A few weeks have passed since I started living in Lewis's home.
And something about him had changed.
Not in an obvious way. He was still bossy, still maddeningly possessive, still frustratingly unreadable.
But there were fleeting moments, almost imperceptible where the ice in his demeanor cracked, where his sharp tongue softened, where the weight of his stare lingered a little too long.
Of course, he still refused to let me leave.
But at least Baby was allowed to visit.
And she adored him.
Lewis, for all his cold arrogance, had a soft spot for her, though he'd never admit it.
He watched over her with a quiet protectiveness, his normally hard gaze turning strangely gentle in her presence. It was unsettling, seeing that side of him
What was even more unsettling was the build up of tension between us since that day in the kitchen.
He hasn't attempted to trap me behind a wall and make my limbs go feeble without realizing.
Still I somehow miss his hot breath hovering on my neck. The way his nose brushed mine. How his fingers tingled on my skin and the scent of him from up close.
He made me think about him in ways I intend not to. When my body brushed over his in few occasions, I feel my body unravel.
Lewis, however, remained infuriating in other ways. He got moody over the smallest things, especially when it came to my clothes.
Like I was a private piece of his he didn't want anyone else to fill their eyes on.
Tonight, though, I didn't care about his overprotective tendencies.
Because tonight, we were attending an important event.
Lewis had been invited, but the invitation explicitly stated that he must arrive with a date. And so, here I was, standing in my bedroom, staring at the breathtaking red dress sprawled across my bed.
The fabric shimmered under the soft light, the deep crimson shade bold yet elegant.
Beside it, a pair of gold stilettos and a matching clutch purse completed the ensemble.
A small, satisfied smile curved my lips.
For all his overbearing ways, Lewis certainly had impeccable taste.
I stepped out of the bathroom, my hair dryer humming softly against my damp hair
Settling in front of my vanity, I carefully gathered my dark hair into a sleek bun, leaving a few delicate curls to frame my face.
My makeup was applied with precision, dark, smoky eyes, contoured cheekbones, and deep red lips.
I smacked them together softly.
Satisfied, I stood, my fingers reaching for the silky robe tied loosely around my frame.
With a slow movement, I let it slip off my shoulders, the cool air brushing against my skin as I stepped into the stunning gown.
The fabric hugged my curves like it had been tailored for me, the thin straps resting against my shoulders and the neckline cut in a striking zigzag pattern that teased the delicate line of my collarbones.
I slid into my heels, then moved toward the full-length mirror.
Damn.
The dress was perfection.
The bold red hue contrasted beautifully against my fair complexion, and the gold of my earrings and necklace gleamed in soft harmony with my accessories.
My reflection stared back, confident, alluring.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.
It was Hilda
"Miss Priynka, Lewis is waiting impatiently for you downstairs"
Hilda's familiarity with Lewis slipped out sometimes, other times she sounded even more professional than I do when addressing him.
I exhaled slowly, casting one last glance at my reflection before responding
"Give me a minute! I'll be down soon"
I picked up my clutch purse from the bed.
I walked toward the door and stepped into the hallway, the soft click of my heels echoing as I headed toward the grand staircase.
Lewis stood at the bottom, his back turned to me, his posture rigid and poised. He was staring ahead, hands in his pockets, broad shoulders tense.
The moment my heel clicked against the marble step, he turned.
His movements slowed, as if time itself had stilled. His sharp blue eyes locked onto me, his body going rigid.
I descended gracefully, each step measured, the soft sway of my hips accentuated by the dress. His gaze never wavered, his features locked in an expression I couldn't quite decipher, stunned? Struck?
He looked just as magnificent.
Dressed in a tailored black suit, the crisp lines of the fabric molded perfectly to his lean, sculpted frame. A deep red bow tie sat neatly at his collar, undoubtedly chosen to match my dress.
The rich color only made his sharp features more prominent.
The strong cut of his jaw, the slight part of his lips, the way his throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.
I reached the last step and stopped before him, waiting for him to say something, anything.
He didn't.
"Lewis... Sir?" I arched a brow, snapping my fingers in front of his face.
A slow controlled breath escaped his lips.
"Wow" he murmured, almost too softly to hear.
Warmth spread across my chest. I bit back a smile
"Can we?" I asked, arching a brow.
His throat bobbed again, but he recovered quickly, extending an arm toward the door.
As we stepped outside, he opened the car door for me. I slid in, meeting his gaze with a knowing smile before he shut the door and moved around to the driver's side.
The engine purred to life, the soft hum filling the comfortable silence. I turned to the window.
Lewis kept stealing glances at me. I could feel it.
The weight of his stare, the slight clench of his jaw, the way his fingers flexed over the wheel-it was all painfully obvious.
It had only been a week, yet the air between us felt different.
The way he looked at me. The way his mood shifted when I was near. The way his hands curled into fists whenever another man so much as glanced at me.
He was changing.
And deep down, I knew he felt it too.
We arrived at the venue, and before I could reach for my seatbelt, Lewis was already out of the car.
The door swung open. His hand extended toward me.
"Thanks" I murmured, my fingers grazing his palm as I stepped out.
His grip tightened slightly.
Without a word, he laced my arm over his and led me toward the entrance.
The moment we stepped in to the dimly lit, beautifully decorated hall, all eyes turned to us.
Men in crisp black suits. Women in glittering gowns. I could feel the number of eyes watching us.
Mr. Wellington and his wife approached, their smiles warm and knowing.
"Ah, Lewis, glad you made it," Mr. Wellington greeted.
Mr. Wellington was a shareholder in the company, along with his wife who I hear is good friends with Mrs. Bradford, Lewis's mother.
"Thanks, sir. I'm glad I could" Lewis responded with a smile.
Mrs. Wellington's gaze flickered to me, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.
"It's been a while, Lewis. I was hoping to see Jocelyn tonight, but I hear she couldn't make it"
Jocelyn Bradford, Lewis's mother.
Her gaze lingered on me before she smiled.
"Meet my date, Priynka" Lewis introduced.
I smiled politely. "Good evening, ma'am. Sir."
"Good evening, my dear" Mr. Wellington said, his tone laced with amusement.
"You're no different from your late father, Lewis. You both have impeccable taste"
We chuckled, and I maintained my poised smile.
A waiter passed by, offering champagne. Lewis handed me a glass before taking one himself.
Then, a voice I didn't particularly care for rang out.
"Well, well, look who we have here" Tony Brown drawled, his smirk widening.
"The mighty Lewis Bradford... and his extremely beautiful PA."
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
I felt Lewis hand snake around my waist, delicately resting his hand on my hip.
his jaw tightening for a fraction of a second before a smooth, almost lazy smile curved his lips.
"Tony Brown" he greeted, his voice carrying the perfect balance of politeness and dismissal.
"So good to see you here"
"Lovely to see you too" his eyes travelling down my frame, lingering over me and finally meeting my eyes, he smiled.
Disgust built at the back of my throat, my fingers tightening around the flute glass.
Lewis's grip tightened around my waist. I turned to look at him, his jaw clenching, the anger building inside him.
His hands left my waist, found my left hand beside him and pulled me away from Tony.
For the first time, Lewis possessiveness felt good.