guiding me through the crowd. His touch was firm yet protective, as though he wanted me tethered to him.

“This is beautiful,” I whispered as we reached our table.

“Nothing but the best,” he replied. “Tonight deserves it.”

Our glasses were filled with champagne that fizzed golden under the candlelight. He spoke of the deal again.

“This was one of my goals this year, Sabrina,” he said at one point, leaning closer over the table so only I could hear him. “All those nights I spent working extra hard were worth it after all.”

I nodded, my chest tightening. “I know. I’ve seen how much it means to you. And you deserve to feel this proud.”

His gaze softened again. I thought he might reach across the table to take my hand, but instead he sat back, swirling the champagne in his glass. Around us, couples had begun to leave for the dance floor, the music swelling as the artist shifted into a slower, softer melody.

Mr. Scott glanced at the floor, then at me. “Would you like to dance?”

The question caught me off guard. My heart skipped once, twice. Dancing with him here, in front of everyone.

Still, I found myself nodding. “I’d love to.”

He rose first, ever the gentleman, then extended his hand toward me. I slipped mine to his, my fingers small against his strong palm, and let him lead me on the dance floor. The air shifted as we joined the other couples, the sound of laughter and murmured conversation giving way to the rhythm of music.

When his hand settled at my waist, my breath caught. He drew me closer, his other hand holding mine, and for a moment, it was as if the rest of the room fell away.

“You dance well,” I whispered, surprised at the smoothness of his movements.

He smiled faintly, his gaze fixed on mine. “Don’t sound so surprised. There are many things I’m good at. Sabrina. You haven’t seen them all yet.”

The double meaning flickered in the air, and I forced myself to laugh softly, to keep the moment. “I’ll have to take your word for it.”

“You won’t need to,” he replied in a low voice, as his hand pressed a little firmer against my back.

We moved slowly across the floor. I allowed myself to melt into his arms.

“You make tonight better by just being here,” he murmured, his eyes never leaving mine.

My throat tightened. “I’m glad I could share it with you.”

His lips curved. “I don’t say this often, Sabrina. But I’m grateful for you.” His gaze softened, his hand squeezing mine as the music swelled.