Mag-log inI sat up straight the moment I saw Xavier drive into the parking lot.
Finally.
He had decided to come home after leaving so abruptly this morning.
It was already 9:25 p.m. I couldn’t help but wonder where he had been all day. Somehow, I had a feeling he hadn’t been at the office.
A few moments later, I heard the elevator ding, followed by the familiar beep of the fingerprint scanner as Xavier unlocked the front door.
I remained seated in the livi
XAVIER’S POV“Are you getting all of those?”The chubby cashier asked, pointing at my cart, her eyes wide in shock.“Err… Yeah, I am,” I said in a way that sounded like a question.I handed her the paper bag filled with all types of sanitary pads. I already scrolled through the pharmacy section and picked a few painkillers she could use.After roaming around the store for several minutes without knowing for sure exactly what to buy, I ended up picking five different brands of sanitary pads, two brands of tampons, and even one menstrual cup, just to be on the safe side.I wasn’t sure which she liked or used frequently and for lack of any knowledge about how these things worked, I opted to buy almost everything I saw.The cashier took the products f
We left the little souvenir shop still laughing over Xavier’s bubble incident.“I’m deleting that picture the moment you forget about it,” he muttered.“You wish.”“I do.”“I’ve already decided it’s going into my collection.”“What collection?”“The one where I gather evidence that Xavier Crest is, in fact, capable of having fun.”He gave me a sidelong glance.“I’ve made one mistake today.”“No.”“You’ve witnessed one.”I laughed.“Fair enough.”The farther we walked into Bellagio, the narrower the streets became.Every corner revealed another hidden treasure.Tiny family-owned boutiques displayed handmade leather journals, silk scarves, woven hats, and delicate jewelry crafted by local artisans.One shop had shelves lined entirely with hand-painted ceramic dishes.I stopped immediately.“They’re beautiful.”Each plate featured vibrant lemons, olive branches, and tiny blue flowers, carefully painted on.I picked up a small ceramic mug.“Look at this.”Xavier examined it.“It’s nice.”
“We’re here.”The captain’s voice gently pulled me from my thoughts.I lifted my head from Xavier’s shoulder so quickly that my neck protested.Heat rushed to my cheeks.Oh my God.I had actually fallen asleep on him.I sat upright so fast I nearly lost my balance.“I’m sorry!”Xavier looked completely unfazed.“For?”“I used you as a pillow.”He looked at me for a moment before answering.“Don’t worry you were lightweight, I’ve had worse.”Bellagio was somehow even prettier than I imagined.The moment we stepped off the boat, I felt like I’d walked straight into a postcard.The streets were narrow and paved with o
The drive itself felt like part of the adventure.I had barely fastened my seatbelt before my eyes were glued to the window.Italy looked nothing like New York.The roads curved gently around the mountains instead of stretching endlessly between towering skyscrapers. Small villages sat quietly along the hillsides, their stone houses dressed in warm shades of cream, terracotta and pale yellow. Now and then, colorful flower boxes spilled from balconies, making the entire place look like someone had carefully painted each building by hand.Even the air looked different—cleaner, lighter and absolutely brighter.The deeper we drove, the more impossible the scenery became.One moment I was admiring rows of beautiful trees swaying gently in the breeze, and the next, the lake suddenly appeared.My breath caught.“Oh…”It stretched farther than my eyes could follow.The water shimmered beneath the morning sun like liquid glass, reflecting the mountains that surrounded it. Elegant villas sat al
Warm sunlight brushed against my face long before I opened my eyes. For a few blissful seconds, I forgot where I was.No traffic.No sirens.No neighbors arguing through paper-thin apartment walls.Just silence. The kind that settles so peacefully.I slowly opened my eyes.The elegant chandelier above the bed came into focus first.Then the beige-colored ceiling. Then the unfamiliar room.Italy.A smile spread across my face before I could stop it.It wasn’t a dream, I really was here.I turned slightly and glanced at Xavier who was still asleep on his side of the bed.He lay on his back, one arm resting above the blanket, his breathing slow and even.Without his usual stern expression, he looked much younger and even softer. Almost approachable. Which is funny, considering he was asleep. His ruffled hair covered most of his face, leaving the side of his face in my view—a view I was dissecting shamelessly with my eyes. Tracing the shape of his jaw with my eyes, I couldn’t stop myse
I stood in the middle of the suite with my suitcase still in my hand.“So…” I looked around awkwardly. “I guess this is our room.”Xavier set his luggage beside the wardrobe and nodded.“It appears so.”Neither of us moved.The room suddenly felt much smaller than it had a few minutes ago.Sharing a room with Xavier hadn’t crossed my mind when we agreed to come on this trip.Sharing a bed?That definitely wasn’t on the agenda at all.I cleared my throat.“I can take the couch.”He glanced toward the sitting area visible through the open doorway.“There isn’t one.”I followed his gaze.Well, there really wasn’t. I scratched the back of my neck.“This is awkward.”“A little.”A little? This was a lot.I dragged my suitcase onto the bed and unzipped
I was disheveled and trying to pull myself together when I saw Xavier strolling in with a bored expression on his face, two security guards walking alongside him. “Escort Miss Poe here out of these premises this instant” he said with no emotion to the security. I stood there, dumbfounded and tongu
I left the office very aggravated. Who does Xavier think he is?..... To propose a flimsy fake marriage to me. Does he think I am one of his whores? I wondered to myself. I hadn’t even bothered to read the whole of the contract before I rejected it. I started to blame myself for saying no when he a
I got to work a few minutes past resumption time because I slept through my alarm— it must be my body’s way of resting after my terrific weekend. My morning was rushed, I had to prepare hurriedly for work and still ended up arriving late. I rushed in, scared of the consequences of my boss arriving
“Whoa! Breathe Sydney— what happened?!” My best friend’s voice filled with panic asked in perplexity. “What’s happening Syd?” She paused, “I’m beginning to get very worried— did someone die?” She asked worriedly. “Okay, breathe— in, out, yes just like that” she says trying to get me stable. After







