Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Lunch time . 71 E55 vouchers We were back at the shrink's office , AKA the official testing ground of my patience , and everything was fine . Chill . Normal . Until . The receptionist . Green - haired , glossy - lipped , over - lashed Brenda - with - a - B receptionist , who suddenly blinked thrice per second when Steven wheeled in . Her chair practically squeaked in anticipation . I swear , the woman licked her teeth like he was a Michelin - star meal made of mint chocolate abs and Armani regret . Excuse me ? Not on my clock , Brenda . Steven didn't even notice - typical , oblivious , billionaire - mood swing energy - but me ? I clocked her in my peripheral sass - vision . She tilted her head , ran her fingers through her neon ponytail , and said with a voice too sweet to be legal : " Welcome back , Mr. McLeon . " I side - eyed her so hard the chair behind her flinched . " He's taken ," I said , too brightly , my smile so fake it could be sold at high - end department stores . " Taken by his physical therapy regimen . Daily . Long hours . Lots of sweat . " Brenda blinked like her lashes were buffering . Steven smirked but wisely said nothing . Smart man . But hold on - because life loves chaos - just as I was about to drag Steven into the elevator , we turned a corner and- Da . Freaking . DÁN . His ex - manager . Ricardo goddamn De Luca . Brazilian . Six - foot - something . All suits , cologne , betrayal , and fake designer watch . The man who ghosted Steven after the accident like his career was contagious . And now ? Standing there like a perfume commercial villain . Smiling with the fake sincerity of a used car salesman . " Steven ! " he said , arms wide . " Meu irmão , look at you ! Standing again , eh ? This is good news . Very good . I knew you'd recover ." 11:32 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 23 Oh really ? You knew ? ... : 71 55 vouchers Where was that " knowing " when Steven was stuck alone in a dark penthouse with nothing but depressing soup and an attitude problem ? I stepped forward before Steven could respond . " Oh hey ! Ricardo , right ? " I said , extending my hand and giving him the warmest fake b * tch energy I could summon . " You're the manager who ran faster than Steven's Ferrari when things got hard , right ? " His smile twitched . " I had no choice . Sponsors- " " Yeah , yeah , " I cut in sweetly . " It's always the sponsors . Just like how it's always the weather's fault when men go bald early . " Steven coughed a laugh . I continued . " Well , good news . You don't need to worry about ' managing ' anymore . We've got it handled ." Ricardo tried to smile again , but this time it looked like his teeth were arguing with each other . " I'm just saying , Steven , when you're ready to talk business again- " " Oh , he's ready , " I said , leaning in . " Ready to cut ties , heal , and get back in the driver's seat of his own life . Without anyone who dipped the moment things weren't perfect ." Then I gave him my PT smile - the one I save for men who think they can do two pushups and call it a workout . " Bye - bye now . " I grabbed Steven's wheelchair handle like I was escorting royalty and rolled us out of there . The silence between us was electric . Then he muttered , " You just murdered him with your words ." I grinned . " He had it coming . " Steven looked up at me , his eyes warm . " You always have my back . " I tilted my chin . " Always . Unless you hide the last mango float again . Then it's war . " He laughed , real and deep . And suddenly , it didn't matter how chaotic the day was . Because I was here . 11:32 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 23 : By his side . Shielding him with sass , sarcasm , and the subtle threat of emotional violence . Just how love should be . E 55 vouchers That night ... something shifted . I mean , I didn't expect anything . Really . I just thought we'd do what we usually do : argue over dinner menus , fight over who gets the last bite of dessert , and throw sarcasm like grenades across the penthouse . But no . Steven McLeon , Brooding Billionaire , apparently took a crash course in Romantic Plot Twists . It started with the smell . Steak . Garlic . Butter . Fresh herbs . - I blinked . There , in the dining room - which we never actually use the long table was set . Real plates , not takeout boxes . Candlelight . Real candlelight , not one of those electric IKEA ones I found under the sink . There were even flowers . Flowers , people . Actual petals . In a vase . That man hates plants . I walked in , slowly , still wearing my Gucci hoodie and yoga pants . I looked around like I'd stepped into the wrong reality show . " What's this ? " I asked , voice full sass , heart slightly fluttery . Steven , in a dark button - down shirt , sleeves rolled up to show those unfair forearms , smirked from his chair . " Dinner ," he said . " To celebrate . You've been ... a miracle . I figured miracles deserve steak . " " And candlelight ? " I arched a brow . He tilted his head . " Maybe I like seeing your sass glow in soft lighting ." Oh . Oh . Sir . That was illegal . We sat . We ate . He didn't even complain about how medium - rare the steak was . I made a joke about his overpriced fork . He smirked like I hung the stars . The wine kicked in softly . The candles flickered like they knew they were witnessing something important . Something changing . Halfway through dessert ( chocolate lava cake , duh ) , I noticed it . That look again . The one that didn't tease . The one that didn't challenge . The one that adored . 11:32 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 23 71 E55 vouchers " I used to think my life ended in Dubai , " he said , voice low . " But now ... sometimes , I think that accident was the beginning of something better . " I swallowed . Hard . " Like meeting me ? " I joked , trying to keep it light . But he didn't smile . " Exactly . " The world quieted . The candle flame danced between us . I leaned forward slightly , not even realizing it . And then- The kiss . It wasn't like the first time , all tangled limbs and accidental lips . No. This was slower . Intentional . His hand cupped my jaw like I was made of something he didn't want to break . His lips touched mine with a softness that demanded attention , and then - heat . Real . Messy . Perfect . I melted . Like the lava cake . Like my walls . Like every ounce of " this - is - strictly- professional " left in my soul . When we finally pulled apart , I looked at him - really looked - and whispered , " That didn't feel accidental . " He smiled , brushing a thumb over my cheek . " It wasn't . " I tried to sass , tried to joke , tried to find a sarcastic quip to throw like a life preserver in the rising tide of feelings . But instead ? I just whispered back , " About damn time . " And for once - I didn't need to win . Because love had already claimed victory . AD Comment Send gift No Ads 11:32 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 24 Chapter 24