The Runaway Husband

Chapter 44

Katherine

The morning after the amusement park date, Katherine woke with a renewed determination. Today, she'd make Tex see her as more than just his boss. She'd planned a series of flirty encounters throughout the day, strategically bumping into him at the office, the recording studio, and even the cafeteria.

Tex, however, remained frustratingly oblivious. He greeted her curtly, his focus solely on his work. Each time Katherine tried to engage him in playful banter, his responses were polite but brief. Her carefully constructed facade of indifference began to crumble.

By lunchtime, Katherine was fuming. Not only was Tex unfazed by her advances, but his aloofness seemed to attract more attention. Female staff members lingered in the hallway, stealing glances at the enigmatic masked singer under her watchful eye. A cold seed of jealousy sprouted in her chest.

Later, at the recording studio, Katherine witnessed a scene that sent her blood pressure soaring. During a break, a glamorous model, draped across a speaker, chatted animatedly with Tex. His easy smile sent a pang of possessiveness through Katherine.

Fuelled by a strange mix of anger and desire, Katherine stormed over. "Tex," she interjected sharply, "we need to discuss your upcoming solo performance."

Tex's smile faltered. He glanced at the model, then back at Katherine. "Right," he said, his voice flat. "Excuse me, miss." The model pouted, but retreated gracefully.

Katherine led Tex into an empty studio, the tension crackling between them. "What was that all about?" she demanded, her tone accusing.

Tex raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"The flirting, the model," Katherine spat, unable to hold back. "Don't you realize the damage you're doing to your image?"

Tex's jaw clenched. "Image? You're the one who built this 'bad boy' persona for me, remember?"

Katherine's anger subsided, replaced by a flicker of shame. He was right. But it was different then, when she hated him. Now, the sight of him with another woman made her stomach twist.

"That was then," she mumbled, looking away. "This is now."

Tex took a deep breath. "Look, Katherine," he started, "I appreciate your concern, but my personal life is...complicated. Besides, the fans love the mysterious bad boy persona. It's part of the show."

Katherine's frustration reached a boiling point. "So you're just going to play the part? Even if..." she trailed off, unable to articulate the jumble of emotions swirling within her.

Tex stepped closer, his voice low. "Even if what, Katherine?"

The air crackled with unspoken tension. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the studio seemed to fade away. But before Katherine could bridge the gap, a loud knock on the door shattered the spell. It was the manager, calling them back to discuss the upcoming concert.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Katherine felt strangely disconnected from everything, haunted by the lingering touch of Tex's gaze and the unresolved feelings simmering beneath the surface.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Katherine sat alone in her office, staring at the city lights. Tonight's concert was sold out, Tex's masked face plastered on every promotional poster. He was a rockstar enigma, and she, his frustrated, lovesick boss.

A new plan began to take shape in her mind. Perhaps, instead of fighting his bad boy image, she could use it to her advantage. Maybe, just maybe, she could play a game of her own. A dangerous game, but one that might finally lead her to Tex's heart

The Next day, Katherine is determined to propose to Tex and make him hers forever. Tex gets ready for a photo shoot, but upon reaching Tiger Point, he finds the place deserted. Confused, he approaches a serious-looking man and jokingly remarks that he doesn't seem as frightening as Katherine.

When Tex asks about the shooting location, the man gestures towards a nearby mountain. Tex realizes that the shooting must have already concluded. As he approaches a hot air balloon nearby, he hears a puppy sound inside and decides to investigate, jokingly referring to himself and the puppy as victims of Katherine's schemes.

Suddenly, Tex is blindfolded, handcuffed, and lifted into the air as the balloon takes off. Panicked, he demands to be let go, but when the blindfold is removed, he sees Katherine holding a diamond ring. She professes her love for him and expresses her desire for them to be together forever.Tex, taken aback, reminds her of their professional relationship, but Katherine insists that love can change everything. Tex hesitates, unsure of how to respond, but Katherine's possessiveness becomes evident as she threatens to lower the balloon unless he accepts her proposal.Realizing the depth of Katherine's feelings, Tex reassures her that he's not ignoring her but needs time to process everything. Katherine, understanding, agrees to give him time, but she makes it clear that she sees him as her priority from that moment forward. They share a heartfelt moment, hugging tightly as they navigate the uncertain future of their relationship.