Rege went to bed with Maya on his mind, not as a passing thought but as something that lingered—persistent, quiet, and impossible to ignore. It was not the kind of distraction he was used to dismissing. It stayed. It settled. And for once, he did not fight it.
Morning came without resistance.
The first thing he did when he woke up was reach for his phone.
"Good morning, Krasota."
The message was simple. Controlled. But the moment he sent it, something in him stilled—as though he had already stepped into her space without being physically present.
—
Maya heard the faint beep of her phone through the softness of sleep. It pulled her slowly, gently, from the comfort of unconsciousness. Her fingers moved instinctively, reaching into the bedside drawer until they found her phone.
She turned it on groggily.
And then she saw it.
Her lips curved immediately, softly, without effort.
There was something about him. Something she could not quite place. He was not loud. Not expressive. Not easy.
And yet—
She felt… at ease.
"Good morning."
She sent the reply before she could overthink it.
Then she stared at the screen for a moment longer than necessary, her smile lingering before she finally pushed herself out of bed.
—
Rege saw the message while going about his morning routine.
His eyes flickered briefly to the screen.
A smirk followed.
Not wide. Not obvious.
But real.
He didn't reply.
He simply placed the phone down and continued what he was doing, as though the quiet satisfaction settling in his chest was enough.
—
Maya went through her morning slowly.
But not normally.
Her phone remained close.
Too close.
She checked it without reason. Without notification. Without excuse.
And even when she sat at the breakfast table, she still found herself glancing at it between sips of tea.
Tatiana noticed immediately.
"Maya, dear… are you expecting something?"
Her tone was calm. Observant.
Adela and Cassie exchanged a quick look.
Maya shook her head lightly, trying to appear unaffected.
"Or are you missing someone?" Adela added, her voice teasing.
Maya choked slightly on her tea.
"Adela!" she muttered, flustered.
Cassie tried—and failed—to suppress her smile.
Breakfast ended soon after.
Tatiana left for the firm, composed as always.
And just like that—
It was only Maya, Adela, and Cassie left in the penthouse.
—
Upstairs—
Rege finished his breakfast with his usual efficiency.
No distractions.
No hesitation.
He sent a quick message to James.
I resume work tomorrow. Prepare my schedule.
Then he washed his dishes himself—quietly, methodically—and picked up his keys.
There was no announcement.
No hesitation.
He simply left.
—
Maya was still staring at her phone when the doorbell rang.
Her head snapped up immediately.
"I'll get it."
She didn't wait.
She didn't think.
She just moved.
And when she opened the door—
She froze.
Because it was him.
Rege stood there, composed and striking in a way that felt almost unfair. Jeans. A dark grey shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Effortless. Controlled. Unintentionally captivating.
Maya smiled.
Wide. Genuine.
And for a fleeting second—
She wondered if she had somehow summoned him there with her thoughts.
Rege's lips curved into that familiar, dangerous smirk.
And just like that—
She remembered how to breathe.
She stepped aside quickly.
"Come in."
Rege stepped into the penthouse with quiet authority, his presence altering the atmosphere before he even spoke.
Adela and Cassie were seated in the living room, mid-conversation, but their words faltered the moment they noticed him.
"Good morning, ladies," Rege greeted, his voice low and composed.
But his gaze didn't linger.
It moved—briefly, deliberately—scanning the space.
Looking.
Searching.
Adela caught it immediately.
"Tatiana left for the firm," she said, her tone calm but knowing.
Rege gave a single nod.
Acknowledged.
Nothing more.
He walked further into the room and sat down on the couch as though he belonged there—as though he had always belonged there.
Maya remained standing.
Still.
Aware.
"Would you like anything to eat or drink?" she asked softly, her voice careful, almost cautious.
Rege looked at her then.
Fully.
"No," he said, his tone even, unwavering. "I came just to see you."
The words landed without warning.
Direct.
Unfiltered.
Unapologetic.
Maya's breath caught for a fraction of a second, heat rising to her cheeks in a slow, undeniable flush.
