Zander walked into his office, his long strides eating up the distance. He moved with a quiet confidence, his eyes fixed on the task at hand. He had work to do before making the call, and he didn't waste any time getting started.
His fingers flew across the keyboard, his eyes scanning the documents on his desk. He was a man on a mission, and nothing would distract him from his goal.
Finally, after what felt like hours, he was ready. He picked up the phone and dialed the number, his eyes never leaving the papers in front of him.
The person on the other end answered, their voice low and menacing. "Did you do what I told you to do, Zander?" they asked, their tone dripping with malice.
Zander hummed in response, his eyes never leaving the papers. He knew what the person was asking, and he wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of a real answer.
The person on the other end chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. "I see. Well, in that case, I'll be coming to visit you soon. You owe me, Zander. And I always collect what's owed to me."
Zander's expression remained emotionless, his eyes never flickering. He knew what he had gotten himself into, and he wasn't afraid of this person. He was afraid of no one.
The line went dead, and Zander hung up the phone, his eyes still fixed on the papers in front of him. He had work to do, and he wouldn't let anyone get in his way.
He was a man on a mission, and nothing would stop him from achieving his goals. Not even the person on the other end of the line.
Rhia sat at the dinner table, her eyes cast downward as she silently ate her meal. She knew that Zander was likely busy with work, and she didn't want to disturb him. But her mind was racing with thoughts of their earlier encounter, and the apology that had left her heart racing.
She couldn't believe that Zander had apologized to her, his deep voice firm but gentle in its own way. It was a surprise, and one that had caught her off guard. She felt a flutter in her chest as she remembered the way he had spoken, his words concise and direct.
As she ate, Rhia felt a sense of relief wash over her that Zander wasn't eating with her tonight. She didn't know how she would have handled it if he had been sitting across from her, his piercing eyes fixed on hers. Her heart might have beat louder than normal, and she wasn't sure she could have hidden her emotions.
But for now, she was alone with her thoughts, and she could process the events of the day without fear of detection. She was grateful for that small mercy, and she knew that she needed to be careful around Zander. He was a man who kept his emotions hidden, and she couldn't let her guard down around him.
Rhia finished her dinner and pushed her chair back, preparing to leave the table. She turned to the butler, who was still standing nearby, and asked, "Has my husband eaten yet?"
The butler's eyes flickered slightly at her use of the term "my husband", and Rhia felt a blush rise to her cheeks. She hadn't meant to say it out loud, but it had slipped out before she could catch herself.
"Ah, yes, ma'am," the butler replied, his expression neutral. "Sir has eaten. However, I can send some snacks to his study if you'd like."
Rhia nodded, still feeling a bit flustered. "Yes, please do. And thank you."
The butler bowed slightly and moved off to carry out her request. Rhia watched him go, then turned and made her way to her room, her heart still racing slightly from the slip of the tongue. She couldn't believe she had called Zander her husband out loud. It was a small mistake, but it felt like a significant one.
Zander sat in his office, his eyes fixed on the papers in front of him, when he heard a knock on the door. He raised an eyebrow, surprised. No one ever knocked on his door. He called out, "Come in," expecting it to be Rhia, though he couldn't fathom why she would be visiting him.
But to his surprise, it was the butler who entered, a silver tray in his hand. "Young Miss sent this to you, sir," he said, his voice formal.
Zander's frown disappeared, and a slight curve appeared on his lips, a hint of a smile that vanished as quickly as it appeared. He nodded curtly, acknowledging the butler's words.
The butler bowed and left, leaving Zander to stare at the snack on the tray: a delicate arrangement of caviar and crackers, accompanied by a small glass of fine scotch. Zander's eyes narrowed slightly as he reached for the glass, his mind wondering what Rhia was thinking, sending him a snack.
Zander took a bite of the caviar and crackers, the salty flavor exploding in his mouth. He savored the taste for a moment, then set the snack aside and closed his laptop. He stood up, his movements economical and precise, and walked out of the study, leaving the snack and his work behind.
As he walked, he felt a sense of closure, as if he had finally put a lid on the day's events. He didn't bother turning off the lights or locking the door, knowing that the butler would take care of such details.
Zander's mind was already elsewhere, focused on the next day's challenges and opportunities. He moved through the darkening hallway with a sense of purpose, his footsteps echoing off the walls. He didn't look back, didn't hesitate, just kept moving forward, always forward.
Zander entered the room, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. He saw Rhia asleep, her chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. He had grown accustomed to seeing her like this, asleep, over the past few days. He would often leave for work early, before she woke up, and return late, when she was already asleep again.
He moved quietly, not wanting to disturb her, and entered the bathroom. He turned the shower to cold, the water pounding against his skin like a thousand tiny needles. He closed his eyes, letting the chill wash over him, trying to clear his mind.
As he stood there, he couldn't help but think of Rhia, asleep in the next room. He thought about how fragile she looked, how vulnerable. He thought about how he had apologized to her, how he had tried to make amends. And he thought about how he still didn't know what to make of her, of their situation, of his own feelings.
The cold water was a shock to his system, but it was also a reminder. A reminder that he needed to stay focused, stay sharp. That he couldn't let his guard down, not even for a moment. He opened his eyes, the water still pounding against him, and knew that he had to keep moving forward, no matter what.