All Chapters of Rediscovering Odette : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The morning after their night together, Odette lay in bed, the warmth of Anton’s embrace still lingering on her skin. She had never felt more conflicted in her life. His promises, the raw honesty in his eyes—it all felt so real. But the doubt still gnawed at her. He was hiding something, and deep down, she feared it wasn’t just about his past. She sat up, smoothing her messy hair, and glanced at the clock. It was already past ten, and she was late for work. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, a message from Doug, who had been quiet lately after the office incident. She frowned, wondering if there was more to his silence than he was letting on. Still, she wasn’t in the mood to dwell on it right now. She glanced over at the chair where Anton had left his clothes—his suit jacket hung carelessly over the back, the dark fabric a stark contrast to the soft morning light filtering through the window. She had to admit, everything about him—the way he held her, the way he spoke, the way he

Odette’s heart pounded as she made her way through the city streets, her mind a whirl of thoughts she could barely keep up with. Doug’s confession had shaken her, leaving her with more questions than answers. How deep had he been involved with the Sokolovs? And why hadn’t he warned her sooner? But what really stung was the truth in his words: Anton had always been protecting her. Even when she hadn’t known it. Odette’s fingers tightened around the strap of her bag as she approached the familiar building where she was to meet Anton. The quiet hum of the city around her seemed distant, like the world had slowed to a crawl, and everything within her seemed focused on the meeting ahead. She could feel the weight of her past with Anton pressing down on her, mingled with the fresh burden of everything she’d just learned. A part of her wanted to run, to escape the situation altogether. But the other part—the one that still remembered the sparks between her and Anton—compelled her to go.

The following morning, Odette woke to the faint smell of coffee wafting through the penthouse. For a moment, she forgot where she was, the plush bedding and opulent surroundings unfamiliar compared to her modest apartment. But then the events of the previous day came rushing back—Anton, the Sokolovs, and the overwhelming danger lurking around every corner. She pulled herself out of bed, slipping into the robe Anton had left on the armchair by the window. The city skyline greeted her with its endless sprawl, a sharp contrast to the stillness inside the penthouse. As she wandered into the kitchen, she found Anton leaning against the counter, a mug of coffee in his hand, his hair slightly mussed from sleep. “Morning,” he greeted her, his voice still gravelly. “I figured you’d need this.” He slid a steaming cup toward her. Odette accepted it with a soft “thank you” and took a seat at the kitchen island. They sipped in silence, the tension from the previous night lingering but softened

The soft hum of the dishwasher filled the kitchen as Odette wiped down the counters, her thoughts clouded by the emotional whirlwind Anton had stirred up. He had dropped her off after dinner at Amerie’s insistence, the promise of seeing her again soon lingering on his lips like a brand. It had been a tender goodbye, but there was something about Anton’s quiet intensity tonight that left her unsettled. Doug’s words replayed in her mind. She hated to admit it, but he wasn’t wrong about Anton being trouble. It wasn’t just the secretive late-night calls or the shadow that seemed to follow him—it was the way Anton’s presence wrapped around her like a double-edged sword, cutting as much as it comforted. A knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts. She glanced at the clock. It was nearly midnight. Frowning, she dried her hands and headed to the door. When she opened it, Anton stood there, looking impossibly out of place in her modest apartment building. His silver-grey eyes held an

Odette spent the next morning in a haze, replaying her rooftop dinner with Anton. She hadn’t been able to shake the way his eyes softened when he made that promise not to shut her out. But even as she clung to that moment, she couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that Anton was navigating waters far more dangerous than he let on. As she sat at her desk, sketching out ideas for a new project, Doug strolled over, coffee in hand and a mischievous grin on his face. “Morning, sunshine,” he said, plopping into the chair across from her desk. “You seem…distracted. Dare I say lovestruck?” Odette shot him a pointed look but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips. “Good morning, Doug. Don’t you have work to do?” “I do,” he said, sipping his coffee. “But what kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t check in on you? How was last night?” She hesitated, glancing around the office to make sure no one was listening. “It was…nice. Anton took me to this amazing rooftop restaurant. We