Next Day.
Before sunrise, a shiny brand new white jet gracefully touched down at the airport on Island B.
A stunning woman with long dark-blonde hair flowing down her back descended elegantly from the jet. She was wrapped in a stylish gray coat, and her slender figure exuded poise. She walked swiftly and confidently despite wearing high heels, showcasing her accustomed ease with such footwear.
Her warm smile appeared when she saw the figure of a man waiting for her from a distance. She quickened her step towards the man.
"Good morning, Preston," Casey Adams greeted him when she arrived at the parked black Maybach. "You're incredibly kind to come and pick me up so early." She offered a warm smile to Preston, who served as Rex's personal assistant.
This wasn't their first encounter; they had met on several occasions, and she was slightly comfortable talking to him.
"Good morning Miss Casey Adams," Preston responded politely. "You're my boss woman, so it is my pleasure to be here and pick you up on time," she said while opening the car door for her.
Casey's heart quickened at his words. She didn't enter the car right away but glanced at him curiously, 'Has Rex already informed Preston about their relationship?' she pondered silently, a sense of joy filling her.
...
Before long,
The car swiftly departed the deserted airport, its speed irrelevant to Casey. She focused on calming her racing heart, knowing she would be face-to-face with Rex soon.
This wasn't Casey's first encounter with Rex. She had seen him numerous times since joining Fox. However, this meeting felt different. They would be playing the roles of a couple. While it might be an act for Rex, it held a semblance of reality for Casey. It was her long dream to be Rex's partner, and she intended to act upon her genuine emotions.
Yes, she will enjoy this role as his lover. Hoping that this relationship based on lies can end as she wishes.
Thirty minutes later, the car pulled up to the grand villa and at that moment the sky slowly changed color, as the sun slowly appeared from the horizon.
Casey was momentarily stunned by the breathtaking surroundings as she stepped out of the vehicle. The scenery was simply stunning, despite the bare trees of winter. The snow-capped mountains in the distance reminded her of her home in X country, a sight she hadn't experienced during her time in LA.
"Miss Adams, this way, please," Preston's voice broke her reverie.
Casey glanced at him, then followed him into the house. She couldn't help but ask, "Is Rex awake?"
"Not yet. Boss Rex typically wakes up at eight for breakfast," Preston explained as they ascended to the second floor. "This way, Miss. This is your room." He opened the door, gesturing for her to enter.
Before entering the room, Casey expressed her gratitude to Preston. As she stepped inside, she was greeted by a spacious room adorned with a mid-century interior featuring natural colors. To her surprise, her suitcase had already been placed in the room.
While Casey had been engrossed in admiring the mountain view behind the villa, she hadn't noticed that a housekeeper had taken her suitcase and brought it to her assigned room.
"Miss, have a good rest. This is my number, and if you need anything, you can contact me anytime," Preston said while handing her his name card and preparing to leave Casey.
"Preston, wait..." Casey called out before Preston could depart. "Where's Rex's room?" she asked, her voice filled with shyness.
"Boss Rex's room is right in front of yours," Preston pointed to the adjacent door, surprising Casey. She hadn't expected their rooms to be so close.
"Miss, if I may suggest, you may take some rest now. Boss Rex will wake you up for breakfast... at nine," Preston continued.
"Why nine? Doesn't he usually have breakfast at eight?" Casey inquired softly, concerned that Rex might overhear their conversation and be awakened.
"Boss asked me to arrange breakfast at nine. Perhaps it's because he'd like to give you time to rest as you've just arrived," Preston explained.
Casey could only nod, letting Preston go as she entered her bedroom. Once the door closed, she placed her hand over her chest to calm her irregularly beating heart.
She couldn't believe it. She had finally arrived at Rex's house, and they would be sleeping under the same roof. It was the first time she would be meeting him privately, without any of their other colleagues present.
Throughout their time working together, they rarely had the opportunity to be on the same mission. She could only recall four occasions when they had worked together, and even then, other people always accompanied them. That's why being in his private house felt unfamiliar and made her nervous.
After a few minutes of trying to calm her racing heart, she quickly removed her high heels by kicking them off, changed into more comfortable clothing, and settled onto the bed. The bed felt incredibly inviting as if it were beckoning her to rest.
Since the previous night, she had been filled with excitement about this trip. She hadn't been able to close her eyes at all, and even on the plane, her mind couldn't find stillness. It was like being a teenager preparing for a first date.
Casey closed her eyes, determined to get some sleep for at least an hour. She wanted to feel refreshed when she finally met Rex later.
...
As Casey peacefully slept in her bedroom, Rex awoke from his sleep, his eyes fixated on the ceiling as he tried to piece together what happened the previous night.
Why did his head throb so intensely? It felt as though someone had mercilessly struck him with a hammer.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips, resonating throughout the room as memories from the night before came rushing back, flooding his mind with regret.
He scolded himself silently for the foolish mistake he had made. Dragging Casey into a fake relationship, all to convey to Scarlett that he had moved on and found love.
"How could you be so idiotic, Rex Morrison!" he muttered, his voice low and hoarse with self-reproach.
Rex stomped over to the window to open the curtains, letting the bright sunlight flood the room.
He stood there for a moment, gazing at the snow-capped mountains, attempting to clear his mind. After a few minutes had passed, he retrieved his cell phone and summoned Preston to his room.
Quickly, he freshened up, cleansing his body and changing into a black sweatshirt that matched his jeans. Soon he hears a knock on the door.
"Come in!" Rex called out, making his way to the single sofa positioned at the room's far end. Preston entered and took a seat in the chair opposite him.
"Has Miss Casey arrived?" Rex asked.
"Yes, boss. Miss Adams is already in her room. I informed her that breakfast would commence at nine," Preston explained.
"Thank you for your hard work, Preston!" Rex expressed his gratitude. "And remember, we have guests coming tonight. Ensure everything goes smoothly..."
"Of course, boss. I'll take care of everything. You can count on me," Preston reassured before excusing himself.
