Chapter 93 Ninety Three
Four days later . . Thursday.
Izzy stood outside the meeting room with her tablet pressed to her chest. Her palms were slightly sweaty, but her face was calm. Professional. Her feelings didn’t matter here. This was work. And she wasn’t about to mess this up.
Inside, the executives were already seated. Dominic stood at the head of the table, sleeves rolled up, eyes serious. He didn’t look at her when she walked in.
“Alright,” Dominic said, voice firm. “We’re here to hear individual pitches for the new franchise. Our first luxury perfume line.”
One by one, groups presented. Clean ideas. Amazing ideas. Names that sounded expensive but forgettable.
Then it was Izzy’s turn.
She stood up, walked to the screen, and took a breath.
“My concept is called NOIRÉ,” she began.
A few heads lifted.
“It’s a unisex luxury perfume,” she continued steadily. “Dark, warm, addictive. Inspired by late nights, skin-to-skin closeness, and confidence. The kind of scent that lingers after someone leaves the room.”
She clicked the slide.
“Top notes: black cherry and bergamot. Middle notes: rose, saffron, and smoked vanilla. Base notes: amber, oud, and musk.”
The room was quiet now.
“This isn’t a perfume you wear to be polite,” Izzy said. “It’s a perfume you wear to be remembered.”
She moved to the marketing plan.
“We launch with mystery. No full ads at first. Just silhouettes. Close-up shots of necks, wrists, and lips. No faces. The tagline: ‘They’ll remember you.’”
Someone nodded.
“We partner with high-end nightclubs, fashion weeks, and invite-only events. Limited first release. Scarcity creates desire. Influencers don’t explain it … they react to it.”
She paused, then added, “NOIRÉ isn’t sold everywhere. It’s earned.”
Silence.
Then… applause.
Not polite claps. Real ones.
Izzy sat down, heart pounding.
Dominic finally looked at her.
His face was unreadable.
He cleared his throat. “All the ideas were strong,” he said. “But we’ll be moving forward with Miss Hart’s concept.”
More murmurs. More nods.
“Meeting adjourned.”
People stood, gathering their things. Izzy packed her tablet, keeping her eyes down. She just wanted to leave.
Her phone buzzed.
A message lit up the screen.
Dominic: I know you’re upset with me. But please… let’s not do this. Izzy, please wait for me after work hours. Let’s talk.
Her fingers hovered over the screen.
She didn’t reply.
She slipped her phone back into her bag and walked out of the room … shoulders straight, heart anything but calm.
After work, Izzy stayed behind.
She sat at her desk long after most people had left, pretending to organize files she didn’t need to touch. Her heart wouldn’t slow down. Part of her wanted to leave. Part of her wanted answers.
Footsteps echoed.
She didn’t look up.
“Thank you for waiting,” Dominic said quietly.
She stood, grabbing her bag. “It doesn’t mean I forgive you.”
“I know,” he replied. “I just needed the chance to speak.”
They moved to the empty conference room. The lights were dim, the glass walls reflecting too much of them at each other. The silence was heavy.
Izzy crossed her arms. Her voice was calm, cold. “Say what you wanted to tell me.”
Dominic ran a hand over his face. He looked tired. Real tired.
“I know you don’t want me around,” he began. “I know I fucked up real bad. I was selfish. I didn’t know how to love… and honestly, I still don’t.”
She didn’t interrupt.
“But this past week?” he continued, voice rough. “It broke me. I missed you so much I thought I was fucking losing my mind. If learning how to love is what it takes to not lose you… Then I’ll try. I’ll do anything…. Anything to keep you by my side.”
That made her look up.
Her eyes searched his face. “You’re saying you’re willing to be in a relationship? A real one?” she asked slowly.
“Yes, Pumpkin,” he said softly.
She swallowed. “That means I’d be your girlfriend. You’d be my boyfriend. We would be… Exclusive.”
“Yes,” he said, stepping closer. “I can’t lose you, Izzy.”
For a moment, she just stared at him.
Then she let out a small laugh … shaky, surprised. “You really put me through hell, you know.”
“I know,” he said. “And I hate myself for it.”
She met his eyes. “Don’t you dare hurt me…. Again”
His expression softened completely. “I won’t,” he said gently. “I swear to you, my queen.”
That made her smile despite herself.
He leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull away.
She didn’t.
His lips brushed hers —… soft, careful, not rushed. Just warmth. Just reassurance. The kind of kiss that felt like a promise, not a demand.
He pulled back just enough to rest his forehead against hers, his hands warm on her waist.
“Tell me what you need,” Dominic said quietly. “Not what you think I want. What you need.”
Izzy took a breath. Her voice was steady, but honest. “I need consistency. I need to know where I stand. No disappearing. No shutting me out when things get hard.”
He nodded immediately. “You’ll have that. I’m not running anymore.”
She studied him for a moment, then reached up and held his wrist, grounding herself. “And we are doing this for real.. let’s keep this hidden at work no one must find out.. I don’t want crazy rumours spreading.”
“Agreed,” he said. “At work, you’re Miss Hart. Outside of it…” His mouth curved slightly. “You’re mine. If you still want that.”
She smiled, small but real. “I do.”
Relief washed over his face like he’d been holding his breath for weeks. He leaned in again, this time pressing a slow kiss to her temple, then her cheek … gentle, affectionate, nothing rushed.
“Can I take you home?” he asked. “Let me drop you off.”
That made her chest ache in the best way.
“Yes,” she said. “But we’re ordering food. I’m too emotionally drained to cook.”
He chuckled softly. “Deal.”
As they walked out together, side by side, Izzy realized something felt different this time. Not intense. Not confusing.
Just clear.
And for the first time, she wasn’t chasing him ..
He was walking with her. By her side