The morning after

Melanie slowly opens her eyes, lethargically taking in her surroundings, and she is met with the sight of Caleb’s chiseled features, his eyes gazing softly at her.

They’re in a luxurious hotel room, the morning sun filtering through the curtains and she thinks back to the list place she was the last night and it was inside Caleb's private jet, so her expression changes from relaxation to discomfort as memories of their intense night flood back.

She tries to sit up so that she can figure out her next move but Caleb’s arm wraps around her, holding her close

“Good morning, beautiful,” Caleb whispers, his voice husky and Melanie’s cheeks flush awkwardly as she extricates herself from his embrace to sit down upright on the bed because that position is too distracting for her to think straight.

“Morning,” She replies curtly, avoiding eye contact.

“Regrets?” Caleb asks as he notices her unease and raises an eyebrow.

“No time for regrets…we have work to do” Her tone is clipped, dismissing any further conversation as she swiftly throws off the covers and gets out of bed, her movement brisk.

“Alight, let's focus on why we are here.” Caleb watches her with amusement, sensing her desire to not gloss over their passionate encounter and he respects that.

“Yeah…let’s get started” Melanie nods, already mentally shifting gears.

Melanie is feeling different waves of emotions like discomfort, and embarrassment, but above all, she is determined and focused while Caleb's feelings are a mixture of amusement, curiosity, patience, and understanding.

The atmosphere is really awkward, but Melanie’s determination to move forward sort of dispels the tension a bit so Caleb ponders on how to completely shift the focus of their conversation to make things less awkward.

“Because of the urgency at which getting to Pearl Coast was for you, we ended up skipping dinner so can we grab breakfast before we start looking for Shirley?” Caleb asks Melanie as he swings his leg over to the side of the bed, standing up with a fluid motion.

“I will be ready in 20 minutes” Melanie nods, already heading to the bathroom.

The bathroom is the closest escape that she can get from Caleb but he doesn't think in that direction, he smiles admiring her rapid shift from awkwardness to efficiency because he can't function that way.

“What the hell were you thinking, Melanie Carson” Melanie’s logical self asks her impulsive self as she stares at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.

“In my defense…I can blame it on the alcohol” The impulsive side of her answers her.

“Don’t you dare blame anything on the alcohol because it wasn’t like you were drunk and you were not in your right senses, you were very much in your right senses and you knew exactly what you were doing” her logical side scolds her impulsive side.

“Since we are not blaming my actions on the alcohol. I am sure that you can also admit that it has always crossed your mind to want to experience what Caleb will be like in bed, even if it was just for a split second” her impulsive side points out and she looks away because she is too logical to admit that, but she also can't lie to herself.

“Since we have confirmed that he is really good in bed, we can put our curiosity to rest and focus on finding Shirley” The battle between her rational self and her impulsive side comes to an end as she searches the bathroom cabinet for a new toothbrush and toothpaste that she can use to brush her teeth and also clean up because she has put her body through so much in the last 12 hours.

Melanie sighs deeply after finally finding the brush and the toothpaste analyzes her reflection in the mirror as she applies the paste to the brush. After putting toothpaste on her brush, she sticks the brush in her mouth and gets Caleb a brush so that he won't start looking for everything but when she realizes the implication of what she just did, she throws the whole brush into the dustbin so that Caleb will not get to use it.

Her eyes sparkle with determination, masking any lingering unease as she starts to get her morning routine done. She brushes her teeth and takes a quick shower, but she doesn’t remember to take the duffle bag that contained her skincare into the bathroom, so she puts on a bathrobe from the toiletries section and makes her way out of the bathroom to give Caleb time to wash the after s** gunk off him because she can’t keep hiding from him forever.

“I am done now so you can get your morning routine done,” she tells Caleb as soon as she steps out and immediately gets down to the business of setting her duffle bag in front of the vanity.

She gets her skincare products out and something comfortable to wear. Instead of doing her skincare after bathing the previous night, she was busy doing Caleb Wellington and now, she misses her favorite form of self-care too much.

As she stands before the mirror, the warm glow of the bedroom lights illuminates her skin, revealing the subtle signs of fatigue and neglect from the previous night's skipped skincare routine, so she begins by washing her face with a gentle cleanser, massaging it into her skin with circular motions, the soothing sensation and the calming scent of the cleanser ease her tension.

She walks into the bathroom where Caleb is busy with his skincare routine, and without sparing him a glance, she heads to the sink, rinses her face, and pats- dries it with a soft towel, preparing her skin for the next steps.

Once her face is properly she exits the bathroom and heads for the room, where she applies a toner, sweeping it across her face with a cotton pad. The slight tingling sensation invigorating her skin.

Moving on, she carefully applies an essence and the essence's hydrating properties sink deep into her pores. A few drops of serum follow, targeting specific skin concerns. She gently massages everything, feeling the active ingredients absorbing and finally, she seals everything in with a rich moisturizer, its creamy texture providing long-lasting hydration.

As she completes her skincare routine, her skin looks refreshed, revitalized, and radiant. The pampering session lifts her mood and her reflection now shows a brightened complexion, reduced puffiness, a hydrated glow, and a smooth texture.

Immediately Caleb gets into the bathroom, he starts to look for a toothbrush to brush his teeth because he knows that a 5-star hotel kike Ocean View should stock up on toiletries for their guests, and his attention is drawn to the brush with toothpaste on it that Melanie dumped and he wonders what will make her do something like that instead of just letting him use it but he just decides to wave the issue and get another brush.

Luckily for him, he finally locates the toiletries section in the bathroom, so he brushes his teeth and takes a quick shower. The thought of going into the room to change crosses his mind but this will be Melanie’s first time seeing him in something other than a suit that has now been his uniform/everyday attire.

In the room, Melanie changes into the only sweatpants that she brought from Orion, and before she finishes dressing up, Caleb steps out of the bathroom in a crisp, white linen shirt, untucked, and slightly rumpled, dark blue fitted jeans, but comfortable, a pair of scuffed brown leather loafers, a minimalist leather belt, and a simple silver watch. His hair is slightly tousled and his face sports a hint of stubble that she didn't notice earlier.

As she sees him walk into the room, her eyes widen in surprise because she’s accustomed to his sharp, suited appearance, but this casual version catches her off guard.

“Wow…you look…different,” She says, her voice laced with amusement. Her gaze roams over him, taking in the relaxed fit of his jeans, the subtle crease on his shirt and she can’t help but smile.

“I almost didn’t recognize you,” she teases

“You look…human” She adds and he chuckles, slightly self-conscious but pleased by her reaction.

“I feel human,” he replies, running a hand through his hair.

“No tie, no blazer…it’s liberating” he admits and she laughs, her eyes sparkling.

“I like it, you are more…approachable.” She draws closer, her hand brushing against his, sending a spark of electricity through both of them.

“You know,” she says, her voice softer,

“I think I prefer this version of you.” She admits. Their eyes meet, and for a moment, they just stare, the air charged with a newfound connection.

“Who knew that he could look so relaxed and handsome without a suit?” Melanie’s thoughts trail off.

“This casual side of him makes me feel more at ease. I can see the real him, beyond the polished exterior.” She wonders, forgetting that she is still busy looking into the golden flecks that are dancing across his iris, resembling a rich, caramel-colored leather.

“I’m glad she likes this side of me where I feel more like myself, more vulnerable…maybe this is the start of something real” Caleb wonders as he is also busy gazing into Melanie’s soft and gentle eyes with a quiet intensity. Her chocolate brown eyes are warm and inviting, with a spark of mischief