Morning arrived gently this time.
Not broken. Not sharp. Not suffocating.
Peaceful.
Rege woke with a steadiness he hadn't felt in days. His body felt rested, his mind clearer—but the moment his eyes opened, there was only one thing that filled the space between his thoughts.
Maya.
It came naturally. Instinctively. Like his mind had already learned where to go without asking him first.
He lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling, exhaling slowly as her face settled into his thoughts—her smile, her voice, the way she had looked at him the night before.
Unfiltered.
Soft.
Real.
His hand moved almost automatically toward his phone on the bedside drawer. His fingers brushed against it, curling around the device as he brought it up, unlocking it without thinking.
He opened her chat.
Paused.
Tatiana's voice echoed faintly in his mind.
Give her time.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Time.
He exhaled through his nose, lowering the phone back onto the table with controlled restraint.
Fine.
He would give her time.
But that didn't mean he wouldn't think about her.
—
The gym was quiet.
Private. Controlled. Isolated.
Exactly how he preferred it.
Rege stepped in, already dressed in fitted workout gear, his movements precise as he began without hesitation. The weights, the repetition, the strain—it grounded him. Focused him. Allowed him to channel everything unsettled into something physical.
But even then—
She was there.
Between each breath.
Between each movement.
Between each moment his mind drifted when it shouldn't.
Maya.
Her voice.
Her eyes.
That quiet softness that didn't demand anything—but somehow took everything anyway.
He pushed harder.
Faster.
Longer.
Until his muscles burned and his breathing deepened—not from thought, but from exertion.
Only then did he stop.
—
The shower was hot.
Steam filled the space, curling around him as water ran down his skin. He stood under it longer than necessary, eyes closed, letting it wash over him.
But it didn't clear her.
Nothing did.
Not the workout.
Not the water.
Not the silence.
Maya remained.
Steady.
Present.
Unavoidable.
—
Dressed in jeans and a navy blue shirt, Rege stepped into his study, the calm of the space doing little to quiet the shift inside him.
He sat.
Exhaled.
Reached for his phone again.
This time—
He didn't stop.
"How are you feeling, Krasota?"
The message sent before he could reconsider.
—
Maya heard the soft beep.
She was sitting on her bed, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone, her thoughts drifting without direction. But the moment she saw his name—
She stilled.
Her heart reacted first.
Then her mind.
She stared at the message longer than necessary.
Reading it.
Then reading it again.
Her fingers hovered over the screen.
She shouldn't overthink it.
But she did anyway.
Then finally—
"I feel better, thanks for asking."
She sent it.
And immediately—
Her breath shifted.
—
Rege read the message.
And that faint smirk returned.
Subtle.
Controlled.
But there.
"Did you sleep well, Krasota?"
—
"Yes please, quite well, what about you?"
—
"Better."
He didn't hesitate this time.
Didn't pause.
Because his body had already made the decision his mind was pretending to consider.
He stood.
Picked up his keys.
And left.
—
The doorbell rang.
Cassie opened it.
And for a moment—
She forgot how to breathe.
"Mr. Rege, please come in."
He nodded slightly, stepping inside with quiet confidence.
The living room was calm.
Tatiana and Adela sat together, mid-conversation, their attention shifting instantly as he entered.
"Good morning, ladies."
And then—
Maya walked in.
Her eyes were on her phone.
Her brows slightly drawn.
Distracted.
Until—
"Looking for something, Krasota?"
Her breath caught.
Instantly.
Her eyes lifted—
And found his.
Everything else disappeared.
Just like that.
The room.
The voices.
The world.
Gone.
There was only him.
And that smirk.
That infuriating, confusing, dangerous smirk.
She didn't look away.
Couldn't.
And neither did he.
Until—
Tatiana cleared her throat.
Reality returned.
They sat.
Side by side.
Too aware.
Too close.
"You're here… again."
Tatiana's voice was calm.
Too calm.
It carried that quiet, controlled sharpness that didn't need volume to assert authority.
Rege didn't flinch.
Didn't even pretend to.
"Yes, Tatiana," he replied smoothly, his tone even, composed. "Something of mine is still here."
His gaze didn't move.
Not from Maya.
Not even for a second.
Tatiana noticed.
Of course she did.
But she said nothing.
Not yet.
Adela leaned back slightly against the couch, her expression light but her eyes observant as they moved between them.
"Have you had breakfast, Mr. Rege?"
