Alex sat upright on the hospital bed, her fingers twisting the edge of the blanket.
"Sir, thank you for helping me," she said carefully. "But I really can't stay at your place."
Ian was standing near the window, checking something on his phone. He didn't respond immediately, and for a moment she wondered if he had heard her.
She continued anyway. "I don't even know you. It would be inappropriate. I'll just go back to my apartment once I'm discharged."
He finally looked up at her. His expression was calm, unreadable.
"You're not going back there," he said.
She frowned. "Why not?"
"The man who tried to attack you knows where you live."
Her lips parted slightly. She hadn't thought about that, and besides how did he know a man attacked me.
"I'll be careful," she insisted. "I can stay with a friend."
"Do you have one nearby?" he asked.
She hesitated.
That was answer enough.
Ian slipped his phone into his pocket and walked closer to the bed. He wasn't angry, and he wasn't raising his voice. If anything, he sounded too composed.
"You'll stay at my place until this is settled."
"But I'll impose on you" she said, her voice tightening.
"True."
The confidence in his tone made her heart flutter for some reason. "You don't even know me. Why are you doing this?"
He studied her face for a few seconds before answering.
"Because I don't like unfinished business," he said simply. "And tonight became my business the moment I stepped in."
"That doesn't mean I'm your responsibility."
"It does."
She opened her mouth to argue again, but the look in his eyes made her pause. He wasn't forcing her out of impulse. He had already made up his mind.
"I won't cause trouble," she said quietly. "I'll leave as soon as I'm better."
"Hmmm" he replied non-committally
It wasn't a negotiation. It was a conclusion.
That evening, when the car stopped in front of his mansion, Alex felt even more uncomfortable.
"This is unnecessary," she muttered.
Ian stepped out first and walked around to her side.
"You can refuse as much as you want," he said, opening the door for her, "but you're still coming in."
She glared at him. "You're very overbearing,".
A faint smile touched his lips. "I've been called worse, but I quite like this one, Call me Ian".
She stepped out reluctantly " Ian" she said sofly.
Ian's eyes darkened at the way his name sounded in her mouth.
As they walked inside, the staff greeted him respectfully. Alex felt completely out of place.
"I don't belong here," she whispered.
Ian heard her.
I beg to differ" he replied.
She looked at him, strangely unable to argue.
Ian looked at her cooly as they walked into the house
there was something steady in the way he watched her — as if he had already decided that she would remain in his life, that he was sure of, this little girl whom he fell in love with at first sight.
Just certainty.