Isla and Jaxon walked into La Pergola and Isla’s jaw was literally on the floor. Just when Isla thought the main dining area was heaven on earth, Jaxon led her further into a secluded VIP section tucked in a private corner. Her head tilted back as she took in the sheer elegance, trailing behind him in awe.It was, without a doubt, the most luxurious setting Isla had ever experienced. As they settled into their seats, a waitress approached, her smile as bright as the chandeliers above.“Mr. Waverly! It’s always a pleasure to see you,” said the waitress, “Sasha,” her name embroidered neatly on the pocket of her uniform. Jaxon responded with a faint smile.“You always say that, Sasha,” he replied coolly, his gaze steady. Sasha then turned her attention to Isla.“Welcome, ma’am,” she said with a polite bow. Isla returned the gesture, her own smile wide and a little nervous. Sasha glanced back at Jaxon.“What about Mr. Alex?” she asked with a knowing grin.“He’s not joining us today,” Jax
After eating, Isla felt noticeably better, even though she had barely touched her food. Jaxon couldn’t take his eyes off her, watching her every move and reaction.“You don’t have to go back to work if you’re not ready,” Jaxon said, lifting his glass of wine and taking a sip.Isla looked up, startled. “No. No,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t want to go home. I’m fine, Mr. Jaxon. Really, I am.” She forced a wide smile, though it didn’t quite convince him. “I don’t want your pity or anything. I’m perfectly fine.”“I’m not pitying you,” Jaxon replied firmly. “I just want to make sure you’re in the right state of mind to work.”“I am,” Isla insisted. “Alex isn’t here, so it’s my responsibility to oversee your schedule and take care of you until he’s back.”“Oh?” Jaxon raised an eyebrow. “You want to take care of me?”Isla’s lips parted, and she stammered, “I… I didn’t mean it like that.”“Why not?” Jaxon pressed, taking another sip of his wine. “Can’t you take care of your boss?”“N
Jaxon drove into the underground parking garage, the hum of his engine echoing off the concrete walls. As his car came to a stop, his eyes landed on Alex’s vehicle parked not far away. Alex stood nearby, flanked by his driver, Ray and a sizeable group of their men, all poised and ready. Raising a brow in surprise, Jaxon stepped out of his car smoothly. Alex didn’t waste time and approached him.“Boss,” Alex greeted with a slight nod.“I wasn’t expecting you to be here,” Jaxon remarked.Alex nodded again. “Yeah, I should’ve called. I’m feeling better now,” he replied, but Jaxon wasn’t buying it.“I don’t think that’s the whole story,” Jaxon said, his voice laced with skepticism. “But if you’re set on keeping it from me, I’ll play along for now.”Before Alex could respond, the low rumble of engines filled the garage. Two sleek, black vans sped into view, coming to a sharp halt a short distance away.“We’ll discuss this later,” Jaxon muttered, shifting his focus to the approaching vehic
Alex pulled up in front of the bar, tilting his facecap low before stepping out of his vehicle. His long strides carried him across the road to the bar’s entrance.With his head bowed, he stepped inside, scanning the bar area for Michael. To his disappointment—and growing frustration—someone else was behind the counter.‘Seriously? First, he’s not on any apps, and now he’s not at work?’ Alex clenched his jaw as he approached the bartender. ‘Maybe he’s doing the midnight shift today,’ he thought, trying to stay optimistic.“Hey,” Alex greeted with a wide smile, though he couldn’t hide his disappointment. The bartender looked decent enough—nerdy, even—but he wasn’t Michael.“Hey! How’s it going?” the bartender replied, leaning on the counter. Alex’s gaze flicked to the name tag on his uniform: Toby.“I’m good, Toby,” Alex said, offering a polite nod.“Glad to hear that,” Toby replied, straightening up. “What can I get you?”“Erm…” Alex hesitated, leaning closer to the counter. The music
