Once a Love Fool Now a Leading Lady (Kylie rehbein and Axel Bowen) novel Chapter 8

What Axel never knew was that her messy apartment wasn't because she was sloppy. It was because it was crammed with his things.

Axel was a workaholic through and through. As his chief secretary, Kylie had to be on call 24 hours a day.

His files were stacked across her desk, ready for whenever he needed them.

His schedules and reminders covered her walls.

Her closet had become a holding place for tuxedos and client gifts he left behind.

The floor space was piled with gifts meant for his clients.

That little rented apartment had turned into Kylie's second office.

The only thing that really belonged to her was the single bed in the corner.

But Axel had once complained it was too small. After that, he refused to come back to her place.

Before leaving that morning, Kylie called a moving company to come over the weekend. It was time to clear out everything that wasn't hers.

...

Brad had picked a new seafood restaurant called Crescent Kitchen. It had just opened and was already popular.

He must have remembered her saying over the phone that her stomach wasn't great, because he ordered light dishes that were easy to digest.

Thoughtful.

People who care don't need instructions.

Kylie used to believe Axel ignored those details only because he was too focused on work.

She convinced herself not to mind and just accepted him as who he was.

But today she realized Axel did pay attention—just not to her. When Rhea was on her period, he took her to Harvest Garden for bone broth that helped her feel better.

Thoughtful, too.

That night Kylie changed from her usual strict business attire. She slipped out of the suits she wore like armor and let her long hair down.

Her skin, already pale and smooth, seemed to glow against the soft fabric.

When Brad saw her, he almost didn't recognize her.

Kylie walked over and greeted him. "Mr. Colon, sorry to keep you waiting."

Brad blinked hard, nearly staring out of his own eyes. "Ms. Rehbein! Y-you look so different. I almost didn't know it was you!"

When she sat, a strand of hair slid from her shoulder. She casually tucked it back.

"Ms. Rehbein, can I ask you something?" Brad finally blurted out.

"Go ahead," Kylie said confidently and easily.

"Does your company have some weird rule?"

She raised a brow. "Like what?"

"Like making beautiful women dress plain on purpose."

Kylie was amused. "I'll take that as a compliment, Mr. Colon."

"I'm not complimenting. I'm just good at telling the truth," he said with a grin.

To be a headhunter—especially one at the top of the field—you had to have emotional intelligence far above the ordinary.

With a few lines, he made the whole atmosphere feel relaxed and comfortable.

When Elmer stepped out of the booth, his eyes were instantly drawn to the woman sitting by the window.

At first, it was only her beauty that caught him.

Kylie's seat was perfectly placed—sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, bathing her in the glow of the setting sun.

The light wrapped around her, giving her a kind of radiant, almost divine beauty.

Elmer stared, completely dazed. He found himself walking toward her without thinking.

Just then, Kylie lifted her eyes in his direction.

Elmer froze mid-step, stunned, his mind racing.

Is that Kylie?

That woman looks like her, but not exactly like her.

The Kylie he remembered always dressed like an old-fashioned secretary—plain, stiff, with no trace of charm.

Back then, he often doubted Axel's taste. With so many beautiful women around him, why would he choose Kylie, a woman who looked so dull and outdated?

But now, clearly, he had been the foolish one.

That annoyed him.

So the moment he stepped out, he grabbed his phone and called Axel to complain.

"Axel, guess who I just saw!"

Axel was working late, too busy to entertain him. Instead, he pressed the intercom and instructed, "Ms. Rehbein, bring me a coffee."

On the other end, Elmer froze.

Did Axel not know Kylie had left work?

Interesting.

While waiting for the coffee, Axel finally asked, "Who did you see?"

"Brad Colon," Elmer answered, dragging it out. "He's headhunting."

A knock came at the office door. Axel said, "Come in."

It was Mona, carrying a cup of coffee.

Axel paused, his brows pulling together. "Where's Ms. Rehbein?"

"She went home," Mona replied.

Axel's frown deepened at this. "She didn't stay late tonight?"

"No."

That was unusual. But he didn't think much of it. After all, Kylie rarely slipped up in her work. He figured she must have had something else to do.

He dismissed Mona and took a sip of the coffee.

His brows, which barely eased, pinched tighter.

Not the taste he was used to.

Setting the cup back on the desk, he didn't touch it again. Leaning back in his chair, pressing his fingers to his temples, he asked flatly, "Who's Brad trying to poach?"

Finally—the question Elmer was waiting for.

He jumped in eagerly. "Brad's trying to steal Kylie!"