Se connecterGemmaI never wanted to ask. The question slipped out of my mouth, and the moment I heard myself, I wished I could take it back.Julian slowly moved away from me, giving me room to sit up.“Yes,” he answered. “It was just a one-time thing.”I wasn’t supposed to care. I had done the same thing. Simon and I understood our arrangement, and Julian and I weren’t even together when he slept with whoever it was.So why was I suddenly so annoyed?I looked away, trying to make sense of the unreasonable jealousy rising inside me. Perhaps it was because I knew exactly what Julian was capable of doing to a woman when he wanted her. The thought of him sharing that side of himself with someone else bothered me more than I cared to admit.How ridiculous. I was the one who moved on, yet here I was, getting upset over something I had no right to complain about.“I need to get breakfast,” I announced, pushing myself off the bed.I barely made it to the door before Julian held my hand.“Are you upset?”
GemmaI woke up and reached for Julian, only to find his side of the bed empty. I blinked sleepily and sat up, looking around the room. Last night was beautiful, especially the kiss we shared before falling asleep. I pressed my lips together, trying not to smile like a fool.Where was that man?I slipped out of bed and grabbed one of his white polo shirts. It was big enough to fall loosely over my thighs, and I didn’t bother looking for anything else. After tying my hair back, I walked out of the bedroom.A sound from the gym caught my attention. I followed it, slowing down when I reached the entrance. Julian was inside, working out while talking to someone through his earbud. I couldn’t make out most of what he was saying, but one word caught my attention.Life.I frowned.“What life?”Julian turned around, clearly surprised by my sudden appearance. He quickly ended the call and approached me with a smile that looked too innocent for a man who had just been discussing something he di
JulianI woke up before Gemma the following morning.She was still asleep beside me, her face relaxed and beautiful. I stayed where I was, watching her, reluctant to disturb the peace of the moment. I spent so long wishing to have her close to me again that waking up beside her felt unreal.But I knew better than to mistake her presence for forgiveness.One pleasant evening wouldn’t erase the past, and I wasn’t going to rush her into giving me something she wasn’t ready for.After admiring her for a while, I carefully slipped out of bed and left her to sleep. I had already given my staff two days off. I wanted the house to ourselves, without anyone interrupting us or making Gemma feel uncomfortable.I headed to the home gym, changed into my workout clothes, and began exercising. My phone was connected to my earbuds, and James was on the other end of the call.“It’s done,” I told him, lifting the weights before lowering them again. “The deal with Vincent is off.”There was a pause.“Wh
GemmaWhen Julian arrived to pick me up, I was ready and waiting. I took my time getting dressed because I wanted to look my best.My black dress fitted closely to my figure, with a daring neckline and a high slit that revealed my thigh whenever I moved. I paired it with strappy heels, a small red handbag, and simple jewellery. Gigi and Katia did my makeup, teasing me throughout the evening.When I stepped outside, Julian’s eyes moved over me. He didn’t say anything, but the look on his face said enough. He opened the car door for me, and we drove to the restaurant.“Have you always been this stubborn, or is it something you developed specifically to frustrate me?” he asked, staring at me across the table. He seemed far too comfortable for a man who had spent the last few days trying to get back into my good books.“Perhaps you bring out the worst in me.”“And yet, you agreed to have dinner with me.”“Don’t flatter yourself. I was hungry.”“Of course.”I took a sip of my drink, fighti
GemmaThe house was even more beautiful than I had expected. I stood in the middle of the living room, taking in the wide windows, the polished floors, and the amount of space around me. Sunlight streamed through the glass, lighting up the room and making it feel warm and welcoming. I could already picture the kind of furniture I wanted, where I would put the television, and how I would decorate the walls.After spending so much time away, I wanted a place that felt like mine. Somewhere I could come home after a long day at the restaurant, take off my shoes, and relax.The kitchen was the first place I wanted to explore properly. I walked inside, looking over the counters and cupboards, then moved towards the window. There was enough room for everything I needed, and I could already imagine myself preparing meals there on the weekends.“This kitchen is lovely,” Katia said as she walked in behind me. “I can see you spending your entire day here.”I turned to her with a smile. “You say
Gemma She made us pose beside the car, taking picture after picture until we were laughing too hard to cooperate. When we settled down, I told them about another call I had received. Someone had contacted me about a house and asked me to come and see it the following day. “I haven’t seen it yet, but from what they told me, it sounds like what I’ve been looking for.” Gigi grabbed my shoulders. “Another surprise? Should we expect a private jet tomorrow?” I laughed and pushed her hands away. “Please, leave me alone.” “No, seriously! We have a new car and a possible new house. This girl is not allowing us to rest!” Katia joined in, talking about how we would inspect every room and make sure the house was worth the money. Their excitement was contagious. I found myself imagining the house, wondering whether it would have the kind of kitchen I wanted and enough space to make it feel like home. Eventually, we returned to the penthouse, still talking about the car and the







