Page 35 of Dreams and Desires

“Juniper, these are fantastic!” Marco exclaims, taking a bite of a delicate éclair. “You’ve definitely raised the bar.”

I smile, feeling a sense of accomplishment. “I’m glad you think so. I’m really happy to be part of this team.”

Feeling a surge of happiness, I take out my phone and snap a picture of the desserts, sending it to Jacob and Cora. “First day at The Opal! Look what I made!” I text, adding a few excited emojis.

Sophie nudges me with her elbow. “What’s that smile for?”

“Just sending a picture to my brother and friend. They’re my biggest supporters,” I say, my heart warming at the thought of their reactions.

The afternoon flies by, and soon it’s time to clean up. Once I’m done, I leave the kitchen and make my way to the exit, but the receptionist stops me. “Juniper, Mr. Patterson wants to see you in his office.”

My heart skips a beat, and anxiety floods my senses. “Alright, thank you,” I say, making my way to Zade’s office.

I knock on the door, and his deep voice invites me in. Zade is sitting behind his large desk, the room dimly lit and exuding an air of authority. He looks up, his gaze piercing through me.

"Juniper, come in," he says calmly, but I know he means business.

I step inside, closing the door behind me. “You wanted to see me?”

“Yes,” he replies, standing up and walking around the desk. “How was your first day?”

“It was great. The team is wonderful, and I think I did well,” I answer, trying to keep my voice steady.

He nods, his eyes darkening with something more than just professional interest. “Good. I knew you’d be an asset to this hotel.”

He moves closer, his presence overwhelming. I can feel the tension between us brewing, and my breath quickens. “Zade, what is this about?” I ask. My voice is almost inaudible.

He leans in, his expression intense. “Why do you always have to question everything, Juniper?”

I frown, crossing my arms over my chest. “Because I need to know what I’m getting into. You’re always so cryptic.”

He scoffs, a smirk playing on his lips. “Maybe if you stopped overthinking, you’d see the bigger picture.”

I step closer, anger flaring inside me. “And maybe if you were more transparent, I wouldn’t have to guess your intentions.”

He narrows his eyes. “You don’t trust me, do you?”

I hold his gaze, defiant. “Trust is earned, Zade. And you haven’t exactly been forthcoming.”

His jaw clenches, and he takes another step closer, our faces inches apart. “You think you know everything, don’t you? Always so self-righteous.”

“At least I’m not hiding behind half-truths and manipulations,” I snap back, my body trembling with anger.

For a moment, we stand there, our breaths mingling, the air around us charged with electricity. The room seems to shrink, with the intensity of our emotions filling every corner. I can feel the heat radiating from his body, and the fire in his eyes matches my own.

“You drive me crazy,” he growls.

“Good,” I retort, my pulse racing. “Because you infuriate me too.”

Something shifts between us. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just a feeling—like the last bit of patience we were both holding onto finally slips.

Zade leans in. No warning. His hand touches my cheek, slow but sure.

He sets them somewhere. I don’t even see where. Then he pulls me in.

And he kisses me.

It’s not slow. It’s not careful. His mouth hits mine like he’s done waiting.

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