The gala was over, but the adrenaline still hummed in Xavier's veins. He stood in the kitchen of the Vane mansion, the marble counters cool under his hands as he poured a glass of water. The house was silent, save for the distant chime of a clock in the hallway.
"You're still awake," a soft voice murmured.
Seraphina stood in the doorway, her midnight-blue gown replaced by a silk robe that flowed around her like water. Her hair, usually pinned in a tight, professional bun, was loose and wavy, falling over her shoulders.
"Thinking about what Isabella said," Xavier admitted, turning to face her. "About me being a 'placeholder.'"
Seraphina walked toward him, her bare feet silent on the floor. She stopped just inches away, looking up at him with an expression he couldn't quite read. "Isabella is a shark who smells blood in the water. She wants to believe you're a placeholder because she can't stand the idea that I found someone who actually sees me."
She reached out, her fingers brushing against the cuff of his shirt. "You've done more for me in a few weeks than any board member has in ten years, Xavier. You saved my grandfather. You saved my reputation. And you... you make this house feel like a home."
Xavier set his glass down, his gaze narrowing. "Is that part of the contract, Seraphina? Making the 'Ice Queen' feel human?"
"No," she whispered, stepping closer until her chest was nearly touching his. "That's the part I didn't write down. The part I was too afraid to admit."
The air between them sparked. Xavier didn't wait for her to say another word. He reached out, his hand sliding into her hair as he pulled her into a kiss that was desperate, deep, and full of the words they hadn't said yet. It wasn't a "public" kiss for the cameras. It was private, fierce, and real.
When they finally broke apart, Seraphina was breathless, her cheeks flushed. "We're breaking every rule we made, Xavier."
"The rules were made for a business deal," he replied, his voice a low, rough growl. "But this? This isn't business. Not anymore."