As he entered the room, the sound of the shower from the bathroom caught his attention. He glanced towards the door and headed to his study, seeking a distraction to occupy his mind.
Zander entered his office, settling into his routine. He sent for his usual snack, a habit since Rhia first sent it. As he waited, he pored over documents, his mind focused. The soft knock at the door brought his snack, and he took a bite, savoring the flavors. His thoughts wandered to Rhia, wondering what she was doing. He dove back into work, the snack by his side.
After a long study session, Zander returned to their room, expecting to find Rhia awake, but instead, she was already asleep. He raised an eyebrow, realizing she must have needed the rest. Climbing into bed, he gazed at her face for a long time, his expression unreadable, before deciding to sleep.
However, just as he was about to drift off, Rhia's face contorted, and she began to breathe heavily, worry etched on Zander's face - a rare sight. She twitched and whimpered, her eyes moving rapidly beneath her eyelids as if trapped in a nightmare. Zander's concern deepened as he sat up, holding her and rubbing her back soothingly.
"Rhia, wake up," he whispered, trying to rouse her from the grip of her nightmare.
But she only clung to him tighter, her fingers digging into his shirt as if seeking refuge. Zander's heart raced as he held her close, feeling her fear and anxiety transfer to him. He stroked her hair, trying to calm her down, and slowly but surely, her breathing steadied, and her grip relaxed.
****
She woke up, opening her eyes slowly, she was met with Zander's gaze, his eyes filled with a softness she had never seen before. She almost jumped out of bed, startled, but Zander's arms encircled her, holding her close.
"Good morning," Rhia managed to say, her voice low from sleep.
"Stay with me for a while," Zander replied in his morning voice, his tone gentle and soft, his breath tickling her ear.
Rhia's cheeks flushed as she realized their intimate position - her legs tangled with Zander's, her body pressed against his. She tried to pull away, but Zander's grip tightened, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief.
"Just a little longer, Rhia," he whispered, his voice low and husky, sending shivers down her spine.
"Oh God, he was making things hard for her," Rhia thought, her ears slightly red, her heart beating rapidly. "Did you have a bad dream?" Though his voice was low, she heard it clearly, and her body stilled as she tried not to remember it. Her lips trembled slightly, and Zander noticed, his eyes filled with concern. He held her hands with his, soothingly rubbing his thumb on her hand. "It's okay," he spoke, his breath fanning her neck, which gave her goosebumps.
Rhia's eyes fluttered closed, trying to shut out the memories, but Zander's gentle touch and warm voice made her feel safe, like she could face anything with him by her side. She took a deep breath, letting his calmness wash over her, and slowly opened her eyes meeting his gaze but shifted immediately embarrassed.
Her grip on his shirt released as she exhaled loudly, noticing the change in Zander's attitude, which shocked her. Before she could turn to ask, his phone buzzed. Zander, still holding her, took the call without looking at his phone. "Hello," he answered, his voice firm. Rhia's eyes stretched wide as she recognized the voice on the other end - a lady.
"Zoey, call later,"
he spoke before hanging up. Rhia couldn't explain the unfamiliar pain that stung her heart. She managed to compose herself as she shifted to stand. "I need to have my bath," she said, her tone cold and unfamiliar, surprising Zander, who was caught off guard. This was the first time she had spoken to him in such a manner.Rhia slammed the bathroom door shut behind her, the sound echoing through the room as she exhaled and inhaled loudly, frustrated with herself for reacting so emotionally. She couldn't believe she had let her feelings get the better of her. Sliding into the warm bath, she let out a deep sigh, feeling her tense muscles relax. As she soaked, her mind wandered back to the conversation with Zander, replaying his words and her reaction. When she finally emerged, dressed and with her hair flowing down her back, she expected to see Zander waiting for her. But he was nowhere to be found. The butler, noticing her confusion, approached her with a discreet cough. "Mr. Zander left, miss," he informed her, his expression neutral. Rhia's heart sank, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. Where had he gone?And why was she acting this way her questions swirled in her mind, leaving her feeling unsettled and unsure of what to do next.