Chapter 0154
“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow, his expression challenging. “You think I’m trying to flatter you? What reason would I have for that?”
I opened my mouth to respond but hesitated. What reason would Alexander have for trying to flatter me, unless… My cheeks warmed at the thought, and his smirk grew, that infuriatingly charming look he knew was both maddening and magnetic
“You play too much,” I muttered, redirecting my attention to the weights.
Alexander didn’t respond, but I could still feel his gaze fixed on me, unwavering through the rest of our session. Maybe that was why I pushed myself a little too hard, unwilling to let him see me falter.
I didn’t let it show when we said our goodbyes, but as soon as I settled into the car to head back to my own territory, exhaustion hit me like a wave. We were barely out of the capital when I drifted into a deep sleep, the memory of Alexander’s lingering gaze the last thing on my mind.
The heat of Alexander’s touch lingered around me, and I could almost feel the warmth of his arms around me again. His mischievous eyes were right there, drawing me in, and I shivered as I imagined him pulling me close against his chest.
I could almost feel the strength in his arms, their muscles flexing as he held me, but despite the power in his embrace, his touch was always gentle, tender.
I pushed myself up on my toes, leaning in to kiss him, but just as quickly as the moment had come, the cold air washed over me. He stepped away, and I found myself standing in a completely different space.
I blinked, disoriented, and realized that we weren’t in the gym anymore. Instead, I was sitting across from him at
a desk, a stack of papers in front of us, and a pen in his hand, which he was now offering to me.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice thick with confusion My mind was foggy, unsure of how we’d gone from the intensity of that moment to this sterile, professional setting.
Alexander looked at me, his expression unreadable. He tilted his head to the side, as if considering how to explain the shift. “The business relationship between us is far more stable than any romantic relationship could ever be, he said in a calm, matter–of–fact tone.
The words hit me like a cold splash of water. I felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment. My mind raced to process what he meant–why had I imagined something different just seconds ago? Was I reading too much into the moments between us? Was it all just my mind playing tricks?
I woke with a start, still in the back of the car. It had all been a dream, of course. But even so, the words Alexander spoke in my dream felt undeniable. There was no stable future for us if we pursued a relationship.
We couldn’t be together. Physical attraction was only part of what made a relationship work, and I couldn’t ignore the reality of the situation.
Alexander had been very clear: he had no intention of settling down with me, or with anyone else.
A bitter taste rose in my mouth as I turned to look out the window, the passing scenery a blur.
It was too much for me to trai
