Chapter 21 Twenty One
By evening, the long hours of meetings were finally over.
Everyone seemed eager to relax... to shake off the stiff professionalism of the day. The resort’s event team had set up a “Team Bonding Game Night” in the lounge, with music, snacks, and a few bottles of wine lined up on the tables.
The lights were softer, laughter filled the air, and even the most serious executives looked a little less tense.
Izzy arrived a bit late, dressed in a simple fitted top and jeans. She had her hair down for the first time that day, loose around her shoulders, and she planned to stay quiet, maybe grab a drink and leave early.
But fate, it seemed, had other plans.
“Miss Hart! You’re just in time,” Lily from her department called out, waving her over to a circle of chairs where several people were already seated...including Sienna, Dominic, and… Adrian.
Izzy hesitated.
Dominic was sitting directly across the circle, sleeves rolled up, collar open slightly. His expression unreadable, but his gaze... sharp
followed her as she approached.
She took a deep breath and joined the group.
“All right,” one of the event coordinators said cheerfully, clapping her hands. “We’re going to play something fun...Truth or Dare. Corporate Edition!”
Everyone groaned and laughed, a few people cheering.
“Don’t worry,” the coordinator continued with a grin. “It’s all in good fun. Nothing too wild...just a way to relax and get to know each other better.”
Izzy folded her arms lightly, trying to act casual, though her heart was already picking up speed.
The game started harmlessly.
“Truth or dare, Lily?” someone called.
“Truth,” Lily said with a shy grin.
“All right… who in the office do you think is the most attractive?”
Lily blushed hard and pointed at one of the male accountants. Everyone whistled and laughed.
Then it was the accountant’s turn.
“Truth or dare?”
“Dare.”
“Send a voice note to your manager right now saying, ‘I quit… just kidding!’”
The room erupted in laughter as the poor man did it, holding his phone up for proof.
Then came a few more rounds... harmless dares and silly confessions. Someone was dared to do ten push-ups, another to eat a spoonful of hot sauce, another to sing their favorite childhood song.
Even Sienna laughed a few times, sipping her wine like she owned the room.
Then came her turn.
“Sienna dear,” Adrian said mischievously. “Truth or dare?”
Sienna tilted her head, her red lips curving. “Dare.”
He smiled. “Do something bold. Something no one expects from the cool, calm Sienna.”
Sienna’s smile deepened. She looked straight at Dominic for a few seconds, then slowly stood up.
Everyone quieted... watching, waiting.
And then, with a slow, deliberate move, she reached under the table. A soft gasp filled the room as she tugged off her silk panties, folded them neatly, and with a teasing smile... dropped them right into Dominic Steele’s pocket.
The room went wild.
Laughter, gasps, cheers... it was chaos.
Someone shouted, “Oh my God!”
Another whistled loudly, “Miss Clarke doesn’t play!”
Dominic’s face stayed calm... far too calm.. though the muscle in his jaw twitched slightly. He gave Sienna a lovely smile, which he returned...smiling as she sat back down, sipping her wine.
Izzy froze where she sat.
Her stomach twisted sharply.
She forced a small laugh with everyone else, pretending it didn’t matter... pretending she wasn’t burning inside.
Of course Sienna would do something like that.
Of course Dominic wouldn’t stop her.
She looked away quickly, staring at her glass, trying to ignore the heavy weight pressing against her chest.
Then the game went on, the laughter slowly returning.
But the next dare changed everything.
Adrian leaned forward, his blue eyes bright with amusement as he spun the empty bottle in the middle of the circle. It stopped right in front of him.
“Looks like it’s my turn,” he said with a grin. “Truth or dare?” someone asked.
“Dare,” Adrian replied easily.
Lily grinned. “All right then... kiss someone in this circle. Your choice.”
The room went quiet for a moment... curious, expectant.
Adrian’s gaze moved slowly across the circle. He passed over Sienna, over the giggling interns, over Dominic... and stopped right on Izzy.
Her breath hitched.
Before she could react, he stood, crossed the small space, and gently cupped her cheek.
“Sorry, Miss Hart,” he said softly, his voice teasing. “Dare’s a dare.”
Then he kissed her.
It wasn’t deep... just soft, warm, unexpected. The room burst into noise again. Whistles, laughter, even applause.
“Whoa! Adrian doesn’t waste time!” someone called.
Izzy froze for a heartbeat before she managed a nervous smile. “You’re unbelievable,” she whispered to him.
He chuckled and returned to his seat, still grinning.
But across the circle... Dominic wasn’t laughing.
His eyes had gone cold, dark, unreadable.
He didn’t say a word. He just stared at Adrian and then at Izzy… like the entire room had disappeared.
The rest of the group was still laughing, the game moving on, but Izzy could feel it... that burning stare locked on her like fire.
Her heart raced painfully in her chest.
Sienna noticed, of course. She leaned closer to Dominic, whispering something that made him smirk... but the look in his eyes didn’t soften.
Izzy tried to keep her expression calm, but her hands were trembling slightly around her drink.
The game continued for another half-hour jokes, laughter, harmless teasing... but Izzy barely heard any of it.
Because she could feel him watching her the entire time.
Every. Single. Second.
And the truth hit her hard... Maya’s “Operation Make Dominic Jealous” was working.
Maybe too well.
That night, long after the laughter faded and everyone returned to their rooms, Izzy lay awake staring at the ceiling.
Her mind kept replaying the moment Sienna had slid her panties into Dominic’s pocket… and then the way Dominic had looked when Adrian kissed her.
Anger.
Jealousy.
Possession.
Maybe all three.
She sighed, closing her eyes. “You wanted to make him jealous, Izzy,” she whispered to herself. “Looks like you got what you wanted.”
But her heart... her foolish, aching heart whispered back.
Then why does it still hurt this much?