His Assistant

Chapter 31

Kiara’s POV

The Camelia petals fell around us as I processed Brandon’s words. Not your boss. Just… me, Brandon.

Something about the way he said it made my stomach flutter in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I looked at him, really looked at him—not as the CEO of Williams Industries, not as the demanding boss I’d spent years catering to, but as a man. A man who, despite all his flaws, had taken the time to bring me here, to show me something simple yet meaningful.

We finished eating breakfast not quite long ago and we are just enjoying the park. The driver has come back to collect the basket.

A cold breeze passed between us, carrying the scent of winter and something unspoken. I swallowed, feeling the weight of this moment, of this change.

Brandon let me sit in my thoughts for a while, giving me space, something he rarely did in the office. Then, after a few minutes, he stood up and held out a hand.

"Come on," he said. "The day’s not over yet."

I hesitated before slipping my fingers into his. His grip was warm, firm, and for a second, I wondered if he could feel my pulse racing.

"Where are we going now?" I asked as we made our way back to the car.

He smirked. "You’ll see."

Typical.

The drive was quiet, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Seoul's city lights slowly began to flicker on as the day started to change to night, the street lights and buildings lights created a beautiful scene. It was marvelous, and I found myself pressing my forehead against the cool glass, watching the world pass by.

I didn’t realize we were heading toward a mountain until I saw the silhouette of the Namsan Seoul Tower standing tall in the distance. My heart skipped.

"We’re going to Namsan Tower?" I asked, turning to him.

He glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "Ever been?"

I shook my head. "No, but I’ve heard about it."

"Good. Then you’ll like what we’re doing next."

The car pulled up to the base of the mountain, and Brandon stepped out first, coming around to open my door before I could even react.

"I can open my own door, you know," I said, arching an eyebrow at him.

"I know," he replied smoothly, offering me his hand anyway.

I huffed but took it. He led me toward the cable car station, and soon we were gliding up toward the tower, the city unfolding below us in a breathtaking panorama of shimmering lights. It was mesmerizing.

I felt him watching me. "Beautiful, right?"

"Yeah," I breathed, eyes fixed on the view.

But when I turned my head, I realized he hadn’t been talking about the city at all. My breath caught, and I quickly looked away, pretending I hadn’t noticed.

When we reached the top, the air was crisp and cold, carrying the faint scent of pine trees and cinnamon. We walked through the observation deck, past tourists and couples taking photos, until we reached the section I had only ever seen in pictures—the love locks.

Rows upon rows of padlocks covered the metal fence, each one carrying the names or initials of couples who had come here to lock their promises in place. Some were new and shiny, others rusted from years of enduring the seasons, but all of them represented something permanent.

Brandon reached into his pocket and pulled out a small padlock. It was gold, simple, but engraved with both our initials—B.W. & K.K.

My lips parted slightly. "You planned this?"

He shrugged, but there was something almost shy in the way he glanced at me. "Figured we should leave something behind."

I stared at the lock in his hand, my emotions a mess. This was just a tourist tradition, something people did for fun. It didn’t have to mean anything. And yet, standing here with him, it did mean something.

He handed me the marker. "Want to add anything?"

I hesitated, then slowly took it from him. My fingers trembled slightly as I wrote the date beneath our initials. When I capped the marker and handed it back, Brandon took the lock and guided me to an open spot on the fence.

We hooked the padlock onto the metal, securing it with a small click.

Then, without a word, Brandon took the key and turned toward the edge of the platform. He held it between his fingers for a moment, as if weighing something, then flicked it over the railing. We watched as it disappeared into the night, lost forever.

A silence settled between us. Not awkward, not tense—just... Calm.

I turned back toward the city, my hands gripping the cool metal of the railing. "So… what does this mean?"

Brandon didn’t answer right away. Instead, he took a step closer, his warmth radiating against my side. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer than I’d ever heard it.

"It means whatever you want it to mean."

I turned to him, and for the first time, I let myself take him in. The way the glow of the city lights reflected in his dark eyes. The way his usual sharp features seemed softer, gentler, in this moment.

This man—this arrogant, frustrating, complicated man—was showing me a side of him I had never seen before.

And that terrified me.

But it also made me feel something I hadn’t in a long time.

Safe.

Before I could overthink it, he reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering against my skin just a little too long. I swallowed hard.

Then, before I could pull away, before I could convince myself to run from whatever this was, he leaned in.

Not for a kiss.

But to press his lips against my forehead.

Soft. Warm. Intentional.

My eyes fluttered shut, and for a moment, I let myself forget everything else. The past. The fear. The uncertainty.

Just for this moment, I let myself exist in the warmth of his touch.

And for the first time, I didn’t want to run.

_________________________________________________
Suprise!!!!!!!!!!!!
His my lovelies, as promised, consistent update.
They are getting closer, almost at the end.

Stay tuned.
❤️❤️🥰🥰✨✨