"Rege," he corrected calmly, finally shifting his attention—briefly. "And no, I haven't."
"Join us then."
The words slipped out too quickly.
Too naturally.
Maya froze the second she realized she had said them.
Her fingers curled slightly against her dress as if trying to take the words back.
But it was too late.
The room shifted.
Subtly.
But undeniably.
Tatiana's gaze moved to her.
Measured.
Intentional.
Studying.
Maya felt it.
And suddenly—
She was very aware of what she had just done.
Rege turned his head slightly.
Not fully.
Just enough.
Enough to look at her.
Really look at her.
"Tatiana," he said calmly, almost politely. "Am I welcomed here now?"
There was something deliberate in the way he asked.
Not challenging.
Not confrontational.
But intentional.
Tatiana held his gaze for a moment.
Then—
A faint smile curved her lips.
Controlled.
Almost… sinister.
"Since Maya is fine with it," she said smoothly, her voice light but layered with something deeper, "I am also fine with it."
Maya exhaled softly.
She hadn't realized she had been holding her breath.
—
Breakfast was quiet.
But not empty.
The dining table was set perfectly, as always.
Everything in its place.
Everything precise.
But the air—
The air was not.
Rege sat across from Maya.
And he didn't look away.
Not once.
Not while she reached for her glass.
Not while she avoided his gaze.
Not while she tried to act normal.
And Maya—
She felt it.
Every second.
Every glance.
Every silent moment where his eyes rested on her like she was something worth studying.
It should have made her uncomfortable.
It should have made her self-conscious.
But instead—
It did something else.
Something quieter.
Something softer.
It made her aware.
Aware of herself.
Of him.
Of the space between them.
And strangely—
She didn't want it to stop.
—
After breakfast, they returned to the living room.
The movement felt automatic.
Unnecessary.
Because nothing had really changed.
The tension had simply… followed.
Tatiana stood first.
"I have a case at the New York branch," she said, adjusting her sleeve with effortless precision. "I'll be back later."
Her eyes flickered—briefly—toward Rege.
Then Maya.
Then away.
Adela stood soon after.
"I'll go get pastries," she said lightly. "Cassie?"
Cassie nodded immediately, already reaching for her bag.
"I'll come with you."
Maya blinked.
"Oh—that sounds nice," she added quickly, almost as if she needed a reason to agree.
And just like that—
They left.
One by one.
Until—
The door closed.
And silence settled.
—
Maya picked up her book.
Opened it.
Stared at the same page.
Read nothing.
Not a single word.
Because she could feel him.
Beside her.
Close.
Too close.
Rege sat comfortably, leaning back slightly, one arm resting along the back of the couch.
Relaxed.
Unbothered.
Watching.
Always watching.
Time passed.
Or maybe it didn't.
Maya couldn't tell.
Because every second felt stretched.
Lengthened.
Heavy.
"Don't you have work to do?" she asked finally, her voice quieter than she intended.
"I am on a break."
Simple.
Calm.
Certain.
Still watching her.
She shifted slightly.
Closed the book.
Placed it beside her.
"I haven't asked what you do for a living."
"I am an entrepreneur."
She rolled her eyes instinctively, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"I guess that's the dignified term for a businessman."
A low chuckle left him.
Soft.
Unexpected.
Real.
And it did something to her.
Made her smile.
Wider than she meant to.
Freer than she expected.
His gaze sharpened.
Noticing.
Taking it in.
"What?" she asked, her brows knitting slightly.
"Beautiful."
The word landed softly.
But it didn't feel soft.
It felt—
Direct.
Her breath hitched.
Her eyes dropped immediately.
Too fast.
Too obvious.
Her fingers tightened slightly in her lap.
—
"Tell me more about yourself," she said quickly, her voice lighter now, trying to move past it.
"There's nothing worth knowing apart from me being a bachelor."
The confidence in his tone made her snort.
She couldn't stop it.
And the moment it escaped—
She covered her mouth.
Too late.
Her shoulders shook slightly with restrained laughter.
Rege leaned forward slightly.
Without hesitation—
He reached for her hand.
Gently.
Carefully.
And pulled it away from her mouth.
Her breath caught.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Because—
That was new.
That was…
Close.
He smiled faintly.
"You are important," he said softly. "Tell me everything."
And just like that—
Something in her softened.
Quietly.
—
"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice gentler now. "It's a long story."
"I have all the time in the world for you, Krasota."
