HERMIONE
I jolted awake to the sound of my phone ringing loudly in the quiet of the night. My eyes flickered to the clock—it was 2:00 AM. I rubbed my face, half-awake, as I reached for the phone, groggily answering. "Dylan?" I whispered, my voice thick with sleep.
"Open the door, Hermione," came his voice, firm yet gentle.
I froze for a second, still half asleep, but something in his tone made me move. My heart skipped a beat. Why would he need me to open the door at this hour?
I slowly swung my legs off the bed, the floor cold against my feet, and padded across the room, flicking on the light. I barely had time to process the thought of him before I opened the door.
And there he was. Dylan.
He stood before me, dressed sharply in a black suit as if he were about to head somewhere important. I glanced up at him, my mind racing, but my body moved before I could think. I stepped into his embrace without saying anything, my arms wrapping around him instinctively. The heat of his body, the familiarity of his scent, everything about him was grounding.
"I'm going to miss you," he murmured against my hair, his voice quiet but full of emotion.
I pulled back slightly, confused. "Why? Where are you going? And why are you dressed like that?" I asked, my eyes scanning him as I tried to make sense of what was happening.
He sighed, his hands finding their way to my back, holding me close. "I just got off the phone with the team in Quebec. There's an emergency at one of our branches, something big. A legal issue that could seriously affect the company's future." His expression hardened, the weight of the situation clear in his eyes. "They need me there right away, Hermione. I have to leave immediately."
I swallowed, the sudden change in energy making my stomach tighten. "What's going on?" I asked again, needing to understand, needing to feel like this wasn't just another abrupt business trip that would pull him away from me.
He pulled me closer, his voice low. "One of our key suppliers is threatening to back out of the agreement. If it escalates, it could affect everything we've worked for in Quebec. And that could hurt the company globally." His hands slid down to my waist, and I could feel the tension in his body. "If I don't get there to handle it personally, it could turn into a disaster."
I looked up at him, seeing the determination in his eyes, but the unease in mine. I don't want him to go, I don't want to face another night without him. But I knew he had to. I nodded, even though I don't like it. "I'll miss you," I whispered, my heart aching at the thought of him leaving.
"I'll miss you too," he said, kissing the top of my head, then pulling back to look at me. "But I need to get this done."
I could feel the quiet sadness in his words, and despite the gravity of the situation, it was hard not to let my own emotions take over. "Promise me you'll be careful," I said, brushing a hand against his cheek.
"I promise," he replied, his lips curling into a soft smile before pulling me back into a deep kiss. The kiss was filled with everything I wanted to say but couldn't. The need, the desire, and the love wrapped up in it were overwhelming. And then it deepened, the intensity of it telling me just how much we both cared.
When we finally pulled away, we stood there for a few moments, just holding each other in silence. I wanted to beg him not to go, but I knew that wasn't possible. He had responsibilities, and he wasn't just going for work—this was crucial.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," he said quietly, his forehead resting against mine.
I nodded, my hands running up his chest, feeling the steadiness of him, trying to memorize the way his body felt against mine. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too," he whispered again.
We walked down to the car together, the cold night air biting at my skin. As we reached the car, I noticed Adrian was already in the front seat, his attention on his phone.
"Hello, Ms. Vale," Adrian greeted with a quick nod.
"Hey, Adrian, just Hermione pls" I replied, but my mind wasn't fully on him. My eyes were still on Dylan, who stood close by, looking ready to get in the car and leave. A pang of sadness hit me, but I smiled, trying to push the feeling away.
Then I caught myself looking at Adrian a little too long, and I couldn't help but notice how Dylan's expression shifted. A slight tension crept into his shoulders. He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
"You're awfully friendly with Adrian tonight," he teased, his voice playful but laced with something else.
I couldn't help but laugh, my cheeks warming under his gaze. "What can I say? I'm just being polite."
"You flirting with him?" he asked, leaning closer, his voice now a little more serious, even though I could see the flicker of possessiveness in his eyes.
I leaned back against the car, crossing my arms and smirking. "Maybe. I talk to my friends, you know."
"Mmm-hmm," Dylan replied, his tone dripping with teasing jealousy. "Well, you'd better be careful. He's got that look in his eye."
"Take care of yourself, Adrian," I said, ignoring Dylan's comment for a moment. "You know how he gets when he's distracted."
Dylan made a sound of protest, crossing his arms tightly. "You're distracting me now."
I turned back to him with a teasing grin. "I think Adrian needs to hear this advice more than you do," I said, nudging his shoulder playfully.
And just as I was about to say something more to Adrian, Dylan pulled me back into him with a kiss. It was unexpected, intense, and enough to make me lose track of my teasing. I melted into the kiss, feeling the heat between us, and then when we pulled away, I saw Adrian's face in the rearview mirror, looking away awkwardly.
I couldn't help but laugh softly. "Well, now you've gone and done it."
"Would you rather have me forget?" Dylan asked with a half-smile, clearly pleased with himself.
"No," I replied, my voice softer now. "But you're a bit possessive, aren't you?"
He smirked. "You like it," he said, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"I do," I admitted, leaning in to kiss him one last time before he had to leave.
When the kiss ended, he pulled back, his expression turning serious again. "Promise me you'll take care of yourself. Call me. Text me. Don't forget to eat. You know how you get when you're focused on work."
"I promise," I said, my voice quiet but reassuring. "I won't forget."
"I'll be back before you know it." His hand cupped my cheek for a moment longer before he let go and turned to Adrian.
With one last glance, Dylan climbed into the car, and it pulled away from the curb. I watched as it disappeared into the night, my chest tight with both pride for him and a sadness I couldn't shake.
But I would be okay. He'd be back soon. And until then, I had to focus on my work too.
But as I closed the door to my apartment, I couldn't help but feel a little empty without him.