Page 63 of Heart of The Night

William smiled, the tension between us easing as we turned our attention back to the breakfast spread. I picked up my fork, shoving it into the scrambled eggs and taking a bite. The familiar flavour seemed even better now, as if he had truly made it with love.

A comfortable silence settled between us as we ate, the earlier worries now replaced by a sense of peace.

‘So,’ he said after a while, ‘any plans for today? Apart from this evening, of course.’

I shrugged, sipping my coffee. ‘Not really. Thought I might hit the gym later. You?’

He nodded, looking thoughtful. ‘Fancy going to the gym together?’

‘Sure. Yours or mine?’

‘Mine, if that’s all right with you.’

I nodded. ‘Sounds good. Shall I meet you there, then? I’ll have to nip home first.’

He shook his head. ‘I’ll drive you to yours, and then we can head there together.’

‘All right.’

As we finished our breakfast and cleared the table, William looked at me, his expression shifting slightly. ‘By the way, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.’

‘Oh?’ I said, curious.

‘Yeah. Remember that charity gala which I’ve got to attend?’

I closed the dishwasher. ‘Er, yes?’

‘Well, Alex is going, and so are Andy and Chloe. I’d really like it if you came as my plus one.’

I blinked, a tad surprised by the invitation. For some reason, I hadn’t expected this, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be his plus one – far from it. But the idea of attending an event with so many influential and important people was daunting. I worried I wouldn’t fit in, that I’d feel out of place amidst the glamour and sophistication.

I swallowed, trying to find the right words. ‘I appreciate it, but to be honest, I’ve never really fancied the idea of prestigious balls. I don’t belong there.’

William frowned, revealing his disappointment. ‘Cara, please. I’d really appreciate your company. I’ll be suffering enough already, and your presence would make it tolerable.’

I remembered something important then. ‘But going to an event like that could draw attention to what’s going on between us, Will. People from our social circle will be there – word could spread to the office. Is it really worth that risk?’

He snorted. ‘We’ll just introduce you as my mentee. Besides, it will be an excellent chance for you to network.’

I studied him for a beat, still hesitant. It was true that attending could open some important doors for me, but would the benefits outweigh the potential gossip? Maybe they would. And if we were careful, we could avoid drawing too much attention.

I sighed, feeling a mix of anxiety and resolve. ‘If I agree to this, you’ve got to promise you won’t touch me intimately where others might see us. These people are part of John and Daphné’s circle, and I’m really worried that word could get back to them, or the office.’

He wrapped his hand around the nape of my neck, pulling me close. ‘It’s a deal,’ he said, planting a hard kiss on my lips. ‘Thank you.’

§ § §

William parked the car outside my flat. I glanced out the window, my gaze drawn to the beautiful London plane trees next to the building. Their branches, adorned with vivid green leaves, formed a canopy that glistened faintly under the overcast sky. As my eyes drifted toward my flat, I couldn’t help but wonder what state I would find it in. Hopefully, Jason had tidied up some of the mess after the bash he had held there last night.

‘I’ll just wait here,’ William said.

I nodded. ‘I won’t be long.’ Stepping out, I hurried into the building. As I reached the front door to my flat, I was careful to open it as quietly as I could. Jason was likely still asleep, and I didn’t want to wake him.

Once inside, I immediately noticed a pair shoes in the hall – Olivia’s white trainers. Had she crashed here? If she had, I was bound to find her in my bed in about a minute. I tiptoed toward my room, determined to move as stealthily as possible to avoid waking her. But when I opened the door, I found it empty.

Puzzled, I glanced back at the hall. Could Olivia have been so drunk that she had forgotten her shoes? Perhaps she had brought a pair of heels for the party and therefore left these behind.

Shrugging off the mystery for now, I turned my attention to getting ready for the gym. I quickly changed my clothes, then packed my bag. As I walked into the kitchen to fetch my water bottle, a subtle noise caught my attention. I paused, straining to hear. Faint moans – sexual moans – were coming from Jason’s room.

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