The way he said it—
Unhurried.
Certain.
Like time itself would bend if he wanted it to—
Made something in her chest shift.
Settle.
She exhaled softly.
Then shifted.
Pulling both legs up onto the couch, tucking them slightly beneath her.
Comfortable.
Unaware.
Or maybe—
Comfortable enough not to care.
Rege noticed.
Of course he did.
The subtle movement.
The way her shorts shifted slightly.
The line of her thigh—
His jaw tightened.
Almost imperceptibly.
But his eyes—
Never left her face.
Not once.
—
"Well," she began softly, "as you might already know… I'm Maya Windget."
Her voice steadied as she spoke.
Grounded herself in something familiar.
"I just graduated. I don't really know what I want to do with my life yet."
A small pause.
"My internship in London is probably gone… because of my absence."
Her lips curved faintly.
Not quite a smile.
"But you already know most of it. My health… everything."
"You haven't said anything I don't know," Rege replied quietly. "I want to know what I don't."
She looked at him.
Studied him for a moment.
Then smiled.
"You are persistent."
He didn't deny it.
—
"My life has been quite uneventful since my…"
She stopped.
Her voice caught.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the fabric beneath her.
Rege's expression didn't change.
But his voice did.
Softer.
Lower.
"Continue, Krasota."
Not a command.
But not entirely a suggestion either.
Maya shifted slightly.
"My breakup."
The word lingered.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
"I can't tell you everything yet," she added quietly. "We just started talking."
"I hope I can earn your trust soon."
"Of course not, I trust you," Maya said quickly.
Too quickly.
As if she didn't want him to misunderstand.
As if it mattered—what he thought.
Her voice softened almost immediately after, the certainty in it giving way to something quieter. "I just… it's a long, unpleasant story."
She looked down at her hands for a brief moment, her fingers brushing lightly against each other as if grounding herself.
Then she exhaled.
Slow.
Measured.
"But I can tell you about my life in London… before I moved to New York."
Rege didn't interrupt.
Didn't nod.
Didn't rush her.
He simply watched her.
Waited.
And that—
That was what made it easier.
Maya shifted slightly, pulling her legs closer to herself, settling into the couch in a way that felt… unguarded.
Not careless.
Just—
Safe.
"Before high school," she began softly, "it was just my parents and I."
A faint smile touched her lips.
Small.
Fragile.
"My father wasn't well," she continued, her voice steady but quieter now. "But… I didn't really understand it back then. Not fully."
Her gaze drifted.
Not to Rege.
Not to the room.
But somewhere else entirely.
Somewhere in the past.
"I just knew he was always tired," she added. "But he still tried. For me."
A pause.
Her throat tightened slightly.
But she continued.
"I got a scholarship to this really prestigious high school," she said, her voice lifting just a little, as if the memory carried light with it. "I remember being so nervous on the first day."
A small breath left her.
Soft.
Almost a laugh.
"And then I met Adela."
This time—
Her smile was real.
Warmer.
"She was the first friend I made," Maya said, her voice gentler now. "She was so kind… so easy to talk to."
Her eyes softened.
"She still is."
Rege watched the shift in her expression.
The way her face changed when she spoke about people she loved.
The way her voice carried something deeper than words.
He didn't look away.
Didn't miss a single detail.
"I made other friends too," Maya continued. "And now that I think about it…"
She paused.
Her gaze lowered slightly.
"…those were some of the happiest moments of my life."
The words lingered.
Because they weren't just memories.
They were something she had lost.
And still carried.
"But then—"
Her voice faltered.
Just slightly.
Enough to be noticed.
"My father died."
There was no build-up.
No cushioning.
Just—
The truth.
Simple.
Heavy.
Final.
Maya's fingers tightened slightly against the fabric beneath her.
Her breathing slowed.
Careful.
Controlled.
"My mum wanted me to move to Yorkshire with her," she continued, her voice quieter now. "With her family."
A faint crease formed between her brows.
"And she wanted me to quit school."
That part—
That part still held something.
Frustration.
Pain.
Something unresolved.
"But I didn't want to," she admitted softly.
A pause.
Then—
"Tatiana saved me."
The words came without hesitation.
Without doubt.
Her eyes lifted slightly.
Not fully to Rege.
But closer.
"She took me in," Maya said, her voice warming again, grounding itself in something stronger. "She gave me a home… a family… everything."
A small smile returned.
Gentle.
Certain.
