Jackson disappeared into the kitchen, moving with a kind of effortless grace that Stella couldn't help but admire. She leaned back on the sofa, her eyes following him as he began preparing breakfast. His movements were precise and confident, as though he'd done this a thousand times before.
Stella felt a twinge of envy. Cooking had never been her forte. In fact, her attempts in the kitchen usually ended in disaster—smoke alarms blaring, ingredients burnt beyond recognition. The last time she'd tried to cook, her grandfather had banned her from the kitchen altogether, claiming she was a hazard to everyone's health.
As the aroma of sizzling eggs and toasted bread wafted through the air, Stella found herself momentarily lost in thought. Her phone buzzed, pulling her back to reality. She glanced at the screen and groaned. It was her assistant.
"Hello?" she answered hesitantly.
"Miss Stallion, where are you? You have meetings lined up this morning. The investors are already asking questions," her assistant's voice came through, tinged with mild panic.
Stella sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Reschedule everything. I'm... not feeling well today and will be a bit late."
There was a brief pause on the other end before the assistant responded, "Understood. I'll inform the team."
She hung up, placing the phone on the coffee table. For some reason, she felt more at ease here than she had in weeks. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to take the day off and relax but no, she has a lot to take care of. Still, the mystery of how she ended up in Jackson's apartment nagged at the back of her mind, refusing to be ignored.
Her musings were interrupted as Jackson reappeared, carrying a tray laden with plates of food. The smell was heavenly—crispy bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, golden-brown toast, and a side of fresh fruit. Stella's stomach betrayed her with a loud grumble, and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
Jackson smirked, clearly amused by her reaction. Without a word, he set the tray down on the dining table and adjusted the chairs.
"Come," he said, his tone inviting but firm. "Eat."
Stella hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. She wasn't used to this—being taken care of so casually, without expectation. But the aroma of the food was too enticing to resist. She stood and made her way to the table, sitting down as Jackson gestured toward the meal.
She glanced at him as he took the seat opposite her, his expression calm and unreadable. Picking up a fork, she took a tentative bite of the eggs. The flavors burst in her mouth, and she couldn't suppress a small hum of satisfaction.
"This is... really good," she admitted, surprised.
Jackson chuckled softly, pouring them both glasses of juice. "Thanks. I figured you'd need something hearty after last night."
Her brows furrowed at his comment, and she set down her fork. "About last night... I don't remember much. How exactly did I end up here?"
Jackson met her gaze, his expression unreadable. For a moment, he said nothing, as though deciding how much to reveal. Finally, he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.
"You don't remember at all?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.
Stella shook her head. "No. It's all a blur. I just remember being at the bar, and then..." She trailed off, frustration flickering across her face. "Nothing."
Jackson sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You were... a little out of it. I couldn't just leave you there, so I brought you back here to make sure you were safe."
Her eyes widened slightly. "You didn't have to do that."
"Maybe not," he replied, his tone even. "But I didn't want anything happening to you, it's just a little kindness."
Stella stared at him, her mind racing. There was no ulterior motive in his voice, no hint of malice. Just sincerity. She didn't know what to make of it—or him.
"Thank you," she said softly, picking up her fork again.
Jackson nodded, his lips curving into a faint smile. "Eat up. You're going to need your strength."
"For what?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He shrugged, taking a sip of his juice. "For whatever comes next. With you, I have a feeling it won't be boring."
Stella couldn't help but smile faintly at his words, a strange sense of comfort settling over her. For the first time in a long time, she felt... safe.
As Stella sipped the last of her coffee, her sharp eyes shifted to Jackson. "What's the address here?" she asked casually, her tone neutral but commanding.
Jackson didn't respond immediately, his gaze steady on her before he finally gave her the address. Without further comment, she pulled out her phone and called her assistant. "Bring me a change of clothes. I'm sending you the location." Her words were clipped, and she ended the call as quickly as it began.
When breakfast was over, Stella excused herself and returned to the bedroom. The faint sound of the shower running reached Jackson, but he paid it no mind as he cleaned up the table before he relaxed on the sofa, scrolling through his phone.
The doorbell rang, breaking the peaceful silence. Assuming it was Stella's assistant, Jackson stood and opened the door.
The young woman standing on the other side froze. Her eyes widened as they took in the man before her—tall, confident, and undeniably handsome with his calm demeanor leaving her breathless. She blinked, her thoughts spinning. Miss Stallion is living with a man? Since when? And why didn't I know about this? Or Was she just seeing someone but that's impossible? she wondered, her mind racing. How could I not know about this?
Jackson tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he noticed her expression. "She's inside," he said, his voice calm as he stepped aside pointing to the closed bedroom door.
The assistant didn't wait for further clarification. She hurried past him, her heart pounding. She didn't dare linger or ask questions, despite being her best friend but now she is on official assignment and had to respect her boundaries.
Inside the bedroom, Stella was already waiting, her expression calm and indifferent as she accepted the clothes. She changed quickly, her movements brisk and precise.Her assistant shook her head in disbelief. How could Stella remain so composed when she was in the same apartment with such a handsome man? It's really baffling.
After changing, Stella emerged from the room. Gone was the relaxed woman Jackson had seen earlier.
In her place stood the commanding and confident CEO. Her presence was sharp, her posture impeccable, her demeanor —poised, confident, and exuding authority.
Jackson blinked, slightly taken aback by her sudden transformation.
She glanced at Jackson, the corner of her lips curving upward into a faint smirk. "Am I still obedient?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm and confidence.
Jackson's eyebrows raised slightly, he said nothing but a faint smile played on his lips as he shrugged in response, but Stella wasn't done. Turning to him, she tilted her chin slightly. Her gaze sharpened as she continued, her tone turning authoritative. "Take me to the company."
Jackson paused for a moment, clearly surprised by the sudden order. Her assistant, standing awkwardly to the side, was equally stunned.
She glanced at Stella and couldn't help but wonder what had come over their princess who couldn't stay in the same confine with a male other than family or business partners.
For a while both Jackson and her assistant stared at her in shock. The request was unexpected, her demeanor entirely different.
When Jackson didn't respond immediately, Stella's eyebrow arched, daring him to refuse. He chuckled softly, his voice amused. "As you wish ," he agreed with his tone light.
Her assistant gaped at the interaction, unable to process what she was seeing and hearing. Stella—the intimidating CEO known for her cold and distant nature—was smiling at a man, and not just any man, but someone she seemed comfortable enough to command. She blinked rapidly, trying to process the moment.
As for Stella, she felt a strange sense of ease she hadn't anticipated, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
She hadn't planned to make such a bold request, but the words had slipped out before she could stop herself. Now that they were out there, she had no choice but to stand her ground.
At the car park, Jackson slid into the driver's seat with ease and Stella opened the passenger door and got in without a word, leaving her assistant to take the back seat.
The assistant sat stiffly, her mind racing as she stared in disbelief. Tears pricked her eyes as she muttered internally, Who made Stella my goddess? Now I have to be sandwiched between them? Yet, none of them seated at front bothered about her.
As the car rolled forward, Stella glanced at Jackson from the corner of her eye, her thoughts a mixture of curiosity and caution. There were still too many unanswered questions about how she'd ended up here, but for now, she let them linger.