Chloe Grace lay in bed, tossing and turning as if her body couldn't contain the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her.** Every now and then, her lips would curve into a smile—a small, uncontainable sign of joy that refused to be stifled. Two hours had passed since she first slipped under the covers, but sleep remained an elusive dream. How could she possibly sleep when her heart was so full?
The reason for her happiness was as unexpected as it was overwhelming: Blaine Jackson. The man who had always been an enigma—a blend of sharp edges and untouchable coolness—had done something so utterly out of character that it left her reeling. Just yesterday, he had been his usual commanding self, dictating her every move and insisting she call him "Big Brother" in a tone that brooked no argument. But today? He was someone else entirely—gentle, accommodating, and even indulgent.
*What had happened to cause such a transformation?* She couldn't help but replay every moment in her mind, searching for answers. Was it a stroke of good fortune, or had Blaine experienced some profound awakening? The shift was so drastic that it felt almost surreal.
Her restless thoughts made her wonder—was he asleep now? Or was he, like her, lying awake and consumed by his own thoughts? The idea sent a curious thrill through her. Unable to resist the pull of her curiosity, she sat up, her heart thudding with a mix of anticipation and nerves.
Quietly, Chloe tiptoed to her door and opened it just enough to peek into the hallway. His door was closed, as she had expected. But the question lingered: *Had he locked it?*
Her heart raced as she approached, her hand hovering over the doorknob. Before she could second-guess herself, she twisted it gently. To her surprise, the door yielded without resistance.
The faint glow of moonlight spilled into his room, casting a silvery hue over everything. Her gaze fell on Blaine's sleeping form, his features softened by the shadows. Even in the dim light, his face was striking—his sharp jawline and high cheekbones giving him an almost statuesque quality.
**Five years.** That's how long she had loved him. From the moment her sister had first spoken his name, Blaine Jackson had been more than just a man to her—he had become a dream, a distant and unattainable star. Back then, she had convinced herself that their worlds were too far apart to ever touch. He was brilliant, charismatic, and accomplished, while she had been nothing more than her sister's younger sibling—a quiet shadow in the background.
Her sister's tragic death had brought their lives together, though not in the way Chloe had hoped. The pain of loss had forged an unexpected connection, but it had also been the source of unspoken distance.
For years, Chloe had longed for a sign that Blaine thought of her. When he hadn't come looking for her after her sister's passing, her hope had dimmed. She had even sought out Sophie Jackson, her sister's best friend, for news of him. That's when she learned the painful truth—Blaine had fallen for someone else, his assistant, Claire Grace.
Hearing that news had shattered her. But fate, it seemed, had other plans. Sophie had recently told her that Claire was married now and happily so. Claire was even coming to Japan for work.
Chloe couldn't help but wonder—was this her chance? Could the universe be aligning to bring Blaine into her orbit once again?
Crouching beside his bed, she allowed herself a moment of vulnerability. Her fingers itched to reach out, to trace the features she had admired from afar for so long. Slowly, almost reverently, she extended her hand, her fingertips brushing over the smooth lines of his face. She traced his brow, his cheekbone, and finally his jawline, her touch light as a feather.
**How many times had she dreamed of this?** Of being this close to him, of sharing a moment that was hers and his alone. Her heart ached with the weight of emotions she had buried deep, and her eyes glistened as she let herself indulge in the moment.
But her reverie was short-lived. Her fingers, cold against the warmth of his skin, wandered lower, grazing the edge of the silk covers. The moment her hand touched his firm abdomen, a soft sigh escaped his lips.
"Chloe Grace, it's the middle of the night. What exactly are you trying to do?"
His voice, low and edged with amusement, shattered the silence and sent a jolt through her.
Her eyes widened in panic. "W-What? You're awake?" she stammered, pulling her hand back as if it had been burned.
Blaine's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Of course, I'm awake. What man could sleep through that?" His tone carried a teasing note, but there was something else in his gaze—something unreadable.
"Would you mind removing your hand now?" he asked, his voice dipping into a mix of exasperation and humor.
Chloe's face flushed a deep crimson as she scrambled backward, clutching her hands to her chest. "I—I didn't mean to—" she started, but her words faltered under his steady gaze.
Without warning, Blaine reached over and switched on the bedside lamp. The sudden burst of light made her squint, but when her eyes adjusted, she found herself staring at him again.
His sculpted physique was impossible to ignore, each muscle a testament to discipline and strength. Chloe's brain screamed at her to look away, but her eyes betrayed her.
"Enjoying the view?" he asked, his smirk deepening.
"I—uh—no, I mean—" she stammered, words tumbling over each other in a hopeless mess.
Blaine chuckled, the sound low and warm. Reaching for a towel, he draped it casually over his waist. "You might want to be careful, Chloe. Staring too long can get you into trouble."
Her cheeks burned hotter than ever. "I—I was sleepwalking!" she blurted, grasping at the flimsiest excuse she could think of.
"Sleepwalking?" Blaine raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. But his amused expression softened the blow of his disbelief.
"Yes! I must have wandered in here by accident," she insisted, her voice high-pitched and desperate. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll just… go."
Without waiting for his response, Chloe bolted for the door, her heart pounding as she fled back to her room.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Blaine leaned back against the headboard, his smirk lingering. "Sleepwalking, huh?" he murmured to himself, a spark of mischief lighting his eyes. "This is going to be fun."