The plane touched down smoothly, and I felt that familiar weight lift off my shoulders. It had been a long week, filled with meetings, contracts, and endless presentations, but it was worth it. The trip was a massive success. We had closed deals that would bring in millions of dollars to the company.
For the first time in months, I felt proud of myself again. Things were finally looking up. The dark cloud that had been hanging over my head since the antibiotics scandal was gone. Everything was beginning to fall into place.
As I looked out of the car window on my way home from the airport, I thought about how different life had become. A few months ago, I was drowning in problems. The company was struggling, my uncles were constantly fighting me for control, and even my relationship with Rose had been falling apart.
Now, everything was changing. The antibiotics project had not only recovered but had become one of our biggest successes. Every pharmacy wanted our products. The media was praising us again. My uncles, who used to call and criticize every move I made, had gone silent. Not because they stopped caring, but because they had nothing left to use against me.
For once, I could breathe.
When I walked into the house that night, the butler greeted me with a polite nod.
"Welcome back, sir. How was your trip?"
"It went perfectly," I replied, loosening my tie. "Where's Rose?"
"In her room, sir. She seemed a bit quiet today."
Quiet. That word stayed in my head for a while. Rose had been acting distant lately. Not cold, but not her usual warm self either. She smiled when she needed to, spoke when spoken to, but there was something missing.
I went upstairs, eager to see her. When I opened the door, she was sitting on the edge of the bed with her laptop, typing something. She looked up when she heard me.
"Hey," she said softly.
"Hey," I replied, walking over to her. "You look tired."
"I could say the same about you," she smiled faintly.
I sat beside her and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "The trip went really well," I said. "We made over ten million in new deals."
Her eyes widened a little. "That's amazing, Maxwell. I'm happy for you."
But her tone was soft and calm, not as excited as I expected. Something in her voice told me she was proud, but maybe too drained to show it. I wanted to say more, but I decided not to push.
After a few minutes of silence, I stood up and walked toward the window. The city lights blinked in the distance, and I thought about how much I missed her warmth. We used to talk for hours. We used to laugh over silly things. Lately, all we did was talk about work or plans.
I turned to her again and smiled. "Rose," I said gently. "I've been thinking… maybe we need a break. Just the two of us."
She looked up, curious. "A break?"
"Not from each other," I chuckled softly, walking closer. "A vacation. Somewhere far from work, far from everything."
Her lips curved into a soft smile. "You? Taking a vacation?"
"Why not?" I teased. "Even I need one."
She giggled quietly, the first real laugh I had heard from her in days. That sound alone made my chest feel lighter.
That night, after she fell asleep, I stayed awake thinking. I wanted to plan something perfect for her a trip that would remind her of why we fell in love in the first place.
The next morning, I called David, my secretary.
"David," I said as soon as he answered, "I need your help with something personal."
He paused for a moment. "Of course, sir. What do you need?"
"I want to plan a trip for Rose. Somewhere beautiful. Private. Romantic. I want it to be special."
I could hear the slight surprise in his voice. "That's wonderful, sir. Any place in mind?"
"She's always talked about Europe. Somewhere quiet, with art, history, maybe near the water."
David didn't miss a beat. "Italy, then. Amalfi Coast, maybe? It's warm, peaceful, and romantic. She would love it."
I smiled. "That's exactly the kind of thing I had in mind. Can you handle the arrangements?"
"Yes, sir," he said quickly. "I'll make it perfect."
I trusted David. He had this calm, thoughtful way of handling things. He was the kind of person who noticed details others ignored. Sometimes I wondered how he knew so much about personal things like this, but I never asked. I didn't like mixing curiosity with privacy.
By the end of the day, he had already sent me an itinerary, a five-day stay at a beautiful villa overlooking the sea. Private chef, quiet gardens, candle-lit dinners. Everything looked flawless.
When I read the plan, I could already imagine the look on Rose's face when I told her.
That evening, I walked into her room again. She was reading by the window, her hair falling softly over her shoulder. The golden light from the lamp made her skin glow.
"Hey," I said, walking closer.
