Christmas with My Billionaire CEO

3.Isabella's secret appartment

AT THE SAME TIME

ISABELLA'S POINT OF VIEW:

The elevator creaked slightly as it ascended to my floor, the dim light inside flickering just enough to remind me how much I hated late-night shifts. It was a week since I left Xavier and I felt a little better. My scrubs clung to me uncomfortably, and my feet ached from hours on end of standing and rushing between patients. The only thing on my mind was getting home, taking a long shower, and collapsing into bed. As the elevator doors slid open, I entered the hallway, fishing my keys from my bag. Then I saw him. Xavier. He was leaning against the wall near my apartment door, his hands shoved deep into his coat pockets. Seeing him there, so out of place in his tailored coat and polished shoes, made me stop in my tracks. My heart thudded in my chest, a mix of surprise, confusion, and something I couldn’t quite name.

Before I could say anything, his head snapped up, his eyes locking onto mine. His expression shifted relief, guilt, and something desperate all at once.

"Isabella." He said, his voice cutting through the quiet hallway.

I blinked, still processing the fact that he was here.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

He pushed off the wall and started walking toward me, his steps quickening as if he feared I’d disappear if he didn’t reach me fast enough.

"I needed to see you." He said, his tone sounded urgent. "I couldn’t wait any longer."

I raised a hand to stop him, my exhaustion catching up with my frustration.

"Xavier, it’s late. I just finished a twelve hour shift. I don’t have the energy for this right now."I said.

But he didn’t stop. He closed the distance between us, his gaze searching mine.

"I know you’re tired." He said, his voice softening. "I know I’m the last person you want to see right now, but I had to come."

I sighed, clutching my keys tightly in my hand.

"Why? What could possibly be so important that you’re standing outside my apartment in the middle of the night?"I asked.

He hesitated, his jaw tightening.

"Because I’ve been a fool, Isabella. And I can’t go another day without telling you that I’m sorry. For everything."He said.

I stared at him, the weight of his words settling over me. He looked different, less composed, less put together. There was a vulnerability in his eyes that I hadn’t seen in years, if ever.

"Xavier..." I began, but I didn’t know how to finish.

He took another step closer, his voice dropping to almost a whisper.

"I know I’ve hurt you. I know I’ve let you down in ways I can never take back. But I’m here because I can’t stand the thought of you thinking I don’t care. Because I do, Isabella. More than I ever realized."He said softly.

My throat tightened, and I felt a sting behind my eyes. I didn’t want to cry, not here, not now, not in front of him.

"You don’t get to show up like this and you don’t get to say these things after everything."I said.

"I know." He said quickly. "I know I don’t deserve to be here. But I’m not leaving until you hear me out."He said.

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to steady myself. When I opened them, he was still there, watching me with an intensity that made my heart ache.

"Fine." I said finally. "Say what you need to say. But don’t expect me to forgive you just because you showed up."I said.

He nodded, a small, almost hopeful smile tugging at his lips.

"That’s all I’m asking for." He said.

As I unlocked my door and stepped inside, he followed, his presence filling the small space in a way that felt both comforting and suffocating. I wasn’t sure what I was more afraid of what he would say, or how much it might hurt to hear it.

AT THE SAME TIME

XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:

The cab ride over was a blur. My thoughts raced as I stared out the window, clutching the slip of paper with Isabella’s address. I couldn’t believe she had been staying in a place I didn’t even know existed. A part of me didn’t want to believe it. When I reached the building, I hesitated at the entrance. It was nothing like the places Isabella deserved small, worn down, and tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. My chest tightened as I stepped inside, climbing the narrow staircase to her floor. I found her door, the number barely hanging onto its frame, and waited. I had no idea what I was going to say, only that I needed to see her. When the elevator dinged behind me, I turned, and there she was. She looked... exhausted. Her scrubs hung loosely on her frame, her hair pulled back in a messy bun, and her shoulders slumped as though the weight of the world rested on them. She froze when she saw me, her eyes widening in shock.

"Isabella," I said, my voice cutting through the quiet hallway.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, her voice sharp and tired.

I pushed off the wall, my legs moving before I could think. My steps quickened as if I feared she might vanish if I didn’t reach her fast enough.

"I needed to see you." I said, my voice tinged with urgency. "I couldn’t wait any longer."

She raised a hand, stopping me. The exhaustion in her eyes was clear, and it hit me like a punch to the gut.

"Xavier, it’s late," she said, her tone clipped.

"I just finished a twelve hour shift. I don’t have the energy for this right now." She said.

But I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t leave. I closed the distance between us, my eyes searching hers.

"I know you’re tired." I said softly, my voice losing some of its edge. "I know I’m the last person you want to see right now, but I had to come."

She sighed, her hand tightening around the keys in her grip.

"Why?" She asked, her frustration bleeding into her voice. "What could possibly be so important that you’re standing outside my apartment in the middle of the night?"She asked.

I hesitated, the weight of everything I wanted to say pressing down on me. My jaw tightened as I forced the words out.

"Because I’ve been a fool, Isabella. And I can’t go another day without telling you that I’m sorry. For everything."I said.

Her expression softened slightly, but her exhaustion didn’t fade.

She stared at me, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words came.

"Xavier..." She began, her voice trailing off.

I stepped closer, my voice dropping to a whisper.

"I know I’ve hurt you. I know I’ve let you down in ways I can never take back. But I’m here because I can’t stand the thought of you believing I don’t care. Because I do, Isabella. More than I ever realized."I said.

Her throat worked as she swallowed hard, and I could see the sheen of unshed tears in her eyes.

"You don’t get to show up like this and you don’t get to say these things after everything."She said.

"I know." I said quickly, desperate to keep her from shutting me out. "I know I don’t deserve to be here. But I’m not leaving until you hear me out."

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and for a moment, I thought she might send me away. But when she opened them again, she nodded, her shoulders sagging in defeat.

"Fine." She said quietly. "Say what you need to say. But don’t expect me to forgive you just because you showed up."

Relief washed over me, and I nodded, a small, almost hopeful smile tugging at my lips.

"That’s all I’m asking for." I said.

She unlocked the door and stepped inside, and I followed her. The space was small, smaller than I expected. I knew that now I needed to talk to her before she will make me leave and I will loose her for good.