10. I dont like abrupt endings.
Later that evening, I found myself taking a stroll at the front of the hotel. For absolutely no reason.
"Waiting for someone?" A familiar voice asked.
Daxton.
My heart did that thing it always did when I saw him.
His hands were in his pockets, blazer and tie missing, the first two buttons of his shirt undone, sleeves rolled up to reveal his toned forearms. He looked like a vision. An absolutely gorgeous, breathtaking vision.
I gave him a small smile. "No. I'm just walking around for no reason."
He neared me, still keeping ample distance between us. "Are you doing okay?"
I nodded, charmed by the care in his tone and his attitude. "Yes, I'm much better. Thank you."
He nodded. "I'm glad... can I give you company while I wait for my ride?"
"Yes, I'd appreciate that." I admitted, my heartbeat fast.
He smiled for a moment before it dropped. "So, tomorrow's the last day."
My heart ached as the realisation dawned on me.
It was ending. This week long proximity with this man that I never could have imagined in a million years.
How comfortable he'd made me feel. How he'd put my heart at ease with his kindness and humility.
How he had stood up for me like I was someone worth fighting for.
"Yeah..." I managed to utter, my voice coming out quiet, barely hiding my disappointment.
"I hope your stay was comfortable." He spoke, voice holding professionalism and a hint of something I couldn't decipher.
"Everything was perfect." I replied honestly.
"Are you missing the hospital?" He inquired.
Yes, but the thought of leaving here brings me a sadness I didn't expect I would feel.
"Yeah, I do... but it was really nice being here." I confessed.
His gaze held mine in a magnetic contact. "I've hosted several conferences before, but my heart will stay here."
My heart skipped a beat, lips parting as I looked at him in awe.
Just then, I saw something shift from my peripheral vision which prompted me to look immediately.
My breath hitched.
Across the parking lot, near the far row of cars, a group of men stepped out almost in unison.
Completely dressed in black. Purposeful strides.
The sounds around me faded—the cars, the hotel doors, Daxton's presence beside me. All I could see were silhouettes moving through dim light. My chest tightened painfully.
No. No, no, no—
My breathing turned shallow, frantic. I couldn't pull air deep enough, couldn't make my body listen.
Rain. Headlights. Screaming.
My vision blurred, my head spinning.
"Ayra?"
Without thinking, I threw myself into Daxton's arms, burying my face into his chest as if he could shield me from all the bad things in the world. His body stiffened, clearly caught off-guard, but a couple seconds later, he wrapped his arms around me.
"What happened? Are you okay?" He asked, concern coating his voice.
I pulled away, hyperventilating, hands clutching his biceps. "I—I—"
I stiffened as the men neared us, all the blood draining from my face.
But then they headed straight for the hotel entrance, chatting amongst themselves as they did.
I blinked, eyes wide.
Daxton noticed the direction of my stare. "Do you know those men?"
My head snapped back towards him, and I realised I was still in his arms. Reality dawned on me. "Oh my God!" I stepped back abruptly. "I'm so sorry."
"It's alright, Ayra... answer me. Do you know them?" He demanded, eyes alight with concern and protectiveness.
I sucked in a breath, shaking my head. "No, I... I don't know what happened to me. I'm sorry."
He stared at me for a minute, searching my eyes for any sliver of truth that could explain my behaviour.
My lungs burned as I struggled to breathe.
"Ayra." He said firmly, stepping close enough for me to feel his warmth. "It's okay. You're okay. I'm here."
I nodded, trying my best to even my breathing.
I clutched his shirt impulsively, fingers trembling.
He guided my breathing without making it obvious, his voice low and even. "In through your nose. Slow. That's it. You're safe. Nothing's going to happen."
Gradually, the panic loosened its grip.
"I'm here," he continued softly. "I'm not going anywhere."
My breathing evened out, embarrassment creeping in as awareness returned.
"I'm so sorry," I whispered. "I didn't mean to—"
"It's completely alright. I understand. You don't have to apologise or explain yourself." He said calmly.
"I... I just got scared." I blurted shakily.
He didn't push. Didn't interrogate. Just stood near me, helping me ground myself. "It's okay, we're all afraid of something."
I looked up, seeing something vulnerable flash in his eyes, curiosity causing the question to spill out before I could stop myself. "What are you afraid of?"
He seemed taken aback, lips parting as his body stiffened.
"Mr. Anderson, your c—"
He held a hand up, silencing his assistant who had walked up to him.
I took a step back, putting distance between us as the spell broke.
"Cancel the dinner, Ms. Miller." He ordered.
I blinked.
"But sir—"
"No, no. You go ahead. I'll just return to my room." I insisted, already embarrassed enough.
He assessed me with his gaze. "You're not quite okay yet."
I let out a shaky breath. "I'll be fine. I need to lay down. Thank you."
Then I turned around and started walking briskly back to the hotel before he could stop me.
———
It was 9 pm when I finally closed my laptop. I had locked myself in my room for the past few hours, reading research articles to keep myself distracted.
The nightmare had messed me up.
And to top it off, the realisation that I was supposed to check out tomorrow, had me sulking even more.
