Chapter 82: Chapter 75: Family Member

“What do you mean by that?” Shane Sterling’s voice was grim.

“I got my bonus today, so I wanted to pay you back for part of my mom’s hospital bills.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah, that’s it. What else would there be?”

Shane Sterling went quiet on the other end. After a few seconds, he said, “I have to get to a meeting. We’ll talk tonight.”

The line went dead.

Staring at her dark screen, Isla Prescott found the whole exchange baffling.

Isla didn’t have any classes that afternoon. Her whole body was sore, so she couldn’t practice dancing anyway. After finishing up some odds and ends, she headed home.

She hadn’t been home for long when she heard the sound of the keypad lock at the front door.

BEEP BEEP. The lock clicked open, and Shane Sterling pushed the door open and walked in.

He rarely came home this early.

Isla got up from the sofa and walked over to him. “What brings you home so early?”

Shane Sterling loosened his tie without a word and simply pulled her into a hug.

He held her tightly, the belt at his waist digging into her painfully.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, tilting her head back to see his expression.

“It’s nothing. I just missed you.”

Isla laughed. “It hasn’t even been five hours since you dropped me off at the studio.”

“I know. But I missed you anyway.”

There’s a term, “happiness anxiety,” and Shane Sterling never imagined he would one day be hopelessly caught in its grip.

Apparently, people feel most insecure when they are on the verge of true happiness.

Especially after Isla had paid him back today. That feeling of insecurity had been magnified exponentially.

He had her, completely and utterly, but to him, she still felt like a handful of moonlight—bright but ephemeral.

Shane Sterling didn’t know how far they could go if they lost the connection of the debt, if they lost the six-month agreement.

He lowered his head and kissed her, as if only by holding her this securely in his arms, their lips and tongues tangling, could he feel that she was truly real.

Isla passively accepted his kiss, but as it deepened, she grew afraid he wouldn’t be able to stop and quickly pushed him away.

“I’m still sore,” she protested in a small voice.

Shane Sterling hadn’t been planning to do anything, but when she mentioned being sore again, he simply lifted her up and sat down on the sofa with her in his lap.

“Where exactly does it hurt?” His hand slid to the hem of her dress. “Let me see?”

Isla quickly pressed his hand down. “No, don’t. It’ll be fine in a couple of days.”

Her choice of words confirmed for Shane Sterling exactly where she was hurting. He thought back to their last time the previous night—he’d been a bit rough and had probably made her swollen.

“I’ll go buy some ointment for you.”

He started to get up.

Isla stopped him again. “Really, it’s not necessary.”

’Besides, how would he even buy that kind of ointment?’

’Just imagining how he’d describe the symptoms to a pharmacist was mortifying.’

Shane Sterling settled her back on his lap, holding her close, and nuzzled the tip of her nose apologetically. “I’m sorry. I promise I’ll be gentler next time.”

The promise was so intimate it made her blush.

Nestled in his arms, Isla cleared her throat and said, “Next time will have to be at least a week from now.”

A week. Seven days. For a man who’d just gotten his first taste and was already craving more, it felt like an eternity.

However, Shane Sterling didn’t know just how sore she was, so he could only nod in agreement.

The moment he agreed, he heard her add slyly, “Oh, right. A week from now, I’m going to Surfsong Island for a company retreat.”

“For how long?”

“A week.”

A week plus another week… that was fourteen days.

’How was he supposed to survive fourteen days?’

Surfsong Island was over eight hundred kilometers from Meritopia, so to save travel time, Annabelle Leighton and Isla decided everyone would fly.

On the day of departure, Isla arrived at the airport with her suitcase two hours early.

She had just arrived at the airport when she saw Kiki Ford walking out of a Starbucks, arm in arm with a tall man.

The man was Kiki Ford’s boyfriend, Troy Fletcher. He often came to the studio to pick Kiki up from work, so Isla had seen him a few times.

“Isla!” Kiki Ford waved as soon as she saw her.

Isla smiled at Kiki Ford and Troy Fletcher.

Kiki Ford turned and said something to Troy Fletcher. He headed back into Starbucks and emerged a moment later with a latte.

“Ms. Prescott, here’s some coffee. Kiki said you like lattes.” Troy Fletcher handed the coffee to Isla.

“Thank you, that’s very kind of you.”

“Don’t mention it! Thanks to you and Ms. Leighton, I’m getting a vacation on Surfsong Island. A cup of coffee is the least I can do.”

Isla froze.

She had no idea what he meant.

Thankfully, a call from Annabelle Leighton came just in time, interrupting their conversation.

“Sorry, I have to take this.”

Isla stepped aside to answer Annabelle’s call.

Annabelle had just left for the airport and was calling to coordinate with Isla.

“I already took a cab to the airport,” Isla said.

“Okay, wait for me then. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”

Just as Annabelle was about to hang up, Isla quickly said, “Wait, Annie. There’s something I need to ask you.”

“What’s up?”

“Kiki brought Troy Fletcher with her. Did you know about that?”

“I know. I told her she could,” Annabelle laughed from the other end of the line. “I forgot to tell you, we got a sponsor for the trip, so it’s been upgraded. All employees can bring a guest, and all their expenses—food, lodging, and travel—will be fully reimbursed.”

Isla had a sinking feeling something was off.

“What kind of sponsor is that generous?”

“Who else could it be? Your man, of course.”

The words had barely left Annabelle’s mouth when Isla saw Shane Sterling walk through the airport entrance, pulling a suitcase.

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