She looked away instinctively, her fingers tightening slightly at her sides.
Adela cleared her throat.
"Cassie, let's go to my room—"
"No, stay," Maya said quickly.
Too quickly.
The interruption surprised even her.
Rege's gaze flickered slightly.
Interested.
Maya steadied herself.
"Rege and I will be in my room," she added, softer this time.
Adela paused.
Just for a moment.
Then she slowly sat back down, exchanging a silent, loaded glance with Cassie—one that said more than words ever could.
Rege rose immediately.
No hesitation.
No question.
And followed Maya.
—
Her room felt different the moment he entered.
Smaller.
Warmer.
As though the space itself had become more aware.
Maya moved toward the bed and sat down, trying to appear composed despite the subtle tension threading through her.
Rege took the sofa opposite her, his posture relaxed—but only on the surface.
"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly.
"I feel better," Maya replied, her voice soft but steady.
He studied her.
Not casually.
Not briefly.
Closely.
Carefully.
As though he was searching for something beneath her words.
And though she felt it—
Felt the weight of his attention—
She didn't look away.
"I suppose you're still on your break," she said with a small smile, trying to ease the intensity. "So I'll be seeing you until it ends."
A faint curve touched his lips.
"I resume work tomorrow."
"Splendid!"
The word burst out of her before she could stop it.
Bright.
Unfiltered.
Rege blinked.
Caught off guard.
For a moment, he simply looked at her—processing, recalibrating.
Then—
He smiled.
Not the restrained, controlled smirk he usually wore.
But something wider.
Warmer.
Real.
And it changed everything.
Maya stilled.
Her eyes lingered on his face, something like awe slipping into her expression before she could hide it.
"Wow…" she murmured softly. "You have a beautiful smile."
That was it.
Something in him broke past its restraint.
A laugh escaped him—deep, rich, unguarded.
It filled the room in a way his silence never could.
Maya's lips parted in surprise.
Then she laughed too.
Not because she meant to.
But because his laughter pulled it from her—effortless, natural, contagious.
And for a moment—
They weren't careful.
They weren't guarded.
They just… existed.
Together.
When Rege stopped, he did so gradually, his control slipping back into place piece by piece.
Maya didn't.
Her laughter lingered longer, softer, slower to fade.
And as he watched her—
Something shifted.
She looked… light.
Unburdened.
Her eyes shone, bright and alive, her smile unrestrained in a way that felt rare—fragile.
Important.
And in that moment—
He made a decision.
Not spoken.
Not questioned.
But absolute.
He would protect that.
At any cost.
Maya eventually became aware of his gaze.
It grounded her.
Pulled her back.
Her laughter softened into a quiet smile as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, suddenly aware of herself again.
"Why were you excited that I'm returning to work?" Rege asked, his tone calm but deliberate.
"Well… it's because—" she began, her smile widening slightly.
"Am I a bother?"
He cut in before she could finish.
Not loudly.
Not harshly.
But precisely.
The timing of it—too exact, too intentional—made Maya pause mid-thought.
Her lips parted slightly, the rest of her words dissolving before they could take shape.
She blinked.
Once.
Caught off guard.
There was no accusation in his tone.
No irritation.
Just something quiet.
Something controlled.
But underneath it—
Something that almost sounded like he needed to know.
Maya shook her head immediately.
Too quickly.
"No. Never," she said, the words tumbling out before she could filter them. "You are never a bother."
Her fingers tightened slightly against the fabric of the bed.
"I just thought…" she hesitated, her voice softening as her gaze dropped briefly, then lifted again. "I thought I was the reason you were on break."
A small pause.
Barely noticeable.
"But if you're returning to work," she continued, a faint, almost nervous smile touching her lips, "then it means I'm not the reason you're not working anymore."
Silence followed.
Not empty.
Not awkward.
Just… still.
Rege didn't respond immediately.
He watched her.
Closely.
As if weighing her words.
As if deciding something.
