Twenty Six

As the applause began to fade, Isabella could feel her heart racing, her mind in turmoil. She had just been kissed by Felix in front of all these people, yet Felix acted as if it was just another business transaction. Meanwhile, the taste of that kiss still lingered on her lips, a disconcerting reminder that this was no longer just about a contract. Her whispered curse had been a reflex, a way to vent her frustration and confusion, but it had done nothing to calm the chaos in her mind.

Felix, on the other hand, seemed perfectly composed, greeting the guests with his usual charm and authority. It was as if nothing extraordinary had happened, and that realization only made Isabella’s emotions more volatile. She felt as though she was being pulled in two directions—part of her wanted to maintain the pretense, to keep everything strictly professional, but another part, a growing part, was finding it harder to ignore the confusing feelings that Felix had stirred within her.

The tension in