When ra woke up, a cozy warmth wrapped around her like aforting nket. It took her a moment to realize she was already snuggled up in bed. She quickly got up, dashed to the bathroom, and sshed some cold water on her face. That was when she noticed a red mark on her neck. Leaning closer to the mirror, she rubbed at it furiously, but it wouldn''t budge. Fancy that, even rich folks had mosquito problems.


    She spotted a brand-new toothbrush waiting for her, so she freshened up and headed downstairs. It was the crack of dawn, just six o''clock, but breakfast was alreadyid out. Dn was by the floor-to-ceiling windows, deep in a phone conversation.


    ra didn''t want to interrupt, so she thought she''d just nod to the housekeeper and quietly slip away. But she didn''t get far.


    "Ms. ra, please have some breakfast before you leave. Mr. Ferguson made a point of it," the housekeeper insisted.


    ra felt a warm flutter in her chest. Dn had a frosty demeanor but really had a soft side.


    "Has he eaten yet?" she inquired.


    "No, he said he''d wait to share breakfast with you."


    She took a seat at the dining table, expecting a long wait, but no sooner had she sat down than Dn ended his call. He maneuvered his wheelchair over and started eating silently.


    ra thought about wishing him a good morning but hesitated when she sensed he wasn''t in a chatty mood. Her hand dropped back down.


    Maybe it was her imagination, but Dn''s ears looked a bit red, like he''d caught a touch of embarrassment. It was strange, for someone who always seemed soposed, like a noble figure in an oil painting, to have rosy ears.


    She shrugged off the thought, intent on finishing her breakfast when the housekeeper piped up beside her. "Ms. ra, what happened to your neck?"


    Dn paused, grip tightening on his fork, before calmly continuing with his toast. ra touched her neck absentmindedly. "Oh, probably just mosquitoesst night." The housekeeper handed her a small bottle of ointment. "Try some of this." "Thanks," ra said, applying a bit before finishing her meal. She was about to make her exit when she noticed Dn getting ready too.


    They were both heading to the office. It seemed a bit over-the-top to avoid each other now. She lingered by the door until he arrived, then quietly pushed his wheelchair.


    When they got to the car, ra aimed to take the driver''s seat, only to find Aiden already there. So, she settled in the back.


    Once they arrived at the Ferguson Corporation''s underground garage, she hopped out first to open Dn''s door, but Aiden beat her to it.


    Aiden''s voice was firm. "Ms. ra, you should head on up."


    Clearly, a professional distance was being enforced.


    ra caught the hint and made her way upstairs solo. No point in letting Aiden''s dislike get under her skin.


    On the top floor, she ran into Simon, sporting some serious dark circles. He gave her a dismissive snort.


    ''What a jerk,'' she thought, rolling her eyes as she sat at her desk. But it wasn''t long before he was tapping on her desk.


    "Ryan was racingst night, busted his leg, and now he''s in the hospital. Naomi wants you toe with me to visit."


    Ryan''s antics again. If he was racing in the dead of night, that served him right. Still, she couldn''t help but worry about her foolish brother. Ryan wasn''t all bad, so she couldn''t be too hard on him.


    "I''ll go by myself. No need for drama," she replied.


    Simon leaned in, catching a whiff of her unique scent-ra never wore perfume, and yet she always smelled so captivating. He took a quick sniff, a bit entranced.


    Just as ra contemted smacking him, she heard the familiar sound of a wheelchair-Dn had arrived. From Dn''s viewpoint, she and Simon seemed almost cozy.


    Simon noticed Dn and, with a mischievous grin, leaned even closer, his cheek nearly brushing ra''s.


    ra frowned, ready to shove him away, but then he dropped a bombshell.


    "Were you at Palm Bayst night?"


    Her back went rigid with surprise-how did he know that? Unless he''d had someone tail her!


    "Did you have me followed?" she demanded.


    Simon''s face darkened, and he grabbed her wrist. "Follow you?


    He saw ra were with Dn in the same car and followed her out of shock. Then he found out that she went to Palm Bay."


    ra used to avoid Dn like the gue, and would never set foot in Palm Bay. But now she had, and she''d stayed the night.


    Simon had waited outside the whole time, sleepless. Now he noticed the marks on her neck.


    Like a cat whose tail was stepped on, Simon suddenly yanked down her cor. "ra?! What''s this?! What did you do?!"


    Startled, ra shielded her neckline.


    Simon''s face burned with anger, his whole body trembling. "Did you throw yourself


    at him? How could you be so shameless? Are you that desperate?"


    "p!"


    Her hand flew, leaving a vivid red imprint on his cheek.


    Dn''s wheelchair rolled to a stop behind Simon. He seemed oblivious to the drama, yet he paused, taking it all in with an unreadable expression.