Bruno's entire body stiffened instantly. He knew immediately what she meant, and his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, he quickly pulled away from her, his gaze avoiding hers as he stepped back.
His hands moved to his pockets, and he turned his back to her, trying to compose himself.
Beauty blinked in confusion at first, but when she saw the way Bruno's face turned red and how flustered he had become, she realized.
"Is that... his?"
Beauty swallowed tightly and her face turned red with secondhand embarrassment.
Bruno, still awkwardly facing away from her, groaned inwardly. Her silence only deepened his embarrassment. He couldn't tell what was going on in her mind.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-"
Bruno muttered, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.
"It's okay, I understand, Sir Bruno,"
Beauty replied immediately, trying not to giggle.
"Thanks for your support... I feel so much better now. I also like the way you styled my hair."
She added.
Bruno simply nodded and opened the door.
"After you..."
Beauty smiled back and walked out of the room.
---
EAST ASIA
Shelly sat in the dimly lit living room, her cheeks flushed as she scrolled through her phone.
She was dressed in a casual black dress that accentuated her slender figure, the fabric hugging her small waist and flowing down over her long, toned legs.
Her glossy hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves, her fingers curling them on and on with each swipe.
She couldn't stop liking those pictures. Suddenly, she paused abruptly at a particular picture, her heart raced slightly. Anyone could fall inlove by just looking at that particular picture too.
Shelley bit her lower lip in admire, trying to suppress the sexual excitement building within her. She zoomed the picture and ran her fingers over the lips then the eyes...slowly down to the masculine neck.
She drew a deep breath and smiled.
Just then, her adoptive mother entered the room quietly, noticing Shelly's absorbed expression. With a knowing smile, she approached her daughter.
"How's everything going, sweetheart?" she asked, her voice gentle and soft.
Shelly didn't look up immediately, still lost in the photos.
"Oh, Mom, I'm just... looking at something," she murmured before finally putting her phone down, her cheeks flushing slightly from the realization that she had been daydreaming.
"Hmmmhmm".
Her mother hummed, knowing that look on her daughter's face.
Shelly tried not to laugh at being caught red-handed by her mother and her reacting like a secretive teenager.
Her mother, carried a glossy magazine, approached and gently checked her body temperature.
"How's your body? Is the fever gone?"
"Yes and I feel so much better now," she replied, glad at the change of subject.
"Good, but you still have to rest before resuming work. It may be stress, you know."
Before Shelly could argue about the cause of her illness, her mother pulled the magazine from her bag and handed it over.
"I saw you on the cover of the Hourglass edition," her mother said proudly, "and I couldn't resist buying it. You look stunning, as always, my I.T. girl."
She winked.
Shelly blushed.
"Mom! Stop it already."
"What? I am telling the truth... I'm proud of you, honey. I wish your father was alive to see how much you've grown. You know, your biological dad is still alive..."
"Mom, you are still my mother, and Dad is still my father. You don't need to explain it any other way. I know I always desired going back to visit my biological parents but that doesn't mean we are not family anymore mom,"
Shelly replied.
Her mother smiled in tears and pecked her head, then glanced at her phone screen briefly.
"I see... a handsome-looking man, huh?"
Shelly's eyes lit up.
"Our company is doing a collaboration with F&F. And guess what? The young CEO himself will be meeting with us soon."
Her mother raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Oh? And who is this CEO?"
"He is Bruno Hathaway! He is a popular figure and, Ma, he is so sweet. People who've met him always talk about how respectful he is towards women. That type is rare, you know."
"I see... you're excited, huh?"
Shelly nodded, though her thoughts were elsewhere.
"Yeah... it's a huge deal for our company. And Bruno... well, he's just..."
Her voice trailed off as she struggled to find the words.
"He's not just any CEO. He's... incredible."
Her mother chuckled softly.
"I've heard. And I can tell you're excited about him, not really about the collaboration."
Shelly smiled.
"Well, guilty as charged. I've admired him for a long time now. He's everything I've ever dreamed of in a man. He is kind, gentle, successful, intelligent, and so handsome. And now, I'll finally get to meet him in person."
Her mother chuckled, seeing all the excitement.
"Well, you'd better prepare yourself, darling. With your looks, he'll definitely notice you."
"I don't know,"
Shelly admitted, her confidence wavering slightly.
"I know I look the part, but I don't want to just be another pretty face in the crowd. He's been surrounded by beautiful women all his life. I want to stand out, for him to really see me."
Her mother smiled warmly, brushing a strand of hair behind Shelly's ear.
"You're more than just your appearance, Shelly. You're brilliant, driven, and compassionate. You have everything it takes to impress someone like Bruno. Trust yourself."
Shelly inhaled deeply.
"Thanks, Mom. I just hope... I hope I don't get too overwhelmed when I finally see him, you know and mess things up."
Her mother gave a soft laugh.
"You'll be fine, honey. You know you were fine when you met your childhood crush, what's his name again... Lionel Messi."
Shelly rolled her eyes dramatically.
"He was a married man. This is different. This is Bruno..."
"Oh, really?"
Her mother replied and burst into laughter.
"How about your boyfriend, will he be comfortable if this Bruno guy offered to take you out on a date."
Shelley expected that question.
"He cheated on me,he is a jerk. I had to break up with him...he pleaded with me to forgive him ,he acted because he was drunk and made all sorts of promises".
Shelly rolled her eyes.
"I thought he was a great kid".
Her mother replied in awe.
"Exactly he was a boy not a man. I am single now and ready to mingle and I will go for the prize. Mr Bruno".
Shelly purred.