She looked up and smiled faintly. "Hey. You look like you've been thinking about something."
"Maybe I have," I said, sitting beside her. "Close your book for a second."
She laughed softly. "Why? You look suspicious."
"Just do it," I teased.
She set the book down and crossed her legs, facing me. "Okay, I'm listening."
I took a deep breath. "I know things have been… quiet between us lately. I've been busy, and you've been patient, but I miss how we used to be. I miss seeing you happy, laughing, excited. So, I planned something."
She blinked, confused but curious. "You planned something?"
"Yes," I smiled. "A trip. Just the two of us. To Europe."
Her eyes widened, and her lips parted slightly. "You're serious?"
"As serious as I've ever been. I know you've always wanted to visit Italy, so that's where we're going. Amalfi Coast. Beautiful sunsets, quiet beaches, and no business calls."
For a moment, she just stared at me, like she was trying to process everything. Then, tears began to gather in her eyes.
"Maxwell… that's… that's so thoughtful," she whispered.
I reached for her hand and held it gently. "You deserve it, Rose. After everything we've been through, you deserve something beautiful."
She smiled through the tears and leaned forward to hug me. I wrapped my arms around her tightly, feeling her heart beating against my chest. For the first time in a long while, I felt her relax completely in my arms.
You really did this?" she whispered.
"Yes," I said, brushing away a tear that slipped down her cheek. "Because I miss you, Rose. I miss us."
She didn't say anything she just leaned forward suddenly and wrapped her arms around me. I held her tight, feeling her heartbeat against my chest.
"I've missed you too," she whispered. "So much."
Her voice trembled, and that broke me a little inside. I tilted her chin up, and before either of us could think, I kissed her.
It started softly, like we were afraid to ruin the moment. But then it changed.
It deepened,slow at first, then hungry, desperate. The kind of kiss that came from missing someone for far too long. Her hands moved up my chest and around my neck, pulling me closer. I felt every bit of her need, her longing, her love.
She made a small sound half sigh, half breath and it sent warmth through my entire body.
"Rose," I whispered against her lips, my breath uneven.
"Maxwell," she breathed back, her fingers curling in my shirt.
The space between us disappeared completely. Months of distance melted away. It wasn't gentle anymore — it was real, raw, filled with everything we hadn't said. I could taste the tears she had just shed, feel her heartbeat racing against mine.
Her fingers slid into my hair, holding me close, as if letting go would break her. I moved my hand slowly along her back, feeling her tremble under my touch.
"I've missed you," she whispered again, her voice breaking slightly.
"I know," I said quietly. "I've missed you too. Every night."
She pulled me closer again, kissing me deeper, with a need that left us both breathless. It wasn't about perfection or control anymore, it was about connection. About finding our way back to each other.
Her lips trailed down to my jaw, and I closed my eyes, breathing her in the soft scent of her hair, the warmth of her skin.
Everything felt alive again.
She pressed her forehead against mine, her eyes closed, her breath shaky. "Promise me we'll never get this distant again," she whispered.
"I promise," I said, touching her cheek gently. "Never again."
We kissed again, slower this time, full of emotion and unspoken words. The world outside didn't matter anymore. There was only her soft, real, and right here in my arms.
For the first time in months, I felt at peace.
Then the phone on the bedside table started to ring.
At first, neither of us moved. We tried to ignore it, still caught in the moment. But the ringing continued, sharp and constant.
Rose groaned softly, still catching her breath. "Just let it ring," she murmured.
"I want to," I whispered against her skin, kissing her one more time. But the sound wouldn't stop.
With a frustrated sigh, I reached for the phone.
"Yes?" I said, my voice low and rough.
The butler's calm tone came through the line. "Sir, I'm very sorry to disturb you, but there's an important visitor asking to see you immediately."
I frowned slightly. "Who is it?"
He hesitated before replying. "Mr. Nicolas Deverell, sir."
The name hit me like a jolt.
Rose looked up at me, confused. "Who is it?"
I stared ahead for a moment, the air between us suddenly heavy.
"My Cousin" I said quietly.
And just like that, the perfect moment ended.