Cassian studied her dazed expression for a moment before a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"My turn," he murmured, brushing a loose curl away from her forehead.
Juliet blinked up at him, still slightly dizzy from the kiss. "Your turn to do what?"
Instead of answering, Cassian slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other around her waist. With effortless ease, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.
***
It was already late evening by the time Cassian returned home.
Outside, the night sky stretched endlessly above the Han Villa, the sprawling estate bathed in the soft golden glow of carefully placed garden lights. A cool breeze rustled through the trees surrounding the property, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming roses from the garden.
Inside, however, the atmosphere in the living room was unusually tense.
Cassian sat alone on the dark leather sofa, dressed in a crisp charcoal shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. His broad shoulders were rigid as he leaned back against the sofa, one arm stretched along the backrest while the other rested on his thigh.
The television was playing quietly in the background, but he wasn't paying attention to it.
For perhaps the hundredth time in the past twenty minutes, his gaze lifted toward the staircase before returning to the untouched glass of whiskey sitting on the coffee table.
His expression remained calm, as it always did, but there was a faint crease between his brows.
The powerful billionaire who could make seasoned businessmen break into cold sweats with a single glance looked distinctly restless.
The soft sound of footsteps finally echoed from upstairs.
Cassian immediately looked up.
Juliet appeared at the top of the staircase, freshly showered and dressed in a simple cream-colored lounge set. Her long blonde hair, still slightly damp, cascaded over her shoulders in loose waves as she slowly made her way downstairs, absently drying the ends with a towel.
The moment she spotted him, her steps slowed.
Something was wrong.
Even when he worked from home, Cassian was rarely idle.
Most evenings, Juliet would find him in his study, buried beneath stacks of reports, taking business calls, or reviewing endless documents on his tablet. Seeing him sitting alone in the dimly lit living room, completely still, immediately made unease settle in her chest.
The only light in the room came from a lamp beside the sofa, casting soft shadows across his sharp features. His gaze was fixed on nothing in particular, his expression unusually tense.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly.
Cassian's dark eyes lifted instantly, following her every step.
Without waiting for an answer, Juliet climbed onto the sofa beside him. She naturally tucked herself against his side, curling one leg beneath her as she rested a hand on his arm.
"Did something happen at work?" she asked, studying him carefully.
Cassian lowered his gaze to where her hand rested on him. The tension in his expression eased slightly, but not completely.
"No," he said quietly.
Juliet frowned. "Then what is it?"
For a moment, he remained silent.
For a man who could negotiate billion-dollar deals without blinking, Cassian suddenly looked strangely uncertain.