Alex stepped into the Hausmann & Co. jewelry store, his eyes immediately scanning the elegant interior. With steady strides, he made his way to the Rolex section, stopping in front of the sleek display case. Rows of exquisite wristwatches glinted under the soft, strategically placed lights. He paused, his gaze fixed on the collection.“Good day, sir,” a jewelry consultant greeted warmly from behind the counter.“Good day,” Alex replied, offering a polite smile.“Is there a specific piece you're interested in today?” the consultant inquired.Alex raised a hand, pointing to one of the watches.“An excellent choice, sir,” the consultant remarked. “That's the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, Oyster 40mm in platinum. Crafted from 950 platinum, it features an ice-blue dial—a signature of Rolex’s platinum models. Would you like to try it on?”Alex shook his head, his smile soft, “No need. It's a gift.”“For someone special? Even better,” the consultant said with a knowing grin.Alex arched a brow
Isla rushed out of the office to grab her bag. Inside, she had a candle and a lighter. She pulled them out and quickly returned.In the office, Jaxon had positioned a stool between the chairs in front of his desk, placing the cake and glasses on it. As he poured wine into the glasses, Isla carefully inserted the candle into the cake.He let out a scoff and shook his head. "You brought a candle too?""Of course!" Isla grinned. "What's a birthday cake without a wish?" She lit the candle with a flick of the lighter. As Jaxon finished pouring, he set the wine bottle down beside the stool."Go on, make a wish," she urged, her smile wide and expectant.Jaxon shrugged, folding his arms as he leaned back. "I don’t have any.""Don’t be like that, Mr. Jaxon," Isla pressed, her eyes widening. "Everybody wants something."He sighed, raising a brow. "Alright," he muttered, leaning forward. "Can’t even remember the last time I did this." Closing his eyes, he appeared deep in thought as the candleli
As Isla’s face neared his, Jaxon subtly turned his head to the side, causing her to freeze mid-motion. Her jaw tightened, and she swallowed hard, pulling back in embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,” she said, her voice trembling with regret as she shook her head.Jaxon’s eyes were squeezed shut, his jaw tense. A storm of emotions churned within him. He wanted to kiss her, but the thought of giving away his first kiss so impulsively held him back. He needed time—time to be sure.The silence between them grew heavy and suffocating. Isla shifted uncomfortably before finally rising from her chair. The sound startled Jaxon, and his eyes flew open.“I… I should go,” she murmured, avoiding his gaze. Without waiting for a response, she turned and headed for the door.Jaxon’s jaw clenched as he watched her retreating figure. He wanted to stop her, to admit that he wanted the kiss too, but the words wouldn’t come. They caught in his throat, leaving him to wrestle with his t
“Jaxon?” Margaret called as Danika wheeled her into the living room. Jaxon sat on the couch, lost in thought, his mind consumed by what had happened with Isla at the office. “Maggie,” he greeted with a forced smile, his voice low as he straightened up. Her brows knitted together. “What’s with that look?” she asked. Danika stopped once Margaret was in front of Jaxon, then wordlessly excused herself. Jaxon let out a heavy sigh. “I think I fucked up, Maggie.” He shook his head, regret evident in his expression. Margaret’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?” Jaxon hesitated for a beat, and then it clicked for her. “This is about Isla, isn’t it?” Her eyes widened. He exhaled sharply, nodding. “I think I made her hate me,” he muttered, sinking back into the couch. “We almost kissed. I mean, I really wanted to, but I just couldn’t do it.” Jaxon exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “She’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever met. She even baked me a cake with this really thoughtful me
