Chapter 129 One Hundred & Twenty Nine
Dominic finally left, the door clicked shut behind him, leaving the office in a heavy, uneasy silence.
Steven stepped closer, his hand brushing hers lightly. “Honey… are you okay?” His voice was quiet, careful, full of concern.
She exhaled slowly, running a hand through her hair. “I… I’m fine,” she said, though the tightness in her chest betrayed her. She looked down, ashamed. “I’m sorry… for what he said. About me. About… everything.”
Steven shook his head gently, tilting her chin up to meet his eyes. “Don’t apologize. That was him, not you. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Izzy’s lips pressed together, a mixture of relief and lingering tension in her eyes. “It just… it hurt. Hearing him say those things… it brought back so much I thought I’d buried.”
Steven wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close in a protective, grounding hug. “I know, love. I know. But you’re not alone in this. Never. You have me. And Brian. And that’s all that matters.”
She leaned into him, letting a small, shaky breath escape. “Thank you… I needed to hear that. Thank you for being here.”
Steven kissed the top of her head softly. “Always. And Izzy?”
She looked up at him.
“You don’t have to face him alone. Next time he comes call me.”
Izzy nodded, letting the weight of his words settle.
Steven held her a little tighter, his hand brushing over her back in slow, reassuring circles. “Come on,” he said softly, “let’s sit for a minute. You need to take a break.”
Izzy nodded, letting him guide her to the chair by her desk. She sank into it, still tense, still aware that Dominic’s presence had left a mark she couldn’t shake.
Steven pulled the chair close, leaning in until his forehead rested lightly against hers. “You were amazing,” he murmured. “I saw him. I saw how much he wanted to control the situation, to scare you. And you… You didn’t let him.”
Izzy exhaled slowly, a weak smile tugging at her lips. “I tried. I just… I didn’t want him to see me weak. Or worse… scared.”
“You weren’t weak,” Steven said, shaking his head. “Not for a second. You were strong, my love. You’re always strong.”
Her eyes softened at his words, “I don’t feel strong,” she admitted quietly. “I feel… exhausted. Angry. Hurt. And I hate that Dominic can still do this to me after all these years.”
Steven tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering. “He can’t do anything that you allow. You’re in control, it's your choice to let his words hurt you or throw them away as irrelevant.”
She closed her eyes, letting his words sink in. “I just… I hate that this is even happening. That he knows. That Brian… that he even exists to him now.”
Steven’s hand tightened slightly over hers. “I know. But we’ll handle it together. And Brian won’t be caught in any of the games he plays. Not if I have anything to say about it.”
Izzy opened her eyes, looking at him with a small, grateful smile. “Thank you… for being here. For him. For me.”
He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. “Always. That’s what family does, Izzy. We protect each other. And I promise… I’ll make sure Brian knows he has a father who’s fully present. And you… You won’t have to face Dominic alone.”
She rested her head against his shoulder, finally letting some of the tension in her body go. For now, at least, the storm outside the office couldn’t touch them.
Steven gently pulled back, looking down at her with concern still in his eyes. “Do you want to stay here and work… or go home? You’ve had a long morning.”
Izzy shook her head, sitting a little straighter. “I’ll stay. I need to finish a few things. Besides…” She gave a faint, wry smile. “Staying here keeps my mind busy. Less time to think about him.”
Steven nodded slowly, understanding. “Alright. I’ll be a call away. Make sure you don’t get buried in paperwork… or stressed out again.”
She smirked lightly. “You’re watching me like a hawk, huh?”
“Someone has to,” he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’ll even make sure no one dares disturb you while you work. Not even Dominic Steele.”
Izzy let out a soft laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing just slightly. “Thanks… I appreciate that.”
He leaned closer, voice low. “You know have got you, honey.. It's okay to lean on me you know that right?”
She met his gaze, and for the first time in hours, she felt a spark of calm. “I know, Steven. I know.”
Steven pulled back just enough to give her space, letting her focus on her work, but his presence remained a comforting shadow nearby. She opened her laptop, fingers hovering over the keyboard. For now, she could work. And for now, she wasn’t alone.
Steven glanced at the clock, then back at Izzy. “I should get going,” he said softly. “You’ve got work to do, and I’ve got a few things to handle myself.”
Izzy looked up from her laptop, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Are you sure? I don’t want you leaving if…”
He held up a hand, cutting her off gently. “I’m sure. You’re strong. You’ve got this. Don't work too much.”
He stepped closer, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. Then, before she could protest, he leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her lips.
“See you at home,” he murmured against her mouth, his hand lingering briefly on her shoulder.
Izzy watched him leave, her chest tightening slightly at the warmth of his presence, the comfort of his support.
The office felt quieter once he was gone, but she drew in a steadying breath, returning to her work.