𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬

𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝟐𝟐

Sadira wiped down the counters of her bakery, the sweet smell of frosting and fresh cakes still lingering in the air. The laughter of children and the low buzz of conversation had long since faded, leaving behind the gentle hum of the bakery's refrigerators and the rhythmic swish of her cloth against the tables. She couldn't get them out of her head—Brayden, Tariq, and especially Davis.

Davis always had a way of getting under her skin, like he knew exactly how to press all her buttons. And today was no different. The memory of his smirk as he teased her about the sweets, the way he leaned in close just to make her squirm—it was infuriating. Yet, no matter how hard she tried to shake it off, she found herself smiling, despite her best efforts to resist.

As she made her way to the last table—the one they had sat at—her eyes caught something she hadn't noticed before. A white envelope lay flat against the dark wood, slightly tucked under the edge of the napkin holder. Curious, she picked it up, running her fingers over the smooth paper. There was no name on it, no writing on the outside to hint at what it was.

Her heart beat a little faster as she opened it, her fingers sliding under the flap. Inside, neatly wrapped in a pink ribbon, was an enormous stack of cash. Fifty thousand dollars, the exact amount she had paid Davis for his legal services. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she just stared at it, unsure of how to react. Attached to the pink ribbon was a small note, his handwriting bold and confident.

"Here," it simply read, followed by his phone number.

Sadira couldn't help but let out a laugh. Of course, Davis had found a way to not only get under her skin but also surprise her. He had always been unpredictable. The fact that he had returned the money—this much money—was unexpected, to say the least. She shook her head in disbelief, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

She pulled out her phone, still holding the note in one hand as she typed a quick message to him.

Sadira: Thank you.

A few seconds later, her phone buzzed in her hand.

Davis: You're welcome, brat.

She laughed again, rolling her eyes at his response.

Sadira: Lol ok, old man.

She could almost hear the smug satisfaction in his laugh, even through the screen. She didn't have to see him to know he was enjoying this, probably sitting somewhere with that same infuriating smirk on his face. But despite her annoyance, she couldn't deny the warmth that crept through her chest. There was something about the way he pushed her, teased her—it was frustrating, yes, but also thrilling in a way she hadn't expected.

Sadira slipped the note and the cash back into the envelope, tucking it safely into her bag before finishing her cleaning routine. As she wiped down the last table, she found herself thinking about Davis again. His confidence, the way he always seemed so sure of himself, even when he was being a pain in the ass. The way he looked at her, like he knew exactly what was going on in her mind. It was unsettling, but also... intriguing.

With the bakery spotless, Sadira turned off the lights and locked the door behind her, the evening air cool against her skin as she stepped outside. The city was quiet now, the hustle of the day giving way to the calm of the night. She made her way to her white Range Rover parked outside, the engine purring softly as she started the car and pulled onto the street.

The drive home was peaceful, the streets mostly empty as she navigated through the city. But even in the silence, her thoughts were loud, swirling around everything that had happened. She couldn't shake Davis from her mind—the way he looked at her, the way he teased her, the way he always seemed to find a way to get under her skin. It was maddening, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a little drawn to it.

When she finally pulled into her driveway, she let out a long sigh, feeling the weight of the day settle in her bones. Her house was quiet, just as she liked it. She locked the door behind her and made her way to the bathroom, eager to wash away the day.

The warm water of the bath filled the room with steam, the scent of lavender and vanilla bath salts soothing her senses as she sank into the tub. For a long moment, she just lay there, letting the warmth soak into her skin, her muscles relaxing as the tension melted away.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Sadira stood up, wrapping herself in a soft towel. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, her reflection looking back at her with tired eyes but a satisfied smile. Her hot pink lace-front wig had stayed on all day, but now it felt heavy, like a reminder of all the effort she put into maintaining her image. She stared at it for a moment before finally slipping it off, her natural hair spilling out as she ran her fingers through the curls.

With a sigh of relief, she grabbed her bonnet and slipped it on, feeling the cool silk against her scalp. She had a hair appointment tomorrow, and she couldn't wait to get a fresh silk press. The thought of running her fingers through her straightened hair brought a small smile to her lips.

Once dressed in her favorite oversized t-shirt and shorts, she crawled into bed, the soft sheets cool against her skin. But even as she closed her eyes, her mind refused to quiet down. Thoughts of Davis kept creeping back, uninvited but persistent. The way he always pushed her buttons, the way his eyes seemed to hold secrets, the way he somehow managed to be both infuriating and charming at the same time.

She rolled over, grabbing her phone from the nightstand. Before she knew what she was doing, her fingers were hovering over his contact, the text thread from earlier still open on the screen. She stared at it for a moment, debating whether or not to say something else. But what would she even say? Thank you again. Call him out for always trying to get under her skin? No, she'd let it go... for now.

With a sigh, she put the phone down, turning off the lamp beside her. But as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but wonder what tomorrow would bring. Something told her that Davis wasn't done pushing her buttons just yet.

And maybe, just maybe, she wasn't done letting him.