THE ICE-COLD CEO IS OBSESSED WITH ME

CHAPTER 5:BENEATH THE RAIN I FOUND LOVE

ROSELLA'S POV

There he was. A captivating young man standing beneath the golden warmth of the afternoon sun, as though the light itself had chosen him as its favorite. He stood tall and effortlessly confident, the kind of presence that made the entire world seem to pause for just one moment. The sunlight rested gently against his skin, making it glow with a soft radiance, almost unreal, like something out of a dream. His smile… Oh, his smile. It was soft and sweet, the kind of smile that could melt even the coldest heart in an instant. The kind that made you forget where you were, what you were doing, and why you were even breathing so fast.

Even from where I stood, I could feel his presence.

It was strange. The air itself seemed different around him, warmer somehow, alive with something I couldn't explain. Oh my God. He was the perfect description of the man I had always imagined in my dreams. His eyes were deep—so deep it felt as though they could look far beyond my soul, reaching every hidden part of me I had carefully locked away. Every unspoken thought. Every silent wish.

And his lips… There was something dangerously irresistible about them. The way they curved so naturally into that breathtaking smile made my heart skip in ways that should honestly be illegal.

His broad chest looked warm, strong, and unbelievably inviting. A place where anyone would want to rest. A place where I wanted to rest.

My breath caught as his fingers moved slowly through his long hair, pushing it back in a way that revealed every perfect angle of his face.

Sharp jawline. Straight nose. Defined cheekbones.

Everything about him looked sculpted with impossible perfection. From head to toe, he looked less like a real person and more like someone the heavens had carefully designed on a day they were feeling extra generous. And this man I am talking about… Was none other than Alex. I still do not know exactly how it happened. I do not know when admiration slowly turned into something deeper. But somewhere along the way, I started feeling something for him. Something strong. Something terrifying. Something beautiful. And it all began one week ago.

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FLASHBACK-------------------------------

The rain had been pouring heavily outside.

Not the calm, peaceful kind of rain that makes you want to curl up in bed and sleep. No. This was the angry kind. The sky growled with thunder. The wind howled through the trees. Rain slammed against the windows so hard it sounded like tiny fists beating against the glass. The storm seemed to grow stronger with every passing minute. I stood by the school entrance with my friends, arms folded tightly across my chest as I watched the rain with growing frustration. "This is unbelievable," Angela muttered beside me. Sarah sighed. "I don't think this rain is stopping anytime soon." I exhaled slowly. Neither did I. School had ended almost an hour ago, yet we were all still stuck there, unable to leave. A few students remained in the hallway, chatting loudly while waiting for their rides. Some laughed. Some complained. Some simply sat in silence. Then after a while, headlights flashed outside the school gate. Angela immediately brightened. "That's my mom!" Her mother pulled up and kindly offered to drop all of us home. "Come on, girls, let's go before this rain gets worse." Raphael quickly rushed into the car. But I stayed where I was. Angela looked at me. "Rosella, aren't you coming?" I shook my head. "No. My brother is coming to pick me up." "Are you sure?" "Yes." The truth was, I didn't want him driving all the way to school only to find out I had already gone home. That would only stress him. And I didn't want that. Sarah looked uncertain. "I'll stay with you." Angela smiled. "Alright. Call me when you get home." Then they drove off. The rain continued. Minutes turned into an hour. Then another. Still no sign of my brother. I checked my phone again. No message. No missed call. Nothing.

The school compound had grown quieter. Students gradually disappeared one by one. Soon only Sarah and I remained. She kept glancing at me with concern. "Rosella, call him again." I sighed and dialed. Ring. Ring. Ring. No answer. I tried again. Still nothing. The third attempt was worse. Straight to voicemail. My heart sank. Why wasn't he answering? Sarah placed a hand on my arm. "Maybe something happened." Those words only made my anxiety worse. Before I could reply, another car pulled into the compound. Sarah turned. "That's my dad." Her father stepped out and smiled warmly. "Rosella, let me drop you home." I hesitated. Part of me wanted to accept. But another part of me stubbornly believed my brother would still come. I forced a smile. "Thank you, sir, but I'll wait." Sarah frowned. "Are you sure?" "Yes." She clearly didn't like the idea, but eventually she left. And just like that… I was alone. The school compound suddenly felt too large. Too quiet. Too cold. The rain seemed louder now. The thunder more violent. I hugged myself tighter. God, I hated this. Why wasn't he here? Why wasn't he answering? My phone battery blinked low. 5%. Great. Just great. I felt frustration rising inside me. Then suddenly, bright headlights flashed directly into my eyes. I quickly raised my hand to shield them. For one hopeful second, my heart leaped. My brother. But no. It wasn't him.

