Sky Chandler, a powerful CEO, first captured Jules Parker's heart in high school with kindness and charisma. Jules idolizes Sky, but when their paths cross again years later in the unforgiving corporate world, the hero of Jules' past becomes a guard...
Sky stopped Jules from pulling up the blanket, his hand firm but gentle. Leaning closer, his piercing gaze scanned her face as Jules instinctively clenched her wrist tighter around the fabric.
"What are you doing, Sir Sky?" Jules asked, her tone soft, though her wariness showed.
Sky's sharp eyes met hers, and he replied almost nonchalantly, "I just... want to know if the scent of the bubble bath is still on your skin."
He leaned in further, his hands softly holding hers. Their proximity sent shivers down her spine. His sharp nose brushed against her face, and the sound of his slow, deliberate inhale made her heart race. Jules closed her eyes, her breaths quickening. When his lips grazed her shoulder in a fleeting kiss, she caught his chin, locking eyes with him.
"And now? What are you doing?" she asked, a hint of amusement mingling with her discomfort.
He smiled faintly, his lips finding her hand as he kissed her gently. The air grew thick with unspoken emotions. Sky leaned forward again, his lips mere inches from hers until he stopped. Restraint flashed in his eyes as he pulled back abruptly.
"I'm sleepy. G'nite," he blurted before vanishing under the blanket with a speed that left Jules blinking in slight disappointment. Confused but amused by his sudden retreat, she whispered, "Geez..." and left for the hall to watch a movie.
Sometime later, Sky emerged, his disheveled look resembling that of a lost kitten. He found Jules in the hall, her eyes glued to the TV. Sitting beside her, he tried to act unbothered.
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"You can't sleep?" he asked casually, flipping the channel to Nat Geo.
The screen displayed a pair of lions in a rather intimate moment. Both Sky and Jules slowly turned to look at each other, then hastily looked away.
"Would you like to... do it, Mon?" Sky asked abruptly, breaking the awkward silence. Jules blinked. "Do what?" she asked, feigning ignorance.
"That," he said, gesturing to the TV.
Her lips curved into a sly smile. "Why aren't you being straightforward with me?" she teased.
Sky hesitated. "Are you mad at me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes, I am. And since I'm being honest with you now, why don't you do the same?" Jules demanded, her eyes boring into his.
Sky looked away, silence overtaking him. Then, hesitantly, he admitted, "Well... I wanted to do that." He motioned toward the TV again.
"You wanted to lick my hair?" Jules asked, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm.
"What? No!" Sky exclaimed, realizing how the image on the TV had changed. Flustered, he grumbled, "It's late. I'm going to bed."
With that, Jules shook her head and returned to her room, leaving Sky torn between embarrassment and passion.Later that night, Sky's phone buzzed.
"Hello, Sky," came Mia's voice, light and teasing. "I was about to file a missing person's report! My boyfriend hasn't talked to me in three days."
"Such exaggeration," Sky replied flatly. "I'm not dead yet."
"Good to hear," Mia chuckled. "Have you taken care of everything?"
"Not yet. There's still more to handle," Sky muttered.
"It's okay, Sky. I've waited this long; I can wait a little more," Mia said softly.
The weight of their unresolved breakup hung heavy, but Sky couldn't bring himself to speak the truth. "I'm going to bed now," he said, changing the subject.
"Oh, by the way, I heard you fired Jules Parker. She's a good girl, Sky. Can't you give her another month?" Mia pleaded.
"Fine. She's not fired," Sky relented, his voice tired.
"Thank you," Mia replied, her tone warm as she hung up.
The night was long, and Sky lay awake, lost in thought.
The next morning at the office, Sophie rushed to the pantry for her morning Americano. "Have Miss Mia and the boss arrived?" she asked Aunt Harper.
"I haven't seen them," Harper replied.
Unable to contain herself, Sophie blurted, "Miss Mia called me last night! She got Jules' firing revoked!"
The office buzzed with gossip. Emily chimed in, "I saw Miss Mia and Mon out for dinner once."
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"What?! Does Mia have a crush on Mon?"
The rumors flew, growing wilder by the minute. Ava tried to calm everyone, "Miss Mia is Sir Sky's fiancée, remember?"
Jules walked in, greeted warmly by Mia. "Mon's back to work!" Mia announced cheerfully. The office erupted in overly enthusiastic congratulations, their smiles thinly veiled.
Later, Jules' phone buzzed again.
I'll be honest with you today. Please stop being mad at me. I'll bring snacks to the office this afternoon. - Sky.
Jules smiled at the message, sending back a playful sticker. Ava and Sophie exchanged suspicious glances before bursting into comical exaggerations.
"It's Mia flirting with her!" Sophie declared dramatically.
"You think?!" Ava asked, barely hiding her disbelief. Jules caught their antics and rolled her eyes as they fled, giggling.
Her phone buzzed once more, this time from Jim: Mon, come see us now.
Meeting her trio of friends, Jules was immediately teased. "What happened last night, Mon?" Kade asked via FaceTime.
"We bathed," Jules began, and the trio's excitement skyrocketed only for her to add, "separately." Disappointment fell over the group, but they persisted.
"Mon, you need to make the first move!" Tee encouraged.
"But I did!" Jules protested.
"Not enough!" Jim teased.
Their banter continued, full of laughter and playful jabs, leaving Jules to wonder if her next step would truly change everything.