Jaxon groaned as his eyes fluttered open. He lay still, staring up at the ceiling, trying to blink away the blur clouding his vision. A dull throbbing pounded in his skull, and as he pushed himself upright, the pain intensified.“Arghh,” he gritted out, cradling his head in his hands. Squeezing his eyes shut didn’t help much, but he tried anyway.‘I need peppermint tea,’ he thought, yanking the duvet off his body. Moving to the edge of the bed, he sat still for a moment before reaching for his phone on the bedside table.When he powered it on and checked the date, relief washed over him—it was Saturday.“I really shouldn’t have drunk that much,” he muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. With a sigh, he swung his legs off the bed, slipped on his flip-flops, and dragged his feet across the cool tiles toward the living room.As he wandered into the kitchen, he scrolled through his phone and dialed Isla’s number. Setting the phone on the counter, he shuffled over to the fridge for a bott
Isla arrived at Sophie’s apartment, dropped off by Jaxon’s driver.“Thanks,” she said, waving goodnight. The driver gave a slight nod before speeding off.As she entered the apartment complex, excitement bubbled up inside her. She broke into a giggle, practically running.“Sophie! Sophie!” she called out, eager to share everything—despite already spilling most of it over the phone.She dashed up the stairs, stopping in front of Sophie’s door.“Girllll!” Sophie’s voice rang from inside. The door flung open, and the two best friends threw their arms around each other in a tight embrace.“I missed you so much, Isla!” Sophie whined dramatically.Isla burst into laughter. “Oh, please. You’re so dramatic—I was here two nights ago.”“What? No!” Sophie protested as they stepped inside. “You were here physically, but mentally? Nah. You were sulking and blaming me for trying to set you up with Mr. Stranger.” She plopped onto the couch with a smirk.“Whatever.” Isla laughed, settling next to her
The workday at the company was wrapping up when Jaxon called Isla into his office. Just as she was about to leave her desk, Asher approached her, a broad, welcoming smile on his face.“Hey,” he greeted, leaning casually against her desk as his colleagues passed by, throwing Isla knowing nods and smirks.She furrowed her brows at their reactions but acknowledged them with a polite nod.Asher scoffed, glancing at them before turning back to her. “Ignore them. They’re being ridiculous.”Isla flicked her brows and shrugged. “It’s cool.” She smiled.“So… you heading out now?” he asked.Isla’s gaze shifted toward Jaxon’s office, where she found him watching them from behind his desk.“Erm… not yet. I have some work to finish up,” she stammered.Asher narrowed his eyes. “You said that last time, Isla. Are you avoiding me?” He leaned in slightly, and she let out an uneasy smile, instinctively leaning back.She shot another glance at Jaxon, who was now on his feet.“You’re making it seem like
"Did you really have to bring her up?" Jaxon asked, his face unreadable. Alex swallowed hard."I'm sorry. I shouldn’t have," he said, voice laced with regret. "It’s just... I haven’t seen you with her picture lately. You barely even mention her name anymore."Jaxon cut in, his tone firm. "That’s because I’ve finally accepted the truth you all kept telling me." He turned back to his computer. "Teresa is gone."Alex swallowed again, nodding. "Okay… For what it’s worth, I’m happy for you. And I have to say, pulling off that dinner for Isla all on your own? Impressive." He forced a light tone, hoping to shift the mood. Luckily, it worked—Jaxon couldn’t help but smile at the mention of Isla."You’re a great boyfriend. She’s lucky to have you.""Thanks," Jaxon said with a grin, finally pulling his hands away from the keyboard. "I sent over the list of clients and the quantities for the next deliveries."Alex checked his phone, scrolling quickly. "You’ve got a meeting tomorrow. With the fami
Jaxon pulled into the company’s parking lot with Isla in his car, the two of them practically glued to each other. He leaned in, pressing his lips against her neck, decorating her neck with deliberate kisses.Isla’s hand rested on his thigh, gripping it firmly. Last night, Jaxon had refused to make love to her—the whole mood had shifted after Isla’s mother’s call—but now, he couldn't stop touching her. He kept bringing up how he regretted asking her to answer the phone, knowing he had to recreate the perfect atmosphere they’d lost. Isla had gone deeper into explaining what her sister and her ex-fiance did to her and this broke Jaxon. He wanted to make it up to her anyway he could.Jaxon had always been a perfectionist, and with Isla in his life, he was determined to make everything just right.“We’re here, boss,” the driver announced, shutting off the engine.Jaxon lifted his head from Isla’s neck, meeting her gaze. “Shall we?”Isla grinned and nodded. “Let’s go.”As the driver open