The disappointment hit harder than the storm itself. Parked before me was a sleek Mazda MX-5 Miata, its polished body glistening beneath the school lights. The driver's door opened. A tall figure stepped out. Alex. Timmy's best friend. I had seen him a few times before. Mostly around Timmy. But never this close. Never like this. He walked into the school building without noticing me. I turned away, too exhausted to care. A few minutes later, I heard footsteps behind me. Then his voice. Deep. Smooth. Warm. "Hi, I'm Alex." I turned around slowly. For a second, I forgot how to breathe. He was even more handsome up close. His eyes were sharp yet gentle. His hair slightly damp from the rain. His cologne carried a fresh scent that instantly made my heart race. "Yeah," I said, trying to sound normal. "I know you." A smile spread across his face. "Wow. That must mean I'm pretty popular for a beautiful lady like you to know me." I tried not to smile. Tried. Failed. A small laugh escaped me. "Yeah, you could say that." He tilted his head. "What's a beautiful lady like you doing here all alone?" "I'm waiting for someone to pick me up."

He raised a brow. "Your boyfriend?" I almost choked. "No!" He laughed softly. "Then who?"

"My brother." "Hmm. Then why not call him?" "I already did. Several times." "Try once more." I sighed.

What difference would that make? Still, I dialed again. Ring. Ring. Nothing. No answer. My battery dropped to 2%. That was it. Something inside me broke. All the frustration, the cold, the loneliness, the worry, it suddenly became too much. I covered my face with both hands. A groan escaped my lips. I was so close to crying. Then I felt it. A warm hand on my shoulder. Gentle. Comforting. I looked up. Alex. His eyes were filled with concern. "Let me take you home." I shook my head immediately. "No, it's okay." "It's not okay." "I don't want to disturb you." "You won't." His voice was soft but firm. "It's dangerous for you to stay here alone in this weather." I hesitated. Something about him felt safe. Safe enough to trust. Finally, I nodded. "Okay." A smile touched his lips. He walked ahead and opened the passenger door for me. Such a simple gesture. Yet it made my heart flutter. I slid into the seat. The interior smelled rich and warm. He gently closed the door before walking around to the driver's side. Moments later, the engine came alive beneath us. A soft growl. Powerful yet smooth. The rain tapped gently against the windows as we pulled onto the road. The ride was strangely peaceful. For a while, neither of us spoke. The silence wasn't awkward. It was comforting. I found myself stealing glances at him.

The way his hands gripped the steering wheel confidently. The calm expression on his face. The way the streetlights brushed across his sharp features. He looked impossibly handsome. I quickly looked away before he caught me staring. Soon enough, we arrived at my house. Before I could open the door, he was already outside. He opened it for me. Again. Like a true gentleman. The gesture made me feel strangely special. Important. Seen. He walked me all the way to the doorstep. The rain had softened into a light drizzle. "Goodnight." His voice was soft. Almost intimate. I swallowed. "Goodnight, Alex." For a moment, neither of us moved. Then he smiled and walked back to his car. I stood there watching until the taillights disappeared into the night. The frustration from earlier was gone. Completely forgotten. Even my brother failing to show up no longer mattered. I was smiling. Actually smiling.

I greeted my parents quickly and rushed upstairs. I didn't even bother eating dinner. All I wanted was to lie in bed and relive every single moment. His smile. His voice. His touch. The warmth of his hand on my shoulder. The way he looked at me. I buried my face into my pillow and smiled like a fool. What was wrong with me? Why was my heart still beating this fast? I tossed and turned for what felt like forever. Eventually, sleep claimed me.

"Rosella, I love you." I smiled. "I love you more, Alex." He stood before me dressed in a handsome black suit. I looked down at myself. A wedding gown. White with sparkling pearls on them, my face was covered with a white veil and I was holding a bouquet of fresh pink rose. Beautiful.

The church glowed with golden light. Flowers petals lined every corner. Music played softly. Then the pastor smiled. "You may now kiss the bride." My heart pounded. Alex stepped closer. Closer. Closer. "Rosella!" I jerked awake. My eyes flew open. Mom stood above me. "Rosella! You'll be late for school!" I blinked rapidly. Wait. It was a dream? I groaned. I really wished it was real. Mom narrowed her eyes. "What do you wish was real?" I sat up quickly.b"Nothing, Mom! Good morning." She smiled knowingly. "Good morning, my love. Get ready." "Yes, ma'am."

But even while showering, even while eating breakfast, even while packing my bag I could not stop thinking about him. His smile. His face. His gentleness. The warmth of his touch. Then it hit me. Suddenly. Powerfully. Terrifyingly. I was in love. And maybe… Just maybe… It was love at first meeting.