Chapter 16 Sixteen
The sound of Izzy’s alarm buzzed through the apartment at 6:30 a.m. sharp.
She groaned, rolled over, and slapped the snooze button with a sleepy hand. Then she remembered what day it was.
Friday.
The company retreat.
She sighed and sat up slowly, blinking away sleep. Her suitcase sat half-open by the dresser, clothes spilling out from her last-minute packing the night before.
“Ugh,” she muttered, rubbing her eyes. “Why do I always do this to myself? I literally have nothing to wear”
From the kitchen came a cheerful voice.
“Because you’re a workaholic who can’t decide what to wear,” Maya called out, holding up a steaming mug of coffee like a prize.
Izzy turned and smiled weakly. “You’re up early.”
“I had to make sure you don’t show up looking like a tired intern,” Maya teased. She leaned against the counter, wearing one of Izzy’s oversized T-shirts and fuzzy socks. “It’s a company retreat, right? Lots of executives? Fancy people? Maybe a certain sexy cold-hearted boss?”
Izzy gave her a warning look. “Don’t start, Maya.”
Maya laughed and placed the mug in front of her. “Fine, fine. But come on, tell me... is it one of those boring team-building weekends, or is it actually fancy?”
“It’s a professional retreat with other companies,” Izzy said, taking a grateful sip of coffee. “Workshops, networking, dinner tonight… and probably a speech from Dominic.”
Maya’s eyes sparkled. “Dominic Steele. The man, the myth, the boss with cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass.”
Izzy rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
“I’m observant,” Maya shot back with a grin. “And you, Miss Hart, are still pretending nothing’s going on between you two.”
Izzy sighed. “I'm not the one pretending, he is. There’s nothing going on. He’s my boss... cold, serious, and completely focused on work. Whatever happened between us… it’s done.”
Maya raised an eyebrow. “If you say so.”
“Help me pick something decent for the drive,” Izzy said quickly, trying to change the subject. “Something that says ‘professional’ and not ‘please notice me.’”
Maya grinned and went straight to the half-open suitcase. “Okay… let’s see. You want elegant but not boring, confident but not trying too hard.” She held up a soft white blouse and black fitted trousers. “Perfect. Simple, classy. He’ll notice... even if he pretends not to.”
Izzy laughed softly, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Ridiculously right,” Maya said proudly.
By 7:30 a.m., Izzy was ready. Her hair was tied neatly in a low ponytail, makeup light and natural. She checked her bag twice... laptop, charger, notebook, and a small emergency makeup pouch, just in case.
She sat down at the table where Maya had set up breakfast... scrambled eggs, toast, and orange juice.
“You didn’t have to make all this,” Izzy said, touched.
“I did,” Maya replied with a smirk. “I need you fed and focused so you don’t faint when your boss looks at you too long.”
Izzy shook her head, laughing. “You’re unbelievable.”
They ate together, chatting about the weekend and random things... the latest show Maya was watching, the annoying neighbor upstairs, and how Izzy still hadn’t learned to pack early.
By the time she checked the clock again, it was 8:45.
Izzy stood, grabbed her jacket, and looked around the apartment one last time. “Alright. Time to go.”
Maya followed her to the door. “You’ve got this. Don’t let Mr. Steele get under your skin, okay?”
Izzy smiled. “I’ll try.”
“And hey,” Maya added, grinning mischievously, “if the retreat gets boring, at least you’ll have a great view.”
Izzy rolled her eyes but couldn’t help laughing. “Goodbye, Maya.”
“Bye, pumpkin,” Maya said in a deep imitation of Dominic’s voice.
Izzy groaned, cheeks warm, and hurried into the elevator before Maya could say another word.
She left by 9 a.m. sharp.
The drive to the retreat was smooth but filled with nervous energy. Izzy carpooled with a few colleagues, their chatter about presentations and workshops filling the car. Everyone seemed relaxed... except her.
Her thoughts kept drifting to Dominic.
She hadn’t seen him outside of work in weeks. The last time had been all business...no warmth, no hint of the man who’d once shown up at her door. Still, the memory lingered like a quiet ache she couldn’t shake off.
When they arrived, the retreat site looked like something out of a magazine... a peaceful lakeside resort surrounded by tall trees and glowing morning light. The air was fresh, the kind that made her lungs feel new.
They were greeted by staff handing out name tags and room keys. Izzy adjusted her bag and scanned the crowd, spotting familiar faces from her department.
And then she saw him.
Dominic.
He stood near the resort entrance, dressed in a dark tailored suit with the top buttons of his shirt undone, speaking with another company’s CEO. His confidence was effortless, his posture sharp, his expression calm and unreadable.
Their eyes met for a brief moment.
Izzy’s heart skipped a beat.
He gave her a polite nod... nothing more... before turning back to his conversation.
She let out a slow breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Strictly work, she reminded herself.
But as she walked toward her team, her pulse refused to slow down.
Because no matter how much she told herself to stay professional, every look, every silence, and every trace of him made it harder to breathe.
And deep down, she knew… this retreat was about to test every wall she’d tried to build around her heart.