A MUTUAL AGREEMENT

THE SENSATIONAL HUG

Davis shifted closer to her and enveloped her in a warm embrace, inhaling her intoxicating scent.

"She smells heavenly," he thought.

To say Crystal was surprised would be an understatement. He had literally swept her off her feet. She wasn’t expecting a hug, yet here she was, fitting perfectly in his arms—almost as if she belonged there.

Davis wasn’t even thinking clearly. Before his brain could process it, his hands had already reached out, pulling her into his broad chest. He relished the way she molded against him, and the best part? She wasn’t resisting. This kind of moment was rare, and he was determined to savor it.

Crystal was a beautiful and alluring woman—the kind that made heads turn. The kind every man desired. And now, for the first time, Davis truly understood what it felt like to have someone special in his arms.

More than anything, he was grateful. She had done an incredible job taking care of his mother, and this hug was his silent appreciation.

Crystal, however, was lost in thought. This hug—it was unlike anything she had ever felt before. It stirred something deep within her, something unfamiliar yet exhilarating. The unexpected rush of emotions made her lose her grip on the documents in her hands, and they slipped, scattering onto the tiled floor with a sharp clatter.

The noise jolted them both out of their trance. Had it not been for the sudden sound, they might have remained lost in each other’s world.

Quickly, they pulled apart, both pretending nothing had happened.

Davis bent down, gathered the fallen documents, and handed them back to her. She hastily accepted them, avoiding his gaze.

“Thank you,” she muttered before rising to her feet.

“See you in my office tomorrow.” With that, she turned and walked away.

As she ascended the stairs, she felt eyes burning into her back. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

"What is he staring at?" she wondered to herself.

Distracted by her thoughts, she misstepped. A gasp left her lips as she braced herself for the inevitable—falling butt-flat onto the cold tiles.

But it never happened.

Instead, she found herself in the firm grasp of strong arms.

Her breath hitched as she opened her eyes and met a pair of deep, concerned ones staring down at her.

“Are you hurt?” Davis asked, his voice laced with genuine worry.

He was still holding her.

The realization struck Crystal like a bolt of lightning. Flustered, she quickly pushed him away, her heart hammering against her ribs. The warmth of his touch lingered, making her even more unsettled.

Straightening herself, she squared her shoulders and cleared her throat.

“No physical contact or intimacy—as stated in the contract. Please get that into your head,” she said firmly.

Davis’s face darkened slightly, but he nodded. “Have I made myself clear?” she pressed.

“Yes, ma’am,” he responded, his voice subdued.

Something in his tone made her pause. It wasn’t just agreement—it was resignation. The way she had pushed him away stung, and for the first time, he fully understood his place. He would never be able to match up to her standards.

He felt insulted. But even so, he remained grateful for the help she was offering.

“Good night, ma’am,” he said before turning and walking away.

Outside, Davis met Zero, who was already waiting for him. Without a word, Zero understood and drove him home.

Meanwhile, Crystal sat in her room, frowning at herself. Had she been too harsh?

"You hurt his ego," a voice in her head whispered.

Another voice countered, "If you don’t keep your distance, he might take advantage of you. Everyone needs to know their place."

But then, a softer thought crept in. "Then why didn’t you stop him when he hugged you?"

She sighed, shaking her head.

"Because the hug felt… magical. It held a meaning I have yet to understand."

Frustrated, she dismissed the thought with a huff.

“Enough of this drama!” she scolded herself.

“It’s time to sleep and stop thinking about Davis.”

And with that, she forced all thoughts of him out of her mind and drifted into slumber.

---

Davis arrived home and bade Zero goodnight. Zero waved back before speeding off into the night.

Once inside, Davis trudged into his room and collapsed onto his bed. He replayed the events of the evening over and over.

The way her body had pressed against his… the softness of her skin… the intoxicating scent that still lingered on his clothes.

Something inside him stirred.

He needed to be careful.

If he wasn’t, she would make him do something reckless—something he might regret.

Taking a deep breath, he sat up. He needed to focus.

Determined, he gathered his documents as she had requested, ensuring everything was in order—including the most important one: his CV.

He didn’t want to disappoint her.

He didn’t know why, but for some reason, her opinion of him mattered more than he cared to admit.