How would things be henceforth?
Would Daxton and I lose contact completely? Would he forget all about me? Would we pretend this week never happened? Would I go back to watching him through a screen only?
I sighed heavily, burying my face in my hands. I loved my job and my patients, yet I wasn't too happy about returning to my normal routine. What would days without Daxton be like?
The way they've always been, Ayra.
But how could I move on after getting to see him, to know him so closely? After seeing beneath his tough layers, after seeing his gentle side.
I glanced at the balcony, suddenly needing to step out for fresh air.
Cold air hugged me instantly as I stepped out, the sky dark and gloomy. It looked like it was about to rain.
I hated rain.
Stepping back inside, I decided to head downstairs. To take a stroll in one of the hotel's gardens before going to bed.
The garden was dimly lit, lanterns casting a warm glow over trimmed hedges and stone pathways. The faint sound of running water from a nearby fountain mixed with the distant hum of the city.
I slowed my steps when I saw him.
Daxton stood near the edge of the garden, phone pressed to his ear, his back partially turned to me. His posture was straight, composed, every inch the man who commanded boardrooms without raising his voice.
"I want it handled by morning," he said calmly. "No delays."
There was a pause.
"Yes. I'm aware. That's why I'm telling you now."
He ended the call and exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck briefly before turning.
His eyes found me instantly.
Something shifted in his expression—relief, maybe. Or something gentler.
"Ayra," he said. "I thought you'd gone to bed."
"I tried," I admitted. "Didn't work."
He nodded like he understood far more than I'd said. "Fresh air helps sometimes."
I gestured vaguely around us. "That was the plan."
We stood there for a moment, neither of us moving closer, but not pulling away either.
"I'm sorry I left earlier," I said quietly. "I didn't mean to rush off like that."
"You don't owe me an apology," he replied immediately. "I was more concerned about you."
I offered a small smile. "I'm okay now. Just... tired."
"Tomorrow's checkout day." He said, almost carefully.
My chest tightened. "Yeah."
"I don't like abrupt endings," he added. "I prefer things to conclude properly."
I looked at him, blinking as his words registered. "Me too."
And then...
The first drop of rain landed on my shoulder.
I froze.
Another followed. Then another.
My breath caught as the sky opened up, rain spilling down steadily, faster than expected.
I instinctively stepped back, my pulse spiking. "I—"
Daxton noticed, concern lighting up his eyes, and yet... yet something dark swirled in them like he was trying to conceal something.
"Hey," he said softly, stepping closer. Close enough that I felt anchored. "It's okay. It's just rain."
I nodded, even though my body didn't believe him.
It wasn't just rain for me.
He tilted his head slightly, gaze searching my face. "You don't like it."
"No," I admitted. "I really don't."
Something flickered in his eyes then—something dark and distant. It vanished just as quickly.
"Neither do I," he said quietly. "But we'll manage."
He shrugged off his jacket and, without hesitation, held it over my head, shielding me from the rain.
"What about you?" I asked, startled.
"I'll survive."
The rain intensified, drenching the garden, the stone path slick beneath our feet.
A few minutes passed.
I laughed softly despite myself. "This is ridiculous."
His lips curved. "A little."
We stood under the inadequate shelter of his jacket, rain soaking the edges of his shirt, droplets clinging to his lashes. He looked... ethereal.
"You know," he said lightly, "this probably isn't how most people expect me to spend my evening."
I glanced up at him. "What do you mean?"
"Standing in a garden, holding a jacket over someone who clearly hates rain, at least as much as I do."
I smiled. "You're full of surprises, Mr. Anderson."
"Daxton." He corrected gently.
The rain splashed around us, cool and relentless. My hair was already damp, curls sticking to my cheeks.
"You're getting soaked." I murmured.
"So are you." He replied.
I hesitated, then did something bold. Something I never did.
I stepped out from under the jacket.
Rain hit my face immediately, cold and startling. I held my breath for a second.
"Ayra—" Daxton started.
"I'm okay," I said quickly. "I just... don't want to be afraid of it tonight."
He studied me for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he stepped beside me.
Rain plastered his shirt to his frame, droplets tracing down his jaw. He looked up briefly, eyes closing for a second as if bracing himself.
When he opened them again, they were steady.
"See? No one died."
I couldn't help but laugh.
The rain softened, the moment stretching between us. We stood there, drenched, the world reduced to water and breath and the quiet understanding that neither of us was alone in this.
"Thank you... for earlier... for everything, honestly." I said truthfully.
"Don't worry about it." He waved it off.
Thunder rumbled faintly in the distance, making me jump.
"Come on. Let's head back inside." He said, fingers wrapping around my wrist.
I froze. An image flashed before my eyes. Quick, blurred, indecipherable. As if I had transcended into another dimension.
"Ayra?"
Daxton's voice pulled me back to reality.
I met his curious gaze and took a deep breath. "Let's go." I muttered.
But as we walked inside, all I could see in my head were blurred images. Rain. Lots of rain. Blood. Evil men. Cars.
A woman shielding me.
A hand wrapping around my wrist.