Chapter 14
Cain Mysia pov
Work had been crazier than usual. Cain had to travel to Miami for a business meeting, leaving him exhausted and short on time. Meanwhile, his mother still refused to return to the UK. Cain could only hope that by the time he returned to New York later that day, she would be preparing to leave.
After the meeting, Cain decided to return to his hostel room to finish up some pending work. He picked up his phone and called his assistant.
"Peter, come to my room now," he said.
"Okay, sir," Peter responded promptly.
When Peter arrived, Cain didn't waste any time.
"What is Mr. Denver saying about collaborating with us to expand our mall in Singapore?"
Peter replied, "Sir, Mr. Denver is insisting on a sit-down. He wants to talk to you personally before signing anything."
Cain raised an eyebrow. "Why does he want to sit down with me? Didn't our team explain everything? The benefits of opening a mall in Singapore should have been crystal clear. Or were you all incompetent and failed to deliver a proper presentation?"
Peter remained calm. "Sir, the team gave an excellent presentation—I was there myself."
Cain nodded, though still clearly displeased. "Alright. Arrange a meeting with Mr. Denver as soon as we land in New York tonight. Let's hear what he has to say."
Just then, Cain's phone rang. It was Gabriel.
"Yes, what is it?" Cain answered.
"Hey, man. I'm in Miami," Gabriel said. "What's up?"
Cain replied flatly, "I've got work to do."
Gabriel persisted. "Can we meet up? There's this club I want to check out, and I don't want to go alone."
"I'm not free right now," Cain said. "I've got a lot of work to finish before heading back to New York."
"Oh, come on, man. When was the last time you let yourself relax? What time is your flight?" Gabriel asked.
"11 PM," Cain responded.
"Well, it's just 5 PM now. We can go and be back by 8," Gabriel suggested.
Cain hesitated for a moment, glancing at the clock on his desk. Gabriel had a point—it had been months since he took a proper break. The pressure from work, his mother's situation, and the endless travel had worn him down.
"Fine," he said finally. "But we're out of there by eight sharp."
"Deal," Gabriel replied excitedly. "I'll send you the address. It's this upscale lounge near South Beach—place just opened last month."
By 6 PM, Cain and Gabriel were at the entrance of Velvet Eclipse, a sleek, dimly lit club pulsing with low bass and scattered with an upscale crowd. Cain wore a charcoal blazer over a dark shirt, his usual corporate presence softened for the evening. Gabriel, in contrast, dressed casually—comfortable in his Miami element.
They made their way to the VIP section, where Gabriel had reserved a booth. A waitress brought over two glasses of whiskey on the rocks.
"You're going to thank me for this," Gabriel grinned, raising his glass.
Cain smirked, lifting his own. "We'll see."
Just as Cain settled into the evening, letting the music and warm lighting ease his tension, a familiar laugh cut through the ambient noise. He turned his head slightly—and froze.
Walking past their section was a tall woman in a red satin dress, her hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. She hadn't seen him yet, but he recognized her immediately.
Isabella Montana .
It had been over a year since their last encounter in London. Isabella had been one of Cain's longest-running flings—on-and-off, passionate, and complicated. She was beautiful, unpredictable, and had always known exactly how to challenge him. Theirs was never a relationship, but it had always been more than casual.
Cain stood slowly, watching her as she laughed with her friends. She turned—and then she saw him.
Her eyes widened slightly, but her smile never faltered. In fact, it deepened.
"Well, well," she said, walking over without hesitation. "Cain Mysia in Miami. I must be dreaming."
Cain chuckled. "And I must be cursed. Can't even enjoy one night without fate throwing you at me."
Isabella laughed softly, placing a hand on his arm. "Still charming, I see. Are you here for business or pleasure?"
"Business," Cain replied. "This was supposed to be a quick drink with a friend before my flight."
Isabella's eyes gleamed. "Then let's make it memorable."
Gabriel raised his eyebrows from behind his drink, clearly intrigued. Cain, however, kept his gaze on isabella .
Cain narrowed his eyes as he looked from isabella to Gabriel. The timing, the choice of club, the surprise of seeing isabella again—it all felt too precise to be coincidence.
He turned to Gabriel. "You knew she'd be here, didn't you?"
Gabriel blinked, caught off guard. "What? No, man. I swear—this is just a new spot I heard about. How could I have known she'd be here?"
Cain didn't look convinced. His jaw clenched slightly as he kept his gaze locked on Gabriel. "You're always playing the middleman in situations like this. You probably thought it'd be some harmless, something to distract me."
Gabriel raised his hands in defense. "Come on, Cain. Don't turn this into something it's not. I had no idea. She's not even from Miami!"
Isabella stepped in smoothly, her voice calm and teasing. "Cain, if I'd known you'd be here tonight, I'd have worn something even more dangerous."
Cain glanced at her, still suspicious, but the flicker of amusement in his eyes betrayed his curiosity. "You're always dangerous, isabella."
She smiled, close now—too close. Her perfume was familiar: subtle, seductive, a memory in itself. She leaned in slightly, just enough for Cain to feel the warmth of her breath on his neck.
"Why don't we get out of here?" she whispered. "Catch up properly… just the two of us."
Cain hesitated. He knew better. Isabella was a storm he'd danced with too many times. But it had been a long day, a long week—and something about her presence, as always, pulled at the part of him that craved control only to willingly lose it.
Without another word to Gabriel, he followed isabella out of the club.
They stepped into her black car parked in a private valet zone. The silence between them in the car was thick, charged, and familiar. A few minutes later, they arrived at a luxury hostel tucked into a quiet corner of the city. Isabella led him inside through a private entrance.
The moment the door closed behind them, she turned and kissed him. It wasn't gentle—it was urgent, deep, and loaded with history. Cain responded before he could think, his hands at her waist, his defenses slipping fast.
Isabella pulled away just enough to whisper, "You're still the only man who knows how to lose control and still look like he's in charge."
Cain smirked, already backing her toward the bed. "And you're still the only woman who knows how to make me forget I hate surprises."
What followed wasn't just a reunion—it was a relapse. Old habits wrapped in heat, memory, and undeniable chemistry.
But even in the haze of desire, a question lingered in Cain's mind.
Why now? Why tonight?
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Author note
Thank you so much for reading
See you all in the next chapter
Xoxo
CC