20.Morning Workouts and Midnight Challenges
William's POV:
I can finally breathe again. It was Tessa, not some guy. God, I feel like such an idiot. All this time, I was overthinking, spiraling into my own delusions. The way she talks to her family, full of affection—that's all it was. And here I was, losing sleep, thinking I was losing her.
I've never felt like this before. I can't function without her, it's insane. Every time she's near, my heart races like a damn teenager. Today, when we were close, it took everything in me not to lose control. I could feel her warmth, smell her perfume—it drove me crazy. But I pulled away. I want it to be perfect when it happens, not in a moment of weakness.
But God, I need her. All the time. It's like my body doesn't work properly unless she's around. Knowing she was with Tessa... it's like this weight's been lifted off my chest. I can finally sleep in peace.
I just... I can't imagine life without her.
Bella's POV:
The next morning, I was on autopilot, heading to the gym, earbuds in and ready to sweat out the confusion from last night. I was about to walk through the doors when I noticed a figure standing just outside, arms crossed casually, looking far too relaxed for this time of day. William.
"Morning," he said, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.
I paused, yanking out one earbud. "What are you doing here?"
"I was thinking," he started, and I already knew it was going to be something ridiculous. "Maybe I could join the gym with you."
My brain short-circuited for a second. "What? Why?"
He shrugged, as if it were the most casual thing in the world. "Why not? It's not your private gym, right? Thought we could... work out together." There was a glint in his eyes, and I could feel my heart race, but I didn't have the energy to argue so early in the morning.
"Fine, it's not like I can stop you anyway," I muttered, stepping inside, trying to act indifferent. I still didn't understand why he wanted to join me, but I wasn't about to dwell on it.
We started the session, and almost immediately, he was on me—teasing, throwing sarcastic comments about my form, poking fun whenever I struggled to finish a set.
"You call that lifting, Bella? My grandmother could do better," he chuckled, but there was a playful undertone that made it hard to stay annoyed.
"Shut up" I shot back, trying to hide my smile. But he wasn't done.
He leaned in close as I moved to the weights, his breath warm against my ear. "You know, if you keep working out like this, you might even impress me one day."
I rolled my eyes, but my body betrayed me, my pulse quickening at his nearness. "I'm not trying to impress you."
He smirked. "Sure you're not."
But somewhere in between his taunting and flirting, I noticed his demeanor shift. His playful teasing stopped, and I caught him glaring off into the distance. I followed his gaze to a group of men on the other side of the gym, their eyes lingering on me far too long for comfort. I didn't pay them any mind, focusing back on my workout, but William? His entire posture tensed, his jaw clenched.
Suddenly, he was at my side, closer than before. His hand grazed my waist ever so slightly, and the heat of his presence sent a wave of awareness through me. He didn't say anything, but his silent message was clear—she's taken.
I was too busy working out to notice the way he stared down anyone who even glanced in my direction. The men who had been ogling me before? They backed off immediately, clearly intimidated by the billionaire CEO who now stood protectively close to me.
"Bella," he said after a moment, voice low but amused again, "you really need to pay more attention."
"To what?" I asked, panting slightly from the workout.
"To everything," he murmured, his gaze locked on mine. "Because I'm not the only one who's watching you."
I was confused, but he didn't elaborate. Instead, he smirked, grabbing a towel and tossing it at me. "Nice workout, by the way. Even if you're still miles behind me."
I groaned, throwing the towel back at him. But somewhere deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between us again—and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it.
After our gym session, William insisted on accompanying me to my apartment. I was too tired to argue, and besides, he seemed genuinely interested in making breakfast. The whole ride was filled with his playful jabs, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his cocky remarks about his cooking skills.
Once we were inside, he went straight to the kitchen, taking over like he was a chef in a top-tier restaurant. "You're about to witness the best breakfast you've ever had," he declared, pulling out ingredients with exaggerated flair.
I took a seat at the counter, watching him work. "I'm sure it's going to be amazing," I said dryly, but I was curious.
He grinned over his shoulder. "Oh, it will be. You might even forget how to cook after this."
When he finally set the plate in front of me, I took a bite, and my eyes widened in surprise. The flavors were incredible, a perfect blend of everything I loved. I let out a soft moan of delight, savoring each mouthful.
William's eyes widened at the sound, and for a split second, the kitchen seemed to hold its breath. His gaze was intense, and he looked visibly tense, a slight flush coloring his cheeks. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure, but I noticed how his eyes lingered on my lips.
As I took another bite, I accidentally got a bit of food on my face. William was immediately at my side, his hand reaching out to wipe it off. His touch was surprisingly gentle, and the proximity created a charged atmosphere. I could feel his gaze on me, and the air seemed thick with unspoken tension.
"Bella," he said, his voice low and serious, "how do you make that sound? Because it's something you shouldn't make just anytime."
I raised an eyebrow, annoyance bubbling up. "What are you talking about?"
He leaned in a little closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You know what I mean."
I glared at him, trying to mask my embarrassment. "Are you implying something?"
He smirked, his confidence back in full force. "Maybe I am. Or maybe I just like to keep you on your toes."
"Is that so?" I challenged, crossing my arms. "Well, if you're so sure you can cook better, then let's see."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the challenge. "Are you suggesting a cooking competition?"
"Absolutely," I said, crossing my arms defiantly. "Tonight. I'll show you what real cooking is."
A smile spread across his face. "You're on. I'll make sure tonight's competition is one for the books."
As we finished breakfast, the playful rivalry between us seemed to shift into something deeper. The tension from earlier remained, but now it was mixed with a new, exciting edge. The cooking competition was set, and I had a feeling it was going to be more than just about food.
The entire day was a whirlwind of activity as William and I worked on the Mr. Brown project. We were deep into the details, pushing through deadlines and deadlines, and he managed to keep the atmosphere light with his relentless teasing.
"Bella," he called out as we reviewed the latest draft, "do you ever get tired of being so—what's the word?—meticulous?"
I shot him a look. "I'm just doing my job. Unlike some people who think roasting their coworkers is a productive activity."
He grinned, unabashed. "Hey, it's all in good fun. And besides, you need some entertainment to balance out all that meticulousness."
Throughout the day, his comments ranged from playful jabs to flirty remarks. "Are you sure you're not secretly trying to impress me with all this attention to detail?" he'd ask, a twinkle in his eye.
I rolled my eyes, focusing on the task at hand. "I'm just trying to get this done, William."
He leaned closer, a teasing edge to his voice. "Oh, come on. Don't be so serious. You know you love it."
Despite his constant barrage of roasts and flirtatious remarks, I couldn't deny that working with him had its perks. His energy and humor kept me from feeling overwhelmed, and every now and then, his more genuine comments made me smile.
As we wrapped up for the day, William leaned back in his chair, stretching with a satisfied sigh. "Not bad, Bella. Not bad at all. I'd almost say you're as good at this as you are at annoying me."
I smirked, gathering my things. "I'll take that as a compliment. But don't get too used to it. I have a cooking competition tonight to prepare for."
He raised an eyebrow, an amused smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, I'm counting down the hours. I wouldn't miss that for anything."
With that, we finished up and headed out, the playful banter continuing as we made our way to our respective tasks. Despite the teasing, there was an unspoken understanding between us that made the day feel unexpectedly enjoyable. The competition tonight was already shaping up to be interesting.