Chapter Forty One

The thud of Thea's running shoes against the treadmill was the only sound in the gym. Sweat plastered strands of hair to her temples, and her muscles burned, but she pushed harder, faster.

Days of hiding, of wallowing in self-pity, had left her feeling weak and disgusted with herself. Now, she needed to exhaust her body, hoping it would quiet the turmoil in her mind. Every stride was an attempt to outrun the shame.

Daisy's presence and Seth’s surprising concern for her was enough to push her out of her cave. It was great, having these people in her corner, she couldn’t deny it. She had dreams and goals and most importantly, she needed to ruin Posy’s life just as much as she ruined hers.

Or maybe even worse.

She glanced over her shoulder aand almost stumbled off the treadmill when saw Seth right behind her. She braced herself quickly and managed to steady her strides soon after. She pushed the stop button before turning to face him fully.

She didn’t even hear the glass door swing open.

He was dressed in black workout gear that hugged his frame, looking effortlessly intimidating even in a casual setting. He walked directly to the treadmill beside hers in silence..

Thea glanced at the door and back at the man beside her. This was supposed to be her personal gym according to Butler John.

“This is my gym,”she reminded him.

“I know.” Seth said, his voice clipped as he adjusted the settings on his machine.

Thea folded her arms, a frown on her face. “I thought we had separate quarters for a reason.”

"My gym had a power shortage," Seth stated. He didn't elaborate, simply beginning his own run, a lie that felt surprisingly casual on his tongue.

Thea raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement passing through her. A power shortage in the Blackwood penthouse?

“Why don’t I believe you?” she asked.

Seth shrugs. “ You don't believe anything I say.”

Thea scoffs. “ You made house rules, remember? You said we need to inform the other person before heading to their quarters.”

She could remember when Bulter John handed her the rules the very day she moved in and now, he just walts into her quarters whenever he feels like it!

“I did. I said please.” Seth said, placing his headphones over his ears.

Thea’s eyes went wide open by just how audacious he was. “ No you didn’t!”

But Seth wasn’t listening or so it seems. Thea scoffed, there was no point yelling , his headphones were on his ears. She'll just have to get even. That's it.

They ran in silence for a while, the only sounds were their breathing and the hum of the machines. After twenty minutes, she slowed her pace, cooling down before stepping off the treadmill.

She grabbed a towel, wiping her face and neck, then moved to the stretching area. She began her routine, stretching out her hamstrings, then arching her back, feeling the tension slowly release from her body. Her gaze caught Seth staring at her from the mirror that lined the gym wall. His eyes roaming her body with a hooded expression on his face.

A small smile curled on her lips as she bent to touch her toes, feeling the satisfying pull in her muscles. She straightened up, letting her hands glide down her body in a sensual motion. She caught Seth's eye in the mirror again, he was indeed looking. He wasn’t on the treadmill any more.

Feeling powerful, Thea walked towards him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She covered the distance between their treadmills, stopping just a few feet from him.

"Why were you staring?" Thea asked, a slight smirk playing on her lips. She watched him, enjoying the subtle shift in his controlled demeanor.

"I wasn't staring," he replied, his voice flat. He kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, as if interested in the data on his treadmill screen. "I was simply observing your form. Important for injury prevention."

Thea chuckled. "My form, huh? Is that what they're calling it these days?" She leaned slightly closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Your face just betrayed you, you know. You were totally staring."

Seth's jaw tightened, a faint flush rising on his neck despite his efforts to remain calm. " You flatter yourself." he stated, his voice even.

Thea laughed again, he was totally staring. It felt good. "Oh, I don't think so. Mr. Blackwood, caught red-handed."

He knew he'd been caught red handed and he wasn’t ready to admit or deny her allegations.. He heads towards the mirror, picking up a pair of dumbells. "Are you quite done? I have an actual workout to complete."

