CHAPTER ELEVEN
Friday morning. Lira woke in Kael's arms.
She smiled before she opened her eyes. The warmth of him. The steady beat of his heart under her ear.
His hand moved gently on her back. Awake too.
"Good morning," he whispered.
"Good morning."
They lay there. Not rushing. Not moving. Just being together.
"Today is Friday," he said.
"I know."
"I have meetings. But I keep thinking about canceling them."
She lifted her head. "You can't cancel meetings."
"I know." He sighed. "But I want to stay here. With you."
She kissed him. Soft. Sweet.
"I'll be here when you get back," she said.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
---
He left at 8am. She stayed in bed for a while. His pillow smelled like him. She buried her face in it and smiled.
Finally, she got up. Made coffee. Sat at the counter with her sketchbook.
She drew him. From memory. The way he looked asleep. Peaceful. Young. Free.
When she finished, she stared at the drawing. She had never drawn anyone she loved before. It felt different. Deeper.
She texted him a photo.
This is how I see you.
His reply came fast.
I want to be that man. The one you see.
She smiled.
You already are.
---
That afternoon, she visited her father.
Antonio was in the kitchen. Cooking. First time in months.
"Papa, you shouldn't be—"
"I should be cooking for my daughter," he said. "Sit. Eat."
She sat. He served her rice and beans. Her mother's recipe.
They ate together. Talking about nothing. Everything.
"He loves you," Antonio said. "I can see it in your eyes."
"In my eyes?"
"When you talk about him. You light up."
She thought about it. She did light up. He was her light.
"Yes," she said. "He loves me. And I love him."
Her father nodded. "Good. That's all I ever wanted for you. Someone who sees you."
She reached across the table. Took his hand.
"You saw me, Papa. You always did."
He squeezed her hand. His eyes were wet.
---
That night, Kael came home at 6pm.
She was in the kitchen. Cooking. He came up behind her. Arms around her waist.
"I saw the drawing," he said. "The one of me sleeping."
"What did you think?"
"I think no one has ever looked at me like that. Seen me like that."
She turned in his arms. Looked at him.
"I see you," she said. "All of you. The good parts and the broken parts. I love all of it."
He kissed her. Long. Deep. Grateful.
"I love you," he said against her lips.
"I love you too."
---
After dinner, they sat on the balcony.
City lights. Stars hidden. Hand in hand.
"Marcus called today," Kael said. "He wants to talk about the contract."
She tensed slightly. "What about it?"
"He says we need to think about the future. About what happens when the year ends."
She was quiet.
"I told him the year doesn't matter," Kael said. "I told him I'm keeping you. Forever."
She looked at him. "What did he say?"
"He said I should tell you that. Not him."
She smiled. "He's right."
Kael turned to her. Took both her hands.
"Lira. When the contract ends, I don't want you to leave. I want you to stay. Not because of paper. Because you want to."
"I want to."
"I want to marry you. Really marry you. Not a contract. A real marriage. With vows we write. With forever."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Yes," she whispered. "Yes."
He kissed her. Soft. Sweet. Full of promise.
---
That night, they lay in bed together.
Her head on his chest. His hand in her hair.
"I have another confession," he said.
"What?"
"I haven't told you everything about my family."
She waited.
"My cousin Harrison wants my position. He's been meeting with board members. Trying to turn them against me."
"Why?"
"Because he thinks the company should be his. He's been waiting for me to fail."
"And if you don't fail?"
He was quiet for a moment. "Then he'll try to make me fail."
She lifted her head. Looked at him.
"Then we won't let him."
He smiled. "We?"
"Yes. We. I'm on your team, remember? In your corner."
He pulled her close. Held her tight.
"I don't deserve you," he whispered.
"Stop saying that. You deserve everything."
They fell asleep in each other's arms.
Ready for whatever came next. Together.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Saturday morning. No meetings. No alarms. Just them.
Lira woke first. Kael was still asleep. His arm was heavy around her waist. His face was peaceful.
She watched him for a while. Counted his eyelashes. Traced the shape of his jaw with her eyes.
He opened his eyes. Caught her watching.
"Creepy," he said, voice rough with sleep.
She laughed. "Worth it."
He pulled her close. Kissed her forehead.
"What do you want to do today?" he asked.
"Nothing. Everything. I don't care. As long as it's with you."
He smiled. That real smile she loved.
"Then nothing it is."
---
They stayed in bed until noon.
Talking. Laughing. Kissing. Learning each other's bodies. Learning each other's hearts.
At noon, they made breakfast together. Burned eggs. Perfect toast. Coffee that was slightly too strong.
They ate at the counter. Bare feet. Pajamas. Happy.
"I've never had a Saturday like this," Kael said.
"Me neither."
"I've never had any day like this."
She reached across the counter. Took his hand.
"Now you do. Now we do."
---
That afternoon, they went to her studio.
He wanted to see her work. Really see it.
She showed him everything. Sketches. Drawings. Plans she had made years ago and never showed anyone.
He looked at each one. Carefully. Slowly.
"These are incredible," he said.
"You have to say that. You're in love with me."
"I'm in love with you. But I'm also telling the truth."
She laughed. He kissed her.
"I want to show you something," she said.
She pulled out a folder. Old
drawings. Her mother's. The ones Antonio had given her.
Kael looked through them. Quiet. Respectful.
"She was talented," he said.
"Yes. She gave it up when I was born."
"Would she be proud of you?"
Lira thought about it. "I think so."
"I know so."