"She and Adela… they're the best things that have ever happened to me."
There was no uncertainty in that.
No hesitation.
Just truth.
"They gave me the opportunity to dream," she added quietly.
Her gaze dropped again.
Soft.
"And after high school… I applied to NYU."
A breath.
Light.
Almost disbelieving, even now.
"I got in."
Another pause.
Then—
Her voice softened.
Faded slightly.
"And now…"
Her fingers stilled.
Her chest rose slowly.
"I'm here."
A moment passed.
Quiet.
Suspended.
And then—
Almost inaudible.
"With you."
Rege didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't even breathe differently.
But something in his gaze shifted.
Deepened.
Because that—
That meant something.
More than she probably realized.
He let the silence sit.
Let it stretch.
Let her words settle into the space between them.
Because they deserved to.
Because she deserved that.
His eyes remained on her.
Steady.
Unwavering.
Taking everything in.
The vulnerability.
The strength.
The softness she didn't try to hide.
He memorized it.
Every piece of it.
And when he finally spoke—
His voice was different.
Lower.
More careful.
"Tell me about the breakup."
The words didn't rush.
They didn't press.
But they carried weight.
Maya inhaled.
Her lips parted slightly.
Her fingers shifted again, brushing lightly against her knee.
This was different.
This part—
Was harder.
Her gaze flickered.
Not away.
But uncertain.
Like she was standing at the edge of something she wasn't ready to step into.
Yet.
Still—
She tried.
Her mouth opened.
Her voice just about to form—
When—
The door opened.
The sound cut through the moment like a blade.
Voices followed.
Light.
Familiar.
Unaware.
And just like that—
Everything changed.
The silence shattered.
The intimacy dissolved.
Time rushed back in.
—
"Rege, you are still here."
Tatiana's voice was smooth.
Composed.
As if nothing had been interrupted.
"It's already evening."
Maya blinked.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she turned toward the window.
And then—
She saw it.
The light had changed.
The bright clarity of morning replaced by a golden, fading glow.
The sky softer.
Dimmer.
Evening.
Her breath caught slightly.
Hours.
They had lost hours.
Her cheeks flushed instantly, warmth spreading across her face as realization settled in.
She looked down quickly, her hair falling forward, shielding her expression.
Because suddenly—
Everything felt too much.
Too exposed.
Too real.
Rege stood.
Slowly.
Like he didn't want to.
Like he understood exactly what had just been interrupted.
"I'll be on my way," he said calmly.
His tone had returned to control.
But something lingered beneath it.
"Thank you for having me."
He turned to Maya.
Stepped closer.
Not enough to draw attention.
But enough for her to feel it.
"Eat something," he said softly. "You haven't eaten since breakfast."
Her breath caught again.
Why did he notice things like that?
Why did he—
Care?
Before she could think further—
He leaned down slightly.
Close.
Too close.
His voice dropped.
Just for her.
"Bye, Krasota."
Her heart stuttered.
And then—
He was gone.
—
The door closed.
Quiet.
Final.
And the room—
Felt different.
It was still full.
Voices.
Movement.
Familiar presence.
But something was missing.
Something that had filled the space so completely that its absence felt—
Loud.
Maya swallowed softly.
Her chest tightening in a way she didn't understand.
Because she knew.
Exactly what it was.
Exactly who.
—
Dinner passed.
Quietly.
She spoke when needed.
Listened when expected.
But her mind—
Was elsewhere.
Still there.
On the couch.
In that moment.
With him.
—
That night—
She lay in bed.
Eyes open.
Staring at the ceiling.
Her thoughts circling endlessly.
His voice.
His words.
The way he said her name.
The way he looked at her—
Like she mattered.
Like she was something worth knowing.
Her fingers curled slightly against the sheets.
Her chest rising and falling slowly.
And then—
Her phone buzzed.
Soft.
Once.
She turned her head.
Reached for it.
Her heart already knowing.
She looked at the screen.
And there it was.
"Goodnight, Krasota."
A smile spread across her lips before she could stop it.
Soft.
Unthinking.
Real.
Her fingers curled around the phone as she exhaled quietly.
And for the first time that night—
Her thoughts stilled.
Her chest loosened.
Sleep came.
Gentle.
Unforced.
And even as her eyes closed—
Her smile remained.
Because something had shifted.
Something quiet.
Something undeniable.
Something she didn't fully understand yet—
But could feel.
And whatever it was—
It was only just beginning.