His Assistant

Chapter 33

Kiara’s POV

The tiny bell above the café door chimed as I stepped inside, bringing with me the scent of fresh winter rain and nervous energy. Isabella’s soon-to-be-open bakery still smelled like new paint and vanilla. She was behind the counter, her short dark hair pulled into a slick low bun, putting down a tray of freshly baked croissants that she definitely wasn’t supposed to be making yet.

“Girl, you’re not supposed to be baking before inspection day,” I called out, shutting the door behind me.

Isabella grinned without looking up. “Mmmhmm, and you’re not supposed to keep secrets from your best friend. Yet here we are.” She glanced up and raised an eyebrow. “Have a seat. You got a lot to tell me.”

I sighed and dropped into one of the pastel blue chairs near the counter. The café was cozy and inviting—like Isa herself—soft jazz playing low from her speaker, a hint of cinnamon in the air, and pink-and-white menus printed but not yet laminated on each table. It was hers. She had done it.

I smiled despite the storm in my chest.

“You proud of yourself?” I asked, gesturing around the space.

Isabella shrugged, then beamed. “Damn right I am, I can finally prove to my dad that I don't always need his money." Isabella comes from a really rich family that likes to spoil her, but she came to New York with her savings to be independent and start something of her own. And she can bake real good.

She put some of the freshly made croissants in a plate in front of me with a cup of milk, "Now, don’t try to change the subject. Let’s get into your messy little love life.”

I groaned. “It’s not messy.”, I dipped a croissant into the milk and took a big bite.

She leaned forward, placed her elbows on the counter, and gave me a look. “Kiara. You been walking around with that dreamy look in your eyes all week. You got it bad.”

I stared at her, debating where to even start. “So… in Korea, Brandon kissed me.”

Isabella blinked slowly, then tilted her head. “Okay, and…?”

I frowned. “That’s it? No shock? No dramatic gasping or throwing your rag in the air?”

“Kiara,” she said, deadpan. “Girl, I’ve been waiting for this to happen since you told me this man rescued you at your parents graveyard from a snowstorm, then you panic called me to know if he was flirting with you. I even told you he liked you."

I blinked.

She rolled her eyes. “If I knew all that, why would I be surprised that he kissed you.” She deadpanned

I stared at her, dumbfounded, as she cackled.

“But that’s not the point,” she continued. “The point is, what do you want, Kiara? This is your first time in a relationship, and I don't want you to get hurt”

I looked down at my hands, fidgeting with the hem of my jacket. “I don’t know. I mean… I care about him. More than I probably should. But this is Brandon. The same Brandon who yelled at me over coffee being a minute cold. The man who made me change my whole look after humiliating me in front of everyone.”

“And now?” She asked.

“Now he’s… different. He’s soft with me, sometimes even while we are working. He doesn't yell at me even when I make a mistake. He’s not just watching me anymore—he’s showing up. Planning dates. Talking like he wants this to be something real. But I don’t know if I’m just flattered because it's my first time or—”

“Or falling in love with him,” Isabella cut in gently.

I exhaled slowly. “Yeah.”

She came around the counter and slid into the seat across from me. “Kiki,” she said, using the nickname only she could make sound like honey and a headlock at the same time. “Listen to me. I know you’ve been through a lot. You don’t let people in easy, and I get it. You had to grow up fast after what happened to your parents. But you don’t need to protect yourself from everything, baby girl.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Her voice always did that to me—broke past the defenses I didn’t even know I was holding up.

“You don’t have to fix this with your head,” she continued. “Sometimes the answer ain’t in your logic. Sometimes it’s in your heart. So what does your heart say?”

I took a beat. Closed my eyes. Thought of the way Brandon looked at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. The way he had changed—not perfectly, not instantly, but intentionally. The way he held the door open now. The way he waited for my opinion before making decisions. The way he said my name like he was still getting used to the taste of it in his mouth.

“My heart says I want to try to make it work,” I whispered. “Scary as it is. I want to see where this could go.”

Isabella smiled softly, nodding. “Then let it happen. Don’t overthink it. Don’t run from it ‘cause it doesn’t make sense on paper. Love rarely does, Kiki.”

She reached out and squeezed my hand.

“Do you think I’m being dumb?”

“Dumb? No,” she said. “But if he hurts you again, I will ruin him. Just say the word.”

I laughed—really laughed—and she grinned.

“Oh, and you know I have to say it,” she added, leaning back. “You really ended up catching feelings for your fine-ass, arrogant, infuriating, bossy-ass boss? Girl, you are living in a damn K-drama, get it, cos you went to Korea.”

I threw a sugar packet at her. “Shut up.”

“But for real,” she said, picking it up and tossing it back at me. “I always knew something was simmering. You just needed time. And the trip to Korea.”

I shook my head, biting down a smile.

“I’m happy for you, Kiki,” she said more softly. “Really. You deserve to be seen and chosen. And if this Brandon guy is finally waking up to what a treasure you are, then hey—maybe he’s not so bad.”

I smirked. “You literally called him a ‘spoiled CEO demon child’ like two weeks ago.”

“And I stand by that. But apparently, he’s your demon child now.”

We both burst into laughter again.

As we finished our croissants, I realized how much lighter I felt. Not because anything was settled. But because I had finally said the truth out loud. Because I had someone who loved me enough to listen, to ask the hard questions, and still support me no matter what.

And for the first time, I wasn’t afraid of what came next.
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Hi my lovelies, new update and Isabella is back.
Spoiler for the next chapter, Brandon’s parents will find out about them.
What do you think their reaction will be. Stay tuned.
Please don't forget to vote and comment. Love you guys ❤️❤️❤️😍😍