Then he gave a small nod.
Once.
Deliberate.
"You are."
The words were quiet.
Steady.
Maya's breath stilled.
Not because of how loud he said it—
But because of how certain it sounded.
Before she could process it—
He continued.
"And you will always be my reason, Krasota."
There was no hesitation.
No embellishment.
No attempt to soften it.
He simply said it—
Like it was a fact.
Like it had already been decided.
The air in the room shifted instantly.
Something invisible tightening between them.
Pressing.
Closing in.
Maya felt it.
Not in a dramatic way.
Not in a way she could name.
But it settled somewhere in her chest, warm and unfamiliar, making it harder to breathe normally.
She didn't know what to do with it.
Didn't know how to respond.
Because this—
This wasn't something she understood.
So she did the only thing she could.
She escaped it.
She cleared her throat softly, her fingers brushing against each other as she forced a small, controlled smile.
"So…" she began, her voice lighter than she felt. "What do you like to do apart from business and being a gentleman?"
The shift was obvious.
Deliberate.
Rege noticed.
Of course he did.
But he didn't call it out.
Didn't push.
"I read," he said instead, his tone calm, giving her the space she needed. "I watch sports. Sometimes I participate."
The change in her was immediate.
Her face lit up in a way that felt unguarded.
"You read?" she asked, her eyes brightening with genuine interest. "That's wonderful."
There was no pretense in her reaction.
No calculation.
Just… sincerity.
"And you?" he asked.
Maya leaned back slightly, her posture relaxing as she settled into something more familiar—something safe.
"I read too," she said, her voice gaining energy. "Mostly romance and erotica."
A small, almost shy smile tugged at her lips.
"I write as well. I'm currently working on a book," she added, her tone carrying a quiet pride she didn't try to hide. "And I watch movies."
She paused briefly, then added with a soft laugh,
"Basically the three things I love—reading, writing, and watching movies."
Rege didn't interrupt.
Didn't redirect.
He just watched her.
Intently.
As if the way she spoke mattered just as much as what she was saying.
"Don't change the topic," she added suddenly, narrowing her eyes slightly in playful accusation when she noticed his silence lingering too long. "We're talking about you."
A faint smile curved his lips again.
Subtle.
Controlled.
But there.
"I also like watching movies," he said.
"What's your favourite?" she asked immediately.
"I don't have one."
Maya stared at him for a second.
Then gasped lightly.
"Exactly!" she exclaimed, sitting up a little straighter. "That's exactly my point."
Her hands moved as she spoke, animated now.
"Choosing one or two favourite movies is completely unacceptable. There are too many good ones for that."
She shifted on the bed, tucking her legs beneath her, completely at ease now.
More herself.
Then she looked at him and gestured lightly.
"Come sit here."
There was no hesitation.
Rege stood and moved toward her, sitting on the bed with a quiet ease that felt almost… natural.
As if the space beside her had already been his.
"Well," Maya continued, adjusting slightly, "I do have favourite series though. My favourite is Legend of the Seeker… and then Game of Thrones."
"They seem impressive," he replied.
And just like that—
The conversation deepened.
It wasn't rushed.
Wasn't forced.
It unfolded slowly.
Naturally.
They talked about characters they admired.
Ones they disliked.
Moments that stayed with them long after the story ended.
Maya spoke more.
Easily.
Freely.
Her laughter came softer now, more frequent.
Less restrained.
And Rege—
He listened.
Really listened.
Not out of politeness.
But because he wanted to.
Time passed.
Quietly.
Unnoticed.
And for once—
Rege didn't feel the need to control it.
Didn't measure it.
Didn't think about what came next.
He just… stayed.
—
Eventually, he stood.
The movement was subtle.
But it shifted something.
Maya felt it immediately.
"I have to leave," he said.
Her smile didn't disappear.
But it faltered.
Just slightly.
"From tomorrow, I'll be out of your hair," he added, a hint of amusement in his voice. "But you can visit me. My penthouse is the only one above this floor."
