The CEO's Midnight Remedy novel Chapter 21

**Dust Writes New Stories by Rei Holt Wilder**

“Aria?” Sophia’s voice trembled, laden with a mix of disbelief and gratitude. “I just received a notification… Did you really transfer a hundred thousand dollars to my account?”

I took a deep breath, my heart aching for her. “Your mom needs that surgery,” I replied, my tone steady yet gentle. “How is she holding up?”

Sophia’s voice quivered as she spoke, “She’s stabilized,” she said, her breath hitching slightly. “The doctors performed the procedure this morning…” A pause lingered in the air, heavy with emotion. “Thank you, Aria. I don’t know how you managed this, but I’m so grateful. I was beside myself with worry, and then your transfer came through, and I just—I can’t even begin to express how much this means to me. I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”

I felt warmth bloom in my chest, a comforting glow despite the tumult of emotions swirling around me. “Don’t be silly,” I said, my voice soft yet firm. “From our freshman year until now, our friendship has been invaluable to me. Use the money for what you need, Sophia. Remember, I’m the one who convinced you to take that leap of faith and leave your stable job to start Stellar with me.”

After I reassured her one last time and ended the call, I stood under the hot spray of the shower, desperately trying to wash away the lingering sensations of Devon’s touch from my skin. But the water couldn’t cleanse my mind. Each stroke of the washcloth against my body only served to remind me of him—his hands, his mouth, the way he made me feel.

I dressed with care in yesterday’s clothes, smoothing out the fabric as best as I could, and steeled myself for the world outside. A part of me felt a strange sense of relief that Devon had already left; it spared me the awkwardness of navigating a morning-after conversation that I wasn’t quite ready for.

As I stepped out of the suite, the hallway was blissfully quiet, and I closed the door behind me with a soft click. Just as I approached the elevator, a familiar voice sliced through the silence.

“Aria? What are you doing up here?”

Feeling trapped and unable to decline without arousing suspicion, I allowed Ryan to guide me into the elevator. As the doors slid shut, I tried to steady my racing heart. What would Devon think when he saw me? Would he honor our unspoken agreement to keep what happened between us a secret, or would he somehow let slip the events of the night before?

The private lounge was a picture of elegance, with plush leather chairs artfully arranged around several card tables. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered sweeping views of the cityscape, just as Ryan had promised, the morning sun casting a golden hue over everything.

At the center table sat Devon, cards in hand, looking impeccably put together in a crisp white shirt and charcoal gray trousers. There was no trace of the passion or intensity I had witnessed just hours earlier; instead, he appeared almost detached, studying his cards with a bored expression.

“Look who I found wandering the executive floor,” Ryan announced with a cheerful tone as we approached, completely oblivious to the tension that crackled in the air between Devon and me.