Whisper Destiny

Chapter 71

~ Catherine ~

"Good morning, Cate. You look..." Astrid's voice trails off as I step into my office, her eyes scanning me with a mix of curiosity and something I can't quite place.

I pause, tilting my head slightly as I give her a questioning look. "How do I look, Astrid?" I ask, genuinely curious. I'm wearing my usual attire, everything in place, or so I thought.

Astrid's gaze lingers before she finally responds, "Different," she says, her tone uncertain. Her eyes dart over me, as if trying to pinpoint what exactly has changed.

I raise an eyebrow at her comment but decide to leave it, choosing not to probe further.

Clearing my throat, I extend a small package toward her. "Astrid, could you have someone deliver this to Natasha's office?" I say, passing her a wrapped pack of food.

Astrid accepts it, glancing down at the package, then back up at me with a soft smile. "Of course," she says.

My mind suddenly drifts back to this morning.

I'd been sitting at the dining table, savoring a quiet cup of coffee and waiting, half-hoping Natasha might come out and join me before the day pulled us apart. Today marked our first day back to work after our little "escape," and I couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for the world we'd just left behind. We'd ended up spent the entire trip in Nice, never making it to Monaco as planned, but I wasn't complaining. Natasha and I grew closer in ways I never thought possible, as if we'd slipped into a secret rhythm, a language only we understood. Every glance seemed to say more than words, each touch a gentle claiming. There was something irresistible, something magnetic between us, like we couldn't keep our hands to ourselves—nor did we want to.

Last night was the first time I'd slept alone since we returned, after nights of sharing a bed during our trip. Without her warmth beside me, the bed felt cold, almost foreign. I'd grown so accustomed to the comfort of her presence, the way her soft breathing filled the quiet. Now, in the stillness, an ache settled in—the unmistakable longing for her warmth and the solace of simply having her near. But I knew we were back in reality now, and I needed to rein in these feelings, to hold myself together.

I glanced at my watch, noting it was almost time for her to head to the office. 'Is she still asleep?' I wondered. 'Should I go and check on her?' Just as I was debating whether to disturb her, Natasha appeared, looking as beautiful as ever but slightly frazzled.

"God, I'm already late. Dad's going to kill me. We have an ELC meeting this morning, and I'm yet to read the report he sent to me last week." she muttered, clearly preoccupied.

I opened my mouth to ask if she'd at least eat something before leaving, but before I could speak, she was already halfway rushing to the door. Then, as if remembering something, she turned on her heel and came back to me. Without a word, she leaned in and gave me a quick peck on the lips, careful not to smudge either of our lipsticks. It was light, brief—yet it sent a warmth flooding through me that I couldn't ignore.

She smiled, her gaze meeting mine. "See you tonight?" She ask.

Still a little stunned, I managed a nod, my voice caught somewhere in my throat. And then, just like that, she was gone, leaving me alone with the lingering sensation of her kiss.

As I sat there, I realized I was smiling, and a quiet happiness stirred within me, warm and persistent. Her simple, spontaneous gesture had meant more to me than it probably should have, but I couldn't help it. My heart clung to the feeling, even as my mind warned me that I shouldn't. What should I do? I wanted to hold onto this—just a little longer. Reality could wait, couldn't it? Just for a moment more.