Sophie soon drifted off, her head resting on Michael’s shoulder, the soft glow of the television still illuminating the room. Careful not to wake her, Michael gently moved the popcorn bowl from her lap before slipping his arms beneath her. Lifting her in a bridal carry, he carried her to the bedroom.As he laid her down, her eyes fluttered open, meeting his gaze.“Are you not coming to bed?” she asked sleepily as he tucked her in.“Not yet,” he said with a small smile. “I’ve got a few things to do. You go ahead. I’ll join you soon.”Leaning in, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before pulling away. “Do you want me to adjust the air conditioning?” he asked.She shook her head, snuggling deeper under the duvet. “Nah, it’s perfect.”Michael reached for the light switch. Just as he was about to turn it off, Sophie whispered, “I love you.”A warm smile spread across his face. “I love you too.”He switched off the light and quietly stepped out, shutting the door behind him. Letting out
For a moment, Jaxon pulled back, their lips parting as they both caught their breath. Isla’s eyes fluttered open, her warm gaze meeting the hunger in his.“That was good,” Jaxon murmured, his face still inches from hers. “Your lips taste exactly how I imagined.”Isla arched a brow. “You imagined my lips?” she asked, a shy smile playing on her face.“And every part of you,” he admitted. “Might sound a bit mad, but it’s the truth. After last night, I couldn’t stop thinking about all the things I wanted to do for you… and to you—even the filthy ones.” His breath, laced with champagne, skimmed her skin as he whispered.“Then why’d you stop?” Isla asked before she could think, her voice just as soft. Their foreheads brushed as she met his gaze.“Because I needed to know you want this as much as I do.” He cupped her face, his thumb grazing her cheek. Her eyes fluttered shut as she leaned into his warmth.“I made the first move twice… remember?” she murmured, still resting against his palm.
Alex pulled up in front of Michael’s apartment and took the stairs to the second floor, where his place was. The elevator was out of order, but Alex hardly cared.He needed to make things right with Michael after what had happened that morning.Reaching the door, he knocked and waited.“Michael?” He called out, raising his hand to knock again when the door suddenly swung open.Michael stepped out hastily, shutting the door behind him in one swift motion.“What are you doing here?” he whispered, grabbing Alex’s wrist and pulling him toward the stairwell.Alex frowned, confused by his urgency. “What’s going on? Why are you acting so nervous?” He studied Michael’s tense expression and restless movements.Michael exhaled sharply, letting go of his hand. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? Just because you know where I live now doesn’t mean you can drop by unannounced.”The words caught Alex off guard. “I didn’t mean to just show up. I was going to call, but I realized I don’t have yo
Isla sat gracefully in the car, exuding an effortless charm that had Jaxon completely mesmerized. Ever since their makeover—his idea, of course—she had looked even more breathtaking.Her makeup was subtle, just enough to highlight her striking features. She wore a flowing white dress with a daring slit up to her thigh, its fitted bodice accentuating her figure before cascading into a soft, flared skirt. To complete the look, Jaxon had chosen a pair of gold heels and a matching purse for her.Jaxon on the other hand decided to get a new set of suit and he wore that. He didn’t want her to think he was not intentional about his own looks. He was also in his office outfits. “You’re absolutely stunning,” Jaxon murmured, leaning in close, his voice laced with admiration.Isla’s cheeks burned as she glanced at him. “If I’m counting right, that’s the sixth time you’ve said that since we left the mall,” she replied, her tone shy yet teasing.He chuckled. “Can you blame me? I can’t stop lookin