Nyra did not answer the phone like a newly married woman. She answered like a gossip columnist who had been waiting for breaking news.
"Aeris."
There was accusation in her tone.
Aeris smiled despite herself and shifted on her bed, staring at the ceiling. "You've been married for three days."
"And you," Nyra shot back immediately, "have been gatekeeping a billionaire for four."
Aeris groaned. "Oh my God."
"Don't oh my God me. A whole island, Aeris. An island. Not a bracelet. Not a car. Not some cute sentimental nonsense. A landmass."
Aeris turned onto her side, tucking her phone between her ear and shoulder. "It was a wedding gift," she muttered.
"A mini island," Nyra repeated, refusing to let it go. "Do you know how unserious that is? Do you know how powerful that is?"
"I didn't even know mini islands were for sale."
"That's because we are peasants," Nyra replied solemnly. "And he is not."
Aeris laughed, but she felt warmth creep into her cheeks. She hadn't expected that. She hadn't expected him to dominate the wedding the way he did. Not loudly. Not arrogantly. Just by existing. Even Taylor had nearly lost his vows mid-sentence when someone whispered about the island gift.
"Taylor won't shut up about it," Nyra continued. "He said and I quote, 'That man breathes in a different tax bracket.'"
Aeris snorted.
There was a small pause. Then Nyra's voice softened.
"He's handsome."
Aeris closed her eyes.
"I noticed."
"Not just handsome. Dangerous handsome. Like 'don't introduce him to your father' handsome."
Aeris swallowed. Her mind flashed to him in that black tuxedo. The way the room shifted when he walked in. The way he hugged her like she belonged there with him. Like Renek didn't exist.
"He looked at you like…" Nyra trailed off.
"Like what?"
"Like you weren't optional."
The words settled in Aeris' chest quietly. She changed the subject before her thoughts could deepen.
"How's married life?"
"Beautiful. Amazing. Life-changing," Nyra answered instantly. "But we're not talking about me."
Aeris groaned again.
"Nyra."
"Have you spoken to him?"
Aeris hesitated. There it was. The real reason for the call. "I told him thank you," she said.
"And?"
"And that was it."
Nyra went silent.
"That was it?"
"What was I supposed to say?" Aeris defended lightly. "Thank you for the island and also my heart?"
"Yes."
Aeris burst into laughter. "You're ridiculous."
"I am correct."
A pause.
Then, more gently, she asked "Did he text you after?"
"No."
"Did you text him?"
"No."
Another pause.
"Aeris."
"What?"
"Do you have his number?"
Aeris blinked at the ceiling. "…No."
Nyra inhaled sharply.
"You mean to tell me," she began carefully, "that you attended my wedding with a man who could buy geography, and you did not secure a phone number?"
Aeris rolled onto her back dramatically.
"It didn't come up!"
"How does it not come up?"
"He left early," Aeris protested. "His father was in the hospital."
Nyra softened slightly at that.
"Right."
There was a brief moment of silence.
"Okay," Nyra said, voice sharpening again with determination. "We're fixing this."
"We're not fixing anything."
"Yes we are."
"Nyra."
"Call his office."
Aeris froze. "…Excuse me?"
"You said there was a complementary card attached to the gift, right? The wrist watch?"
"Yes."
"And it had contact details?"
"For his company, yes."
"Good."
Aeris pushed herself up into a sitting position. "You cannot be serious."
"Dead serious."
"Nyra."
"What?"
"I'm not calling a corporate office to ask if their CEO wants to grab coffee."
Nyra gasped dramatically. "Why not?"
"Because that is unhinged."
"No," Nyra corrected. "That is bold."
"It's desperate."
"It's strategic."
Aeris shook her head, though Nyra couldn't see it. "I will not be that woman."
"The woman who makes the first move?"
"The woman who calls a boardroom."
Nyra burst into laughter. "You wouldn't even have to say anything embarrassing. Just ask to leave a message. Or ask if he's available."
"Available?" Aeris repeated incredulously. "Like he's a dentist?"
Nyra ignored that. "You could say, 'Hi, this is Aeris. I just wanted to thank Mr. Rhaith personally for the generous wedding gift.' Boom. Dignified. Elegant. Adult."
Aeris bit her lip. It sounded reasonable when Nyra said it, But something about it felt… Too intentional.
"What if he doesn't remember me?" Aeris teased lightly.
Nyra scoffed. "He bought my island and spent half the night standing next to you."
Aeris' stomach fluttered despite herself.
"He remembers."
Silence lingered between them.
"You deserve something good," Nyra said quietly.
Aeris' expression changed.
"And if this man is as intentional as he looks… you shouldn't sit around pretending you don't want to explore it."
Aeris stared at the wall. Did she want to explore it? She wasn't heartbroken over Renek, She wasn't longing. But something about Caelum felt— Heavy…Like stepping into deep water.
"I don't even know if he'd say yes," she murmured.
"Then you'll know," Nyra replied simply.
That was the thing about Nyra. She was fearless with love.
Aeris sighed.
"I'm not calling his office."
Nyra groaned. "You are impossible."
"I'm cautious."
"You're dramatic."
"I am reasonable."
"You are stalling."
Aeris smiled, Maybe she was. Maybe she wasn't ready to find out whether he'd lean in Or lean away.
"Fine," Nyra relented playfully. "We'll revisit this."
"Thank you."
"But if I see him before you do and he asks why you never reached out, I will not defend you."
