After dinner, Theo walked Sierra to the bedroom.
"I have a video conference later, so I might be up late. You should go ahead and rest," he said.
Sierra nodded obediently, secretly relieved.
It was their first night sharing a bed, and if they had to spend the entire evening together in the same room, she couldn't even imagine how awkward it would be.
Once Theo left, she grabbed her pajamas and slipped into the bathroom.
Noticing his toothbrush and razor on the sink, she carefully placed her own toiletries beside them.
Black and white, side by side.
The simple sight of it made the once-cold bathroom feel strangely warm.
By the time she finished her shower, it was already past 8:00 pm. Seeing that Theo hadn't returned yet, she hesitated for a moment before stepping out of the bedroom.
The door to his study was slightly ajar.
Through the gap, she saw him listening intently to a report, occasionally interjecting with sharp, precise questions.
At that moment, she finally grasped why people said, "A man is most attractive when he's deeply focused on his work".
The way Theo strategized and commanded the conversation added a compelling edge to his already striking presence.
Sierra lingered for a moment but chose not to disturb him, quietly turning away.
Engrossed in his work, he never noticed her presence. His cold, authoritative tone kept his subordinates on edge through the screen.
By the time the meeting ended, it was already past 11:00 pm.
Before logging off, he instructed Adrian, "From now on, review all standard documents first. Only send them to me once you've confirmed there are no issues."
"…Understood," Adrian replied, though he couldn't help but wonder why his workload had suddenly increased.
Still, for the sake of his generous salary and bonuses, he had no choice but to comply.
Ending the call, Theo stretched his stiff neck before rising to his feet. As he stepped out of his study, his gaze fell on the warm glow spilling from the bedroom.
And just like that, the exhaustion weighing on him seemed to fade away.
Theo had planned to finish work early and spend more time with Sierra, but an unexpected issue had kept him occupied late into the night.
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