The first night

Zara 

Dinner came to an end much sooner than expected. 

Somehow, the woman had managed to make me feel at ease without even trying. Most of the conversation had been lighthearted, and whenever I could myself growing nervous, she always seemed to know exactly what to say to out me back at ease. 

By the time desert was served, I almost forgot I was sitting in River Cassian’s penthouse. 

Just almost. 

When she finally stood up, she walked over and gave me another warm hug. 

“It was a pleasure meeting you sweetheart.” 

“You too,” I replied sincerely.

She smiled before turning to River.

“Walk me out?”

He nodded.

“I’ll be right back.”

The front door closed behind them, leaving the apartment unusually quiet.

For a few seconds, I simply stood there.

It was strange.

Only a few hours ago, I had been packing my things in my apartment.

Now…

This place was going to be my home for the next six months.

The thought still hadn’t completely settled in.

I quietly made my way down the hallway toward the bedroom River had shown me earlier.

The room was larger than my entire living room back home.

Soft beige walls, a king-sized bed dressed in crisp white sheets, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline, and a reading chair tucked into one corner beside a bookshelf.

Everything was elegant without feeling overwhelming.

It didn’t look like a hotel.

It looked… lived in.

A fresh vase of white lilies rested on the dresser, filling the room with a faint floral scent.

My suitcases had already been placed neatly beside the wardrobe.

I smiled.

At least they hadn’t lost them.

Kneeling beside the larger suitcase, I unzipped it and began hanging my clothes one by one.

It didn’t take long.

I didn’t own enough to fill even half the wardrobe.

The empty space made me laugh to myself.

“So much for six months.”

My phone buzzed on the bedside table.

Elizabeth.

I answered almost immediately.

“Well?” she said before I could even speak. “Tell me everything.”

I laughed.

“I’m alive.”

“I wasn’t worried about that.”

“I’ve settled in.”

“And?”

“The drive was… nice.”

“‘Nice?’”

“I know. Not very descriptive.”

She laughed.

“And the house?”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Of course it is.”

“I also met an older woman.”

“Oh?”

“She was lovely.”

“What happened?”

“I accidentally introduced myself as River’s girlfriend before he could say anything.”

Elizabeth gasped dramatically.

“You did what?”

“I know.”

“What did she say?”

“Nothing.”

I smiled, remembering the warmth of the hug.

“She hugged me.”

There was a brief silence.

“Well… I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Neither was I.”

Elizabeth laughed softly.

“I miss you already.”

“I’ve only been here a few hours.”

“I know.”

I smiled.

“I’ll call you in a day or two.”

“You better.”

“I will.”

After saying goodbye, I placed my phone on the bed.

The apartment was quiet again.

Then…

I heard the front door open.

River.

Curiosity got the better of me.

I stepped into the hallway just as he walked inside.

He closed the door behind him before noticing me.

Neither of us spoke.

He walked toward the kitchen island and reached into the pocket of his trousers.

A sleek black key card landed softly on the countertop.

He looked at me.

“This is yours.”

I walked closer.

“What does it open?”

“The front entrance.”

He paused.

“The private elevator.”

I picked it up carefully.

It felt surprisingly heavy.

“Don’t lose it,” he said simply.

“I won’t.”

He gave a small nod.

Without another word, he turned and disappeared down the opposite hallway.

I watched him until he disappeared behind a door.

His room.

It was surprisingly far from mine.

Far enough that we each had our own corner of the penthouse.

I wasn’t sure why, but that thought made me feel… comfortable.

Returning to my room, I opened another suitcase and took out my toiletries.

Only to discover I didn’t need them.

The bathroom shelves were already stocked.

A fresh toothbrush still in its packaging.

Unused towels folded neatly beside the sink.

Shampoo.

Conditioner.

Body lotion.

Even shower gel.

Everything was brand new.

Someone had prepared the room before I arrived.

The small gesture made the unfamiliar space feel a little less unfamiliar.

After a long, warm shower, I changed into my pajamas and climbed into bed.

The mattress was softer than any I’d ever slept on.

I reached for my phone on the bedside table.

For a moment, I simply stared at the screen before opening the same social media page I’d looked through more times than I cared to admit.

River Cassian.

His profile was exactly as I remembered.

Business awards.

Charity galas.

Corporate events.

Magazine covers.

The occasional interview.

I scrolled slowly, stopping every now and then to study the photographs.

I even had the belief that these pictures were AI generated, because he didn’t look natural in any of them. He looked like someone was putting a gun to his head for the picture. 

There had to be hundreds of them.

Maybe thousands.

Yet, no matter how far back I went, I couldn’t find a single picture of the woman I’d met today.

Not one.

I frowned.

That was odd.

She had walked into his home as though she belonged there.

She’d hugged him like she’d known him forever.

And River… he’d hugged her back without a second thought.

Who was she?

I rested my chin on my hand, tempted to keep scrolling.

Eventually, I sighed and locked my phone.

“Maybe I’ll find out soon enough,” I murmured to myself.

For now, there was no point overthinking it.

Some questions simply needed time to answer themselves.

I let out a loud sigh before turning off the bedside lamp, I reached into my handbag and pulled out the one thing I never traveled without.

A framed photograph of my mother.

I traced the edge of the frame with my thumb, smiling sadly at her familiar face.

“I hope I’m making you proud,” I whispered.

The words disappeared into the silence of the room.

Holding the photograph gently against my chest, I closed my eyes.

Outside, the city lights continued to shine.

Inside, beneath the roof of a man who was still little more than a stranger…

Sleep finally found me.