Sapphire paced the room, her heels clicking against the marble floor as the sound of distant thunder filled the air. The dark clouds gathered ominously outside the window, signaling an incoming storm. She sighed, glancing at the files on her desk. The cases she had prepared for the day would have to wait.
“Figures,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. It was always the days she was ready to conquer the courtroom that something threw her plans off track.
The patter of raindrops against the window grew heavier. Sapphire turned her gaze to the glass, watching the rain begin its relentless downpour. There was something about a storm that always pulled at her, stirring a restlessness within her that she couldn’t explain.
Just then, her phone buzzed with a call. She picked it up, seeing Rachel’s name flash on the screen.
“Hey, Sapphire! Guess what? We got a day off!” Rachel’s voice chirped through the speaker, the excitement in her tone unmistakable.
Sapphire groaned, sinking into a chair. “You have got to be kidding me. I have been preparing all morning.”
Rachel laughed. “Oh, come on, you know you needed a break. Maybe the universe is telling you to take a step back for once and relax.”
“I had my day planned, Rachel. You know how much I hate this.” Sapphire rubbed her temples. “Now what? Watch the rain and contemplate life?”
Rachel’s laugh was bright, the kind that annoyed Sapphire even more because she knew her friend was right. “Maybe you should! Or better yet, dance in it.”
Sapphire snorted. “Very funny. I don’t dance.”
“Sure you don’t. But you could use the distraction. It is not like you will get called in today with this weather. Let loose a little!”
“Fine,” Sapphire said, eyeing the rain outside. “But if I get soaked and catch a cold, I am blaming you.”
“You will thank me later!” Rachel chimed before hanging up.
Sapphire shook her head, tossing the phone aside. The rain was now pounding against the window, almost daring her to step outside. She glanced at the stack of files once more, then back to the storm. A spark of defiance rose in her. Maybe Rachel was right. Maybe she did need to unwind.
She slipped off her heels, her feet touching the cool marble floor, and in a fit of impulsiveness, headed toward the back door.
Stepping into the storm, the rain hit her like a cold shower, sharp and refreshing. Her fitted white shirt and black skirt clung to her almost immediately, but she didn’t care. For the first time in a while, Sapphire let herself enjoy the chaos of nature around her. She twirled slowly at first, then let her movements become freer, her arms lifting as she spun, hair sticking to her damp cheeks.
The rain washed away her tension, each droplet feeling like a release from the pressures she constantly held onto. Her laughter rang out into the storm, carefree and unbridled.
She hadn’t noticed the figure standing in the doorway, watching her with a mix of amusement and something deeper.
Elias leaned against the frame, arms crossed, his eyes locked on Sapphire as she danced in the rain, oblivious to his presence. There was something captivating about the way she moved, unguarded and free—so different from the composed, sharp-witted woman he was used to seeing. For a moment, the ever-present seriousness in his expression softened.
But his gaze quickly shifted as he noticed the nearby guards glancing her way, their attention lingering a little too long. His jaw clenched, and a flash of protectiveness surged through him.
YOU ARE READING
Beneath the Veil of Shadows
Romance"Elias, what am I getting myself into?" Sapphire whispered, her voice trembling as she gazed up at him. His eyes, dark and intense, locked onto hers. "You're getting into me, Sapphire. All of me." Elias's fingers traced the curve of her neck, sendin...
