The Billionaire Recluse & The girl who stayed.

The Roof Top garden.

~ Lexi ~

I ran the bath hotter than usual, letting the steam fill the room as I sank down into the soft bubbles.

For the first time all day—

Silence.

No Jasper.

No confusion.

No overthinking.

Just me.

I reached for my phone out of habit, unlocking it as I rested back, letting the warmth relax my muscles.

A text popped up.

Dale.

A small smile touched my lips as I leaned forward to grab my wine—

And then—

"Oh, for God's sake!"

My phone slipped straight out of my hand and into the bath.

I lunged forward, pulling it out instantly, but it was too late.

The screen flickered.

Then went completely dead.

I stared at it for a second before letting out a sigh and tossing it onto the floor beside the bath.

"Brilliant."

I sank back again, closing my eyes.

"I'll just get a new one tomorrow."

—

But my mind didn't stay quiet for long.

Of course it didn't.

It went straight back to him.

Jasper.

The way he'd acted.

The way he looked at me.

The way he'd changed—

Again.

"I need to talk to him," I muttered.

Because I couldn't keep doing this.

Hot and cold.

Push and pull.

I needed to know where I stood.

—

I finished my bath, got into my pyjamas, and slipped into bed.

Exhaustion hit me quickly.

But even as I drifted off—

He was still there.

In my head.

—

The next morning, I woke up feeling... lighter.

More settled.

Like I'd made a decision.

Today, I'd get answers.

—

I got ready slowly, taking my time.

Hair.

Makeup.

Outfit.

I chose a skirt and top—something simple, classy, put together.

If I was going to face him—

I wasn't doing it looking like a mess.

—

The second I pulled up at the mansion, something felt... different.