Before Thea could give him a reply, her phone rang, vibrating in the pocket of her shorts. She pulled it out, a wide smile spreading across her face as she saw the caller ID.

Daisy.

"At this point, I’m going to get you a boyfriend, Daisy. It is on my to-do list for the year!" Thea exclaimed, joining Seth by the mirror as he lifts weights.

Daisy laughs. “You should! I wouldn’t mind if Seth has a friend or something. But guess what? Take a wild guess as to who I saw today.”

"Who?’’ Thea asked and her eyes flickered towards Seth who seems to be raising thise dumbbells rather…. Easily. Her eyes went down to his arms and how his veins popped out of his skin, sweating dripping down those sexy arms..

She bit her lower lip unconciously.

“Just guess!” Daisy snapped, jerking Thea back to reality.

“Posy?”

"Bingo!" Daisy practically shouted. "you should have seen her! She was coming out of Fiona's car, and she was absolutely loaded down with bags! Not her own, mind you! Fiona's shopping bags! She looked like a pack mule! And she was sweating! In broad daylight! Like a proper servant!"

Thea clapped a hand over her mouth, muffling a giggle. The image of Posy struggling with Fiona's shopping bags was priceless. The brat wouldnt even carry her own bags when she goes shopping but she's carrying Fiona’s?

"No way!" Thea managed, still trying to suppress her laughter. "You are kidding me!"

"I swear on my last slice of pizza!" Daisy insisted. "She looked absolutely miserable! And Fiona was just strolling beside her, not lifting a finger."

Thea couldn't hold it back anymore. A loud, unrestrained laugh burst from her. It wasn’t much but knowing Posy isn’t in her room, laughing about her misery was enough for her. She laughed so hard she couldn’t stay in a spot, staggering towards the entrance.

Seth, who had been listening in silence, suddenly stopped. He grabbed his towel, a clear sign he was done. He started to move away, towards the exit, obviously ready to dismiss himself from their conversation.

"Wait, wait, Daisy!" Thea said, still laughing into the phone.

Seth approached the entrance but Thea was blocking his path with her arm. "You're telling me Fiona actually had her carrying her shopping bags?"

"Exactly! Like her personal errand girl! Oh, if only I had taken a picture!" Daisy lamented.

Thea, still caught up in the triumphant glee, didn't fully register Seth's attempt to leave. She stood directly in front of him, her arm still extended, pressing her bum against his thigh. Their bodies were close, the heat radiating off him from his workout seeping into her, a heady mix of sweat and his natural masculine scent filling her senses. The smell of her jasmine shampo filled his nostrils,

Seth froze.

His eyes, initially fixed on the clear path she was blocking, dropped to where their bodies touched. Her arm was still extended, casually resting against his chest, her bare skin against his shirt. He could feel the warmth of her, the give of her form against his. The sound of her laughter vibrated through him.

Then he realised the strangest thing: his heart was….racing. It was barely even a touch from her, yet, here he was..

His jaw tightened, a muscle jumping in his cheek. He let out a soft, almost inaudible curse under his breath.

Thea finally registered his stillness. She looked up, her laughing eyes meeting him.

"Thea?" Daisy's voice chirped from the phone, oblivious. "Are you still there? Hello?"

Thea felt herself get lost in Seth's gaze, in the look in his eyes. She watched as his eyes dropped from hers to her lips, then back up again, dark and demanding.

Then, without thinking much of it, Seth closed the remaining distance between them. His free hand cupped the back of her head, pulling her face towards his. And he kissed her.

It wasn't gentle, it was possessive, urgent. He had tried his best to stay from her, to keep his distance but now, he just couldn’t.

His lips crushed against hers, demanding a response. Thea's phone slipped from her fingers, clattering to the padded floor, Daisy's confused voice cut off. Her hands rose, gripping the fabric of his shirt, clinging to him as the world spun. The scent of him, the taste of him, filled her senses, and for the first time in days, she felt something other than pain and shame.

She felt alive.