SCORCH (21+)

Coldie's Claim - The Prelude

"Hey, coldie, get up! You've got a meeting," Cressa Wilder said, shaking her husband, who was blissfully indifferent, lost in deep sleep.

She kept shaking him with an annoyed pout but eventually gave up, sighing as she gazed at him. His hair fell across his forehead, and she couldn't help but smile softly at his peaceful figure.

"How can someone be so cold and still look like a baby when they sleep?" she laughed softly, brushing his hair away from his forehead.

He stirred, slowly opening his eyes, and she instantly pulled back, feeling flustered. His warm brown eyes met her grey ones.

"Get up, coldie, I've been trying to wake you up for the past half hour," she said, getting to her feet.

"Maybe I was just waiting for you to keep trying," Theon Wilder replied with his morning husky voice, and she could swear that damn voice sent thrills that coursed through her veins.

"D-don't tell me you were pretending to be asleep?" Cressa gasped.

"Think what you want," Theon replied, getting up and moving closer to her.

Cressa tilted her head, trying to gauge his expression. "You really enjoy messing with me, don't you?"

"I guess I find it entertaining," Theon said, closing the distance between them.

Cressa's heart skipped a beat as he moved closer, his expression unreadable. The way he looked at her made it impossible to tell what he was thinking, and that only made her more flustered.

She took a small step back, her pulse quickening. "Y-you're mean," she whispered, trying to steady her voice, but it wavered slightly.

Theon stopped, just a breath away from her, his eyes never leaving hers. "Tell me something I don't know," he said in a low voice.

Cressa swallowed hard, the proximity making it difficult to focus on anything but him. She wanted to say something, anything, but the words seemed to vanish the moment they formed in her mind.

His gaze softened for just a moment, barely noticeable, before his usual cool demeanor returned. "You've got a meeting too, remember?" His tone was neutral, almost dismissive, as he stepped back, turning away as if the moment they shared had never happened.

Theon went into the bathroom and shut the door, chuckling to himself as he recalled her flustered expression.

"My sweet babygirl, you're adorable when you're blushing," he murmured, grabbing a brush and applying toothpaste to it. He rushed through his routine, knowing that being a CEO came with its challenges, especially with a meeting scheduled for today.

"Shit, shit, shit," Cressa muttered, her face flushed as she hurried to the other room to freshen up. She kept her hands on her red cheeks, tapping them.

"He always acts so cold but teases me like no one else," she grumbled to herself, turning on the shower. She let her long hair cascade down as the warm water relaxed her, causing her to sigh in relief.

After finishing her shower, Cressa emerged and quickly dressed in her formal office attire. She chose a tailored navy blazer and a matching pencil skirt, complementing the look with a crisp white blouse. She adjusted her outfit, checked her appearance in the mirror, and took a deep breath, ready to face the day ahead.

She went downstairs and found Theon already dressed in his sharp, tailored suit. His dark grey suit, white shirt, and sleek black tie were impeccably arranged.

The breakfast was already laid out on the table. Cressa served herself a croissant and took a sip of her coffee.

Theon was absorbed in reading files related to today's meeting.