He took a step forward and held the umbrella over my head.
"Riya, you didn't bring an umbrella. Let me walk you home."
After a pause, Derek added, "From now on, I'll come to pick you up with an umbrella on every rainy day. Before, I didn't know how to balance things between you and Beatrice. To me, she's just like a sister. You're the most important person to me. I've made things clear with her. I really can't live without you. I'm already used to having you by my side."
I saw the tears shimmering in Derek's eyes, and I believed that everything he said was sincere.
But I didn't need it anymore.
Seeing his somewhat agitated state, I took a step back. "No need, I'll catch a cab later."
"I'll take you home first."
Seeing that I was about to leave, Derek immediately stepped in front of me.
"Derek, calm down!" I said, my face as cold as ice.
"You can't not love me," Derek's voice rose as he tossed the umbrella aside, then stepped forward, grabbing my arm and pulling me into his embrace.
"Get off!"
Just as I was about to slap Derek to snap him out of it, Axel suddenly sprinted over from a distance. He punched Derek in the face and pulled me into his arms.
Derek staggered, taking a few steps back before finally regaining his balance. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said, "Axel, Riya is mine."
Axel sneered and replied, "You've already lost her."
With that, he punched Derek in the face again.
Derek's face turned pale as he grabbed the nearby railing to steady himself.
This was, after all, the company where Axel and I worked, and since Axel was a shareholder, this situation wasn't ideal. I quickly stepped forward and grabbed Axel's hand. "Alright, let's go home. I'm craving your hot lemon honey water."
Axel smiled, took a step forward, and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Alright."
As for Derek, neither of us even glanced at him.
……
When we got home, I immediately ran into the bathroom, grabbed a brand-new towel, and started drying Axel's hair. He was as docile as a golden retriever, a stark contrast to the fierce, aggressive man from earlier.
"Weren't you busy? Why did you come to pick me up?"
Axel pulled the towel off his head and placed it on mine, gently drying my hair.
"The rain was too heavy. I was worried about you. I called you several times, but you didn't answer, so I left early to come find you."
So, as a shareholder, he basically left work early!
He really doesn't seem to take his career seriously at all.
But then, I almost forgot—Axel was doing perfectly fine in a multinational company, and right after I joined this company, he became a shareholder and joined too. Thinking about it now, he must have come here for me.
My heart felt warm as I looked up into his eyes. His gaze was dark and bright, filled entirely with my reflection. It felt so good.
……
The rain outside continued to pour down harder as Axel started making hot lemon honey water for me in the kitchen.
This time, the smell of the lemonade didn't seem sour. Instead, it felt sweet and fragrant.
So this is what it feels like to be cherished—it's like being wrapped in honey every day.
This time, without Axel having to push me, I obediently drank the entire bowl of lemonade.
As soon as I finished, Axel popped a piece of candy into my mouth. "Is it sweet?"
I nodded vigorously, my smile growing even sweeter.
The rain kept pouring harder, and just as Axel was about to leave in the rain, I hesitated for a long time before awkwardly and blushingly saying, "The rain is too heavy. You... you should stay tonight."
Axel froze for a moment, his