I froze. The word was calm, low, authoritative.
“Room not to your liking?”
“It’s not the room,” I said quickly, pulling the cloak tighter around me. “The room’s perfect. I just... have trouble sleeping. Insomnia, nightmares. They keep me up.”
He watched me for a moment, unreadable. Then quietly, “I know that.”
He didn’t elaborate. He didn’t need to. Something in his eyes told me enough. “The water helps,” he said after a beat, gaze drifting to the pool. “Most nights.”
The pool shimmered under the moonlight, golden lights rippling across its surface. The idea was tempting, but hesitation gripped me. “I don’t know how to swim,” I admitted quietly.
His head tilted slightly, droplets clinging to his lashes as he looked back at me. “It’s shallow.” A pause. “And you’re not alone.”
I stayed seated at the edge, my legs submerged, nightgown clinging lightly to my skin. The air between us buzzed with unspoken tension. “Maybe another time,” I said, forcing steadiness into my voice. “Tell me. What bringsyouhere, Mr. Krogen?”
He stepped closer, resting his hands on the edge. “Ambition. Regret. What about you, Miss Sterling? Those nightmares?”
I hesitated, then whispered, “They’re always the same. Hands from the dark, trying to pull me under. Therapy helps, but somethings don’t fade.” And as the confession left my lips, a new fear crept in. Quiet, unsettling. Why was I telling him all this? No one close to me knew the details of my nightmares, not even the people I trusted. Yet here I was, unraveling in front of a man I barely knew, as if something about him pulled the truth straight out of me.
The realization made my pulse trip, confusion curling in my chest… but I didn’t stop talking. I couldn’t.
He nodded, eyes thoughtful. “Ghosts like that never stay buried.”
His words lingered between us, heavier than it should’ve been. “It’s not just the water I’m afraid of,” I said softly. “It’s letting go.”
He smiled, dimples deepening. “No one’s good at that.”
Before I could respond, the sound of soft footsteps broke the moment. Riley.
She appeared from the shadows in a silk robe the color of champagne, hair perfectly tousled, lips glossed to perfection. A picture of deliberate effort. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Keith, gleaming with interest.
“Well,” she drawled, her tone smooth as honey but sharp underneath, “looks like I’m not the only one who couldn’t sleep.”
Keith didn’t move, his face unreadable. “Miss Hayes.” he said evenly. “You should be resting. Tomorrow will be long.”
Riley’s smile faltered for half a heartbeat before she recovered. “Oh, I’ll manage. I find late nights… productive.” Her gaze lingered on him. Bold, expectant.
He didn’t return it. Instead, he reached for his glass of cognac, took a slow sip, and said nothing. The silence stretched, heavy and deliberate.
Riley’s smirk wavered. She tried again, brushing her hair over one shoulder. “I was just thinking how rare it is to see the boss this… relaxed. Should I be jealous, Aurelia?”
I met her gaze evenly, my tone cool and unbothered. “Only if you think you have a reason to be.”
Keith’s voice cut through like steel wrapped in velvet. “You should go, Miss Hayes.”
It wasn’t loud, but it carried finality.
Her lips parted, protest flickering in her eyes, but one look at him. The unyielding stillness in his gaze silenced her. She forced a tight smile. “Of course. Wouldn’t want to intrude.”
Her steps clicked away into the dark, leaving a faint trail of perfume and tension behind.
Keith exhaled, his tone softening as he turned back to me. “Some people mistake access for connection,” he said quietly.
I managed a small smile. “And some people mistake silence for indifference.”
His eyes met mine, a hint of warmth there now. “You’d be surprised,” he said.
The words lingered, heavy and unreadable, and for a heartbeat, I didn’t breathe. Why me?
