The alarm clock rang softly, but Celina was already awake. For the first time in weeks, she had slept well, without turbulent dreams or intense nausea. She felt lighter, as if the previous night had relieved some of the weight she had been carrying on her shoulders. She stretched, picked up her phone, and saw a new message from Gabriel on the screen."Good morning, beautiful. Have an amazing trip. And come back soon so I can see you again." Celina smiled to herself, feeling a pleasant warmth in her chest. She replied with a simple "Thanks, Gabriel! Talk to you later," and headed for the shower.After getting ready, she took some medicine for nausea—an essential precaution for the long trip to Dubai. She went downstairs and found Tatiana in the kitchen drinking juice. "Did you sleep well?" her friend asked, handing her a glass of peach juice."For the first time in a long time," Celina replied, sitting down at the table."It must have been the influence of the handsome singer," T

Celina picked up her cutlery with more force than she should have. She started eating, but could barely swallow the food. The smell of the sauce seemed sickening, the taste didn't even stand out. Thor, on the other hand, ate calmly, distracted by a documentary playing on the screen in front of him. Celina took a deep breath. Am I overreacting? she thought. Or is he really pretending not to notice?She tried to push herself and eat a little more. Each bite seemed to weigh a ton. Everything was definitely tasteless. The uncomfortable presence of the flight attendant and the way she was blatantly flirting with Thor completely broke her concentration, causing her to lose her appetite. The doubt she had about his attitude towards that awkward scene was eating away at her inside. With his supposed "discomfort," she couldn't tell if he was really oblivious or pretending not to notice. He seemed calm, entertained by some documentary.Exhausted, Celina picked up the glass and drank some wate

Thor ran his hand over his neck, nervously trying to relieve the tension. It was as if the tension was suffocating him, but it only increased. The memories came in waves: Celina's body moving away, her gaze fixed on his, the pain etched on her face, the way she looked when she saw him there in the room with the flight attendant. Her reaction... it hit him hard. It affected him more than he was willing to admit. He stared at the mirror again, now with a hardened expression, forging the armor he knew so well. He concluded what he had been trying to repeat like a mantra."It was better this way..." he said, his gaze now darker, in a low voice, as if he needed to believe his own lie. "Now she won't have any feelings for me. She'll hate me." And that's what I want... that's what I need.He closed his eyes, swallowing hard."I'll never get attached to another woman again. I'll never give anyone the power to destroy me again."The phrase echoed in the silent bathroom like a promise. A prom

The Rolls-Royce provided by the hotel pulled up in front of the imposing entrance to the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, with its iconic sail-shaped architecture gleaming under the night lights of Dubai. Celina got out of the car with impeccable, professional posture, even though her nerves were throbbing beneath her skin. She was determined to maintain as much professionalism as possible — even though she was about to spend a few days under the same roof as Thor Miller.Thor walked beside her with an elegance and silence that made him even more intimidating. His gaze remained fixed ahead, with an impenetrable expression, as if he were completely unaware of the presence of the woman sharing the trip with him.Upon entering the lobby, the two were greeted by a receptionist with a restrained smile and attentive eyes. Without delay, she went to a terminal to check the reservation details. "Good morning. Welcome to the Burj Al Arab. Could you give

Crossing the imposing lobby of the reserved restaurant at Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, Celina walked alongside Thor with the elegance of someone who knew that all eyes were on her. And they were. Every step, every smooth movement, every subtle sway of her perfectly brushed brown hair left a trail of admiring silence and discreetly turning heads.Thor Miller, walking ahead, noticed the male glances turning toward her. The realization was uncomfortable, like a constant irritation under his skin. It bothered him, although he himself did not understand why. His expression remained cold, his eyes like ice, and his clenched jaw betrayed his tension.As they entered the reserved space, a table with four foreign shareholders and a woman awaited them. Powerful men, accustomed to luxurious surroundings and billion-dollar deals. They stood up to greet Thor, who responded with a curt, firm nod. He then introduced Celina with a few words:Before Celina could respond, Thor stepped beside her."She has a