RENT A HEART

EVE's POV

I stared at the ceiling, sleep eluding me as I replayed the day's events in my mind. The revelation that Chris, the famous anonymous contractor, was also the owner of Stratos had left me reeling.

A slow smile spread across my face as a realization dawned. Stratos had rejected three of our proposals, claiming they didn't build stores. Then, after my birthday, they'd accepted the last one, even agreeing to our terms.

"Why didn't I think of this before?" I sighed. Just then, my phone rang, displaying an unfamiliar number.

Ignoring the first ring, I assumed it was family or, worse, Frederick. I wanted nothing more to do with him.

I was about to silence my phone when another call came through from the same number. Reluctantly, I answered.

"Hello, it's me, Chris," a familiar voice said. It was indeed Chris.

Hearing his voice sent a jolt through me, leaving me momentarily speechless. Instinctively, I moved to the window and saw him standing in front of my house.

He's really here, I thought, a mixture of anxiety and excitement bubbling inside me.

I hesitated. He was so close, yet still felt miles away. From my vantage point, he looked handsome beneath the porch lights. His broad shoulders strained against his black t-shirt and jeans, and his dark hair fell across his forehead. He looked tired, utterly exhausted, yet impossibly handsome. My chest tightened. I knew he'd been through so much recently.

He probably didn't know I was home, and the thought ignited a fierce desire to call out to him, pull him inside, and hold him until the pain faded. He'd been so angry then, so hurt, and I wondered if he could ever forgive me. Even then, I'd missed him desperately, every moment of every day. I couldn't deny that I still loved him, despite everything.

Suddenly, I made a decision. I was tired of pretending I didn't want him. Without thinking, I raced downstairs, anxiety and excitement surging through me. I yanked open the door, the sound making him jump. He turned, his eyes widening as he saw me, his posture immediately shifting from exhaustion to a mixture of surprise and raw vulnerability. The phone, still ringing in his hand, fell silent as his gaze locked with mine.

The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken emotions. For what felt like an eternity, we just stared at each other, his dark eyes searching mine, a silent conversation passing between us.

My heart pounded in my chest, a frantic rhythm against the quiet night. The need to break the silence, to bridge the gap between us, became overwhelming. I couldn't deny it any longer. "I missed you," I whispered, my voice barely audible, but honest and vulnerable. He had looked exhausted before, and the worry I felt for him took over the confusion I felt for him being here.

A small, almost imperceptible shift crossed his face, a softening that filled me with a sense of relief.

The distance between us seemed to vanish in an instant, and before I could think, he was moving, closing the space with long, purposeful strides. His arms came around me, enveloping me in a tight embrace that felt both desperate and comforting, his body pressed tightly against mine. I instinctively wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his familiar scent, a mix of wood and spice that always calmed me. It had been the only scent I had longed for since we had been apart.

His hold tightened, and I felt the tension leach from his body as he relaxed against me. I could feel his breath warm against my neck, as if he were reassuring himself that I was truly there, not a figment of his imagination. I knew he'd missed me; I knew because I had missed him just as deeply. He inhaled deeply, burying his nose in my hair, and I knew I had always been his home.

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I brought him inside and made him hot chocolate; he was cold.

"Are you sure you don't want to see a doctor?" I asked, worry lacing my voice.

"No, I'm absolutely fine. I don't need a doctor right now, maybe later," he said.

I watched him in silence as he drank. I wanted to ask how he was doing, how he was coping with everything, and, most importantly, I wanted to talk about us. But I didn't know how to begin.

I waited as he took his mug to the kitchen. Lost in thought, I suddenly felt his strong arms wrap around me from behind, his face nuzzling the crook of my neck.

"I know it's only been a few days, but I've missed you terribly, love," he whispered. His words sent goosebumps across my skin and a wave of warmth through my heart.

Gently, I turned, needing to see his face, to be sure this was real. I stared into his deep blue eyes, captivated and mesmerized, unable to look away as if he'd cast a spell.

"Are you still mad at me about the other day?" I asked. He shook his head and smiled.

"I don't think I can ever stay mad at you for long. It didn't even last 48 hours before I started to miss you," he said, and kissed my temple.

"Then why did you end the contract agreement?" I asked, anxiety tightening my chest. He reached out, cupping my face in his hands, and smiled. "I can't be in a real relationship with you if we're still playing fake couple. I was going to ask you out properly, well, that was before my identity was leaked," he said, withdrawing to the sofa.

Incredibly happy that he wanted a real relationship with me, I still panicked at his last statement. I went and sat beside him, taking his hands in mine. He turned to look at me instantly.

"Listen to me, what happened more than two decades ago was obviously terrible and heartbreaking for my family. Call me biased, but seeing how good you've turned out to be, I certainly don't think the man who gave birth to you was a monster. For all we know, it might have been an accident, but even if it wasn't, that situation has absolutely nothing to do with you" I was still talking when his lips met mine in a surprise kiss.

I was still trying to gather my thoughts before he pulled away.

"Thank you," he said softly, catching me off guard. "For what?" I asked, surprised.

"For everything... I honestly didn't think you'd ever take my side against your family, especially when you don't know the full story," he said calmly, his beautiful eyes locking on mine, as always leaving me mesmerized.

"And you don't need to worry," he continued, bringing my hands to his lips and kissing them gently. "My father didn't murder your uncle, and I have evidence." He said the words simply, but I was left utterly gobsmacked. This new information could change everything.