Maya straightened a little.
"I will," she said quickly. "Definitely."
There was no hesitation.
No doubt.
And something about that—
Made his expression soften, just barely.
He stepped closer.
Not abruptly.
Not hesitantly.
Just… deliberately.
The distance between them closed in a way that felt quieter than it should have—like something unspoken had decided it for them.
Maya felt it immediately.
The shift.
The awareness.
Her breath faltered slightly, not enough to be obvious, but enough for her to notice. Enough for her to become suddenly aware of everything—of how close he was, of how still the room had become, of the way her fingers pressed faintly into the sheets beneath her.
"See you soon, Krasota," he murmured.
His voice was lower now.
Closer.
And somehow, it didn't feel like he was just saying goodbye.
It felt like a promise.
Maya's lips parted slightly, but no words came out. She wasn't even sure what she would have said.
And then—
He moved.
Not quickly.
But not slowly enough for her to prepare for it either.
He leaned in, his hand lifting just slightly—as if he almost meant to touch her, but stopped himself halfway.
His lips brushed against her forehead.
Soft.
Warm.
Barely there.
And yet—
Maya stilled completely.
It wasn't the kind of touch that startled.
It wasn't overwhelming.
It didn't demand anything from her.
But it lingered.
Not on her skin—
But somewhere deeper.
For a fraction of a second, her mind went quiet. Completely, unnaturally quiet—like everything inside her had paused just to register that single moment.
She didn't move.
Didn't breathe properly.
Didn't think.
Because something about it felt… unfamiliar.
Not in a way that frightened her.
But in a way that made her aware—painfully aware—of how little she had experienced something so simple.
So gentle.
So intentional.
And before she could make sense of it—
Before she could react—
He had already pulled away.
The warmth of the contact faded too quickly.
The space between them returned.
And just like that—
He was gone.
The door closed softly behind him, the quiet sound echoing far louder than it should have.
—
Maya remained exactly where she was.
Still seated.
Still facing the door.
Her fingers curled slowly into the fabric beneath her, grounding herself without realizing it.
A few seconds passed.
Or maybe longer.
She couldn't tell.
Her thoughts felt slower now, as if they were trying to catch up to something that had already happened.
Her hand lifted slightly, almost unconsciously.
Hovering just above her forehead.
Not quite touching.
As though she wasn't sure if the feeling was still there—or if she had imagined it entirely.
Then her fingers lowered again.
Her gaze didn't move from the door.
Part of her—
A quiet, unreasonable part—
Waited.
As if he might walk back in.
As if that moment wasn't supposed to end that quickly.
But the door stayed closed.
And the silence remained.
—
That's when it settled.
Not fully.
Not clearly.
But enough.
Something had changed.
She just didn't know what.
—
Her phone buzzed.
The sound broke through the stillness.
She blinked.
Looked down.
"Rest your pretty head, Krasota."
Her eyes widened slightly.
A second message came almost immediately.
"Eat and rest."
A soft exhale left her.
Then she rolled her eyes.
But the smile that followed—
Was inevitable.
Uncontrolled.
And somehow—
She found herself standing.
Walking toward the kitchen without questioning it.
Because a strange, quiet part of her—
Wanted to listen to him.
—
She ate slowly.
Absentmindedly.
Barely registering the taste.
Her thoughts circling back to him again and again.
The way he looked at her.
The way he spoke.
The way he said her name.
"Krasota."
Adela and Cassie watched her from across the room.
Silent.
Knowing.
But Maya didn't notice.
She was too far inside something new.
Something she didn't yet understand.
—
When she finished, she returned to her room.
Lay down.
And closed her eyes.
Sleep came easily.
Naturally.
As if her body had been waiting for it.
Because for the first time in a long time—
Her mind wasn't heavy.
Wasn't restless.
Wasn't searching.
It was simply…
Full.
Of something soft.
Something unfamiliar.
Something quietly beginning—
Without either of them realizing
Just how deeply it would change everything.