Chapter 56: Head Over Heels

“I have a question,” Sienna hesitated. Her tone was light, but curiosity tinged her words. “Whose Rolls-Royce was that?”

Vivienne pressed her lips together, glancing at Derek. Clearing her throat, she replied indifferently, “That’s not important.” She ended the call without waiting for a response.

Turning to Derek, her tone softened. “Sorry for troubling you with all this.”

“It’s not you who should apologize,” Derek said firmly. His eyes lingered on her features, his gaze tender. He tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “I won’t let them bother you anymore,” he added, his voice steady.

Vivienne grasped the weight of his words. As he reached for his phone, she grabbed his hand. “Wait!”

Her cool fingers rested against his palm. The contrast sent a curious calm through him.

Derek’s eyes softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Your hand is cold,” he murmured. He enveloped her hand in his.

His warmth radiated, giving Vivienne an unexpected sense of security. A flicker in her eyes betrayed her, but she steadied herself. “This is my problem, and I’ll take care of it,” she said, her tone soft yet resolute.

“Then take care of it,” Derek replied, a knowing smile playing on his lips, his grip tightening slightly. “Do it your way. No matter what happens, I’ll always have your back.”

Surprise crossed Vivienne’s face. She gazed at him, speechless. Every woman deserved to feel protected and cherished; such a feeling had eluded her for so long. Her three years with Warren had been a quiet endurance, spent suppressing her own voice. But Derek’s words held a different promise: she didn’t have to endure; she didn’t have to shrink. She could stand tall, and he would be there.

For a moment, the walls around her heart seemed to crack. Something soft and unfamiliar spread warmth in its wake.

Milo’s cough broke the spell, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife. “Miss Hayes, where should I take you?”

The interruption jolted Vivienne back to the present. Feeling the heat rise in her cheeks as she realized Derek’s hand still covered hers, she instinctively withdrew it.

Derek blinked, clearly surprised.

Vivienne cleared her throat, regaining her composure. “Time district, please,” she said, her voice cool and measured.

“Understood,” Milo replied.

The car soon arrived. As Vivienne stepped out, Derek handed her a bouquet of roses. “Good night,” he murmured.

“Good night,” she replied evenly, a faint smile playing on her lips. She turned and walked away.

Derek watched until she disappeared. Only then did the car move.

Milo glanced at Derek through the rearview mirror. Tonight, he’d witnessed something unusual. Derek had abandoned a mountain of work for dinner with Vivienne. Vivienne was beautiful, that was undeniable. Yet, Milo questioned if this was the same unwavering Derek Hopkins he’d known for years.

“Is something on your mind?” Derek said, his sharp gaze catching Milo’s in the mirror.

Milo’s thoughts slipped out. “I was just thinking… you seemed a bit head over heels tonight.”