"You're evil."
"I'm married. It's different."
Aeris laughed again. They drifted into easier topics after that; Honeymoon packing mishaps, Taylor nearly missing a flight, Nyra's mother already asking about grandchildren. The conversation softened into something warm and familiar. But after they hung up, Aeris found herself staring at the small card she had tucked into her vanity drawer. She hadn't thrown it away. She hadn't forgotten it either. Her thumb hovered over the embossed number. She smiled to herself.
"I'm not calling," she whispered. But she didn't put the card back.
————Late Night Lines—————-
The clock on her nightstand glowed 11:47 PM. Aeris lay on her bed, blankets twisted around her legs, hair messy, phone clutched between her fingers like it contained her heartbeat. Her thumb hovered over the dial pad as she stared at the office number from the card.
"You're really doing this," she whispered to herself. And then, with a deep breath, she pressed call. The line rang twice.
Three times.
Then—
"Rhaith & Co., how can I help you?"
The voice was smooth, warm, and laced with subtle amusement.
"Uh…" Aeris froze, her cheeks heating instantly. "Hi… I—I'm calling about… um…"
The voice interrupted gently, teasing.
"Britty Sugarcakes?"
Aeris blinked. "…Excuse me?"
"I got the message. You called. Late. Sugar's fine. That's me. Call me Sugar."
Aeris blinked again. Her chest warmed. "…Sugar?"
"Sweet, isn't it?" he teased. "Makes me feel important."
Her lips twitched, a laugh slipping out. "…I—well, yes. Sugar it is."
"Britty Sugarcakes," he said in mock formality. "You must be Aeris. Calling the office in the dead of night like a brave, reckless heroine."
Aeris' cheeks flamed. "…I—yes, I… well, I wasn't sure…"
"I'm sure," Sugar said immediately, voice gentle now. "I can tell. Don't worry. You're not disturbing anyone… except maybe your own nerves."
Aeris swallowed hard, trying to recover. "…Right. Nerves…"
He chuckled softly. "I'll relay your message to the boss. Don't get your hopes up too high, though."
Her stomach sank. "…Oh?"
"Yeah," he said smoothly, amusement still dancing in his tone. "He doesn't like to be disturbed. Especially by ladies calling his office at this hour. And, uh… he doesn't usually roll with women who aren't… cover magazine level."
Aeris' heartbeat stuttered. "…I'm… not?" she murmured.
"Nope," he said immediately. "Not in the literal sense." There was a pause. "But don't take it personally. He's… particular."
Her shoulders slumped in embarrassment. "…Oh."
"Relax," Sugar reassured her. "I'll make sure he gets the message. I'll even make it sound… persuasive. Don't worry about a thing."
Aeris felt herself relax a fraction. "…Thank you. I… I appreciate it."
"You're welcome," Sugar said warmly. "And Baby girl … I like that you called. Bold is rare these days."
Aeris laughed quietly, soft and embarrassed. "…I didn't know it would be bold."
"Trust me," he said smoothly. "It is. But charmingly so."
Her hand twitched over the phone, wanting to pull the blankets tighter. "I… I just wanted to thank him for the wedding gift."
"Ah… the man with the mini-island," Sugar teased.
Aeris felt her cheeks flare again. "…Yes."
"Mmm," Sugar hummed. "Good choice."
A pause lingered between them. The kind that makes the air feel heavy.
"So… message delivered," Sugar said finally, teasing again. "Just… temper expectations. The boss doesn't chase after anyone. Not even someone as… enticing as you."
Aeris felt herself smile, heart quickening despite the words. "…I see."
"Sleep tight, Sugarcakes," he said softly. "I'll handle this. You don't have to do a thing."
"Thank… thank you," she whispered.
The line clicked softly as he hung up.
Aeris lay back, gripping the phone. Heart racing. Cheeks aflame. She hadn't expected… warmth. Humor. Playfulness. A hint of reassurance. And somewhere under all that, an unspoken warning: the man she was calling for was… not someone to underestimate. But calling him? That was the first move. And now she'd done it.
Aeris lay back against her pillows, the phone still warm in her hand. Her chest was pounding, heat crawling up her neck. Sleep felt impossible—not just because of excitement, but because the thought of him lingered, like a shadow she couldn't shake.
After the call, she tried sleeping, but couldn't. Was it excitement? Anxiety? Fear? She closed her eyes and hoped sleep would come but it didn't. Letting her mind wander… Then slowly, she narrows her hand through her silk nighty, unto and thighs and up her pu**sy, eyes shot, reminiscing of his face, voice, skin, lips, touching herself in a rhythm the universe played in her ear. She moaned so loud, her neighbors probably heard. But she didn't care. She was too engrossed in the activity going on…. the thoughts of Cealum. Her body responded to her imagination in ways she hadn't expected, tension pooling and twisting inside her. She moved slightly under the covers, flushed and restless. Every thought of him, every imagined touch, made her pulse quicken, her breaths shallow. Even alone, even just in her mind, he had a way of claiming her attention, her longing, her heat.
Finally, she sank back into the pillows, trembling slightly, the echo of her own desire mingling with thoughts of him. And if she couldn't have him in person, she had him in her mind, in her hands and on her skin as she touched herself, in the quiet rhythm she allowed herself. And that alone was more than enough for her…for now.
She exhaled, eyes closed, heart still racing. Sleep would come eventually… or not. But for the first time in a long while, she felt fully awake. Fully hers.