CHAPTER FOURTEEN
1429 Words
The city shimmered beneath her.
From the height of her penthouse, the world looked small—controlled, distant, almost irrelevant. Rosette Monroe stood by the glass wall, a glass of red wine resting delicately between her fingers. The dim lighting cast soft shadows across her skin, highlighting the quiet elegance she carried even in solitude.
She exhaled slowly.
For once… there was silence.
No board meetings.
No rivals.
No games.
Just her.
She took another sip.
Then—
Ding dong.
The sound of the doorbell cut through the calm.
Rosette frowned slightly.
“At this hour?”
She wasn’t expecting anyone.
Setting the glass down, she walked toward the door, grabbing a long silk robe and slipping it over herself as she moved. Her steps were unhurried, but her mind was already alert.
When she opened the door—
She paused.
“Dominic?”
Standing there, as composed as ever, was Dominic Blackwell.
But for a brief second…
Even he lost his composure.
His eyes lingered—not in a disrespectful way, but in genuine surprise. Rosette, standing there in the soft glow of her home, looked nothing like the cold, untouchable businesswoman people feared.
She looked… human.
Beautifully so.
Dominic let out a quiet breath, recovering quickly.
“Well… this is new.”
Rosette narrowed her eyes slightly, tightening the robe around herself.
“What are you doing here?”
Dominic stepped in casually, like he belonged.
“Visiting.”
Rosette closed the door behind him.
“That’s not your style.”
He smiled faintly.
“Maybe I’m changing.”
She didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she walked past him, heading back toward the living area, her movements calm but guarded.
“Say what you came to say, Dominic.”
He followed her, hands in his pockets, gaze scanning the room before settling back on her.
“You always get straight to the point.”
“And you always avoid it.”
That made him chuckle.
Fair.
Rosette poured another glass of wine, then paused, glancing at him.
“Drink?”
Dominic raised a brow.
“Only if it’s not poisoned.”
She gave him a dry look.
“You’re not that important.”
He laughed under his breath.
“Good to know.”
She handed him the glass and sat down, crossing her legs elegantly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—
“Stop pursuing me.”
Her voice was calm.
Direct.
No hesitation.
Dominic tilted his head slightly.
“I won’t be… for long.”
His tone was lower now. Subtle.
But Rosette caught it.
Her eyes sharpened.
“What do you mean?”
He took a sip of the wine before answering.
“I’ll be engaged soon.”
A pause.
“To Aria.”
Rosette’s expression didn’t change immediately.
But something in her gaze shifted—just slightly.
“And this is your way of saying goodbye?”
Dominic smirked faintly.
“Something like that.”
She leaned back.
“You don’t like her.”
It wasn’t a question.
Dominic didn’t respond right away.
Rosette continued, her tone almost casual—
“You two seemed to have fun at the hotel.”
That got his attention.
He looked at her sharply.
“…How do you know that?”
Rosette took a slow sip of her wine.
“I didn’t.”
A small pause.
“Now I do.”
Dominic stared at her for a second… then laughed.
“You haven’t changed.”
“No,” she replied softly. “I haven’t.”
She set her glass down and looked at him properly this time.
“Listen, Dominic.”
Her tone shifted—not cold, not sharp… just honest.
“You’re a good person.”
That caught him off guard more than anything else.
“I’ve watched you for years,” she continued. “And I’ve never seen you smile the way you did that night.”
Dominic’s expression tightened slightly.
“You looked… happy.”
A pause.
“Genuinely.”
Rosette’s gaze softened just a fraction.
“You should treat her well.”
Her voice dropped.
“Or you might lose the only person who could ever love you sincerely.”
Silence.
Dominic didn’t joke.
Didn’t deflect.
Didn’t smirk.
For the first time since he arrived—
He just… looked at her.
Then quietly—
“How do you see me?”
Rosette didn’t hesitate.
“At first?”
Her tone returned to its usual calm sharpness.
“A business partner.”
She met his eyes.
“Nothing more.”
A brief pause.
“But you’re also my childhood friend.”
That landed differently.
“And I’m not heartless enough to treat you like a stranger.”
Before Dominic could respond—
Ding dong.
The doorbell rang again.
Both of them turned.
Rosette frowned.
“Who else…”
Dominic stood up.
“I’ll get it.”
She didn’t stop him.
He walked to the door and opened it.
And immediately—
His expression changed.
Standing there was Ryan Vander.
Tall.
Composed.
Cold.
A bouquet of flowers in his hand.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Then Ryan’s gaze moved past Dominic—
Into the penthouse.
And something in his eyes darkened.
“…You.”
Dominic smirked slightly.
“Well… this is interesting.”
Ryan’s grip on the flowers tightened.
He took a step forward—
But before anything could happen—
“Ryan.”
Rosette’s voice cut through the tension.
Both men turned.
She stood there, calm—but watching closely.
Ryan exhaled slowly, forcing himself to step inside instead of acting on impulse.
Rosette walked toward him.
“What are you doing here?”
Then she noticed the flowers.
Her brows lifted slightly.
“…You brought me flowers?”
Ryan didn’t answer immediately.
His gaze flicked briefly toward Dominic.
Then back to her.
“Yes.”
Rosette took them, clearly surprised—but not displeased.
She turned slightly.
“Dominic, you should go.”
No argument.
No hesitation.
Just a decision.
Dominic held her gaze for a second… then smiled.
“Another time.”
He walked past Ryan, pausing briefly beside him.
“Try not to lose your temper.”
Then he left.
The door closed.
Silence filled the penthouse again.
But this time—
It was heavy.
Ryan’s voice came low.
“What was he doing here?”
Rosette walked away, placing the flowers carefully in a vase.
“If you can come here…”
She glanced at him.
“Why can’t he?”
Ryan didn’t reply immediately.
Because he didn’t have one.
Then suddenly—
He moved.
In one step, he was close.
Too close.
His hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her toward him.
Rosette’s eyes widened slightly.
“Ryan—”
But she didn’t finish.
Because he tilted her chin up, his gaze locked onto hers.
There was something different in his eyes tonight.
Something intense.
Something unsettled.
And before she could react—
He kissed her.
At first—
She resisted.
Her hands pressed lightly against him, her body stiff with surprise.
But Ryan didn’t pull away immediately.
And slowly—
Her resistance faded.
Not completely.
But enough.
The moment deepened—not rushed, not forceful… just charged with everything they hadn’t said.
Everything they didn’t understand yet.
Then suddenly—
Rosette pulled back.
Her breathing uneven.
Her gaze sharp again.
“What are you doing?”
Ryan didn’t answer.
Because he didn’t fully know.
And then—
Her expression changed.
Just slightly.
Her balance shifted.
Ryan noticed immediately.
“…Rosette?”
She blinked.
Her body swayed.
And before she could steady herself—
She collapsed.
Ryan caught her instantly.
“Rosette!”
His heart skipped.
His mind raced.
He looked around—
Then saw it.
The wine.
The empty glass.
The bottle.
His jaw tightened.
“…Damn it.”
He carried her carefully to the bedroom, placing her gently on the bed.
Her breathing was steady.
But she was completely unconscious.
Ryan stood there for a moment, staring at her.
And something inside him twisted.
“What if I hadn’t come…”
The thought didn’t sit well with him.
At all.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly.
Then he pulled a chair closer—
And sat.
Watching her.
Guarding her.
Without even realizing it.
Minutes passed.
Then an hour.
The city outside continued its endless movement.
But inside that room—
Everything felt still.
Eventually—
Fatigue caught up to him.
His head leaned back slightly.
His eyes closed.
And without knowing when—
Ryan Vander fell asleep.
Right there.
Beside Rosette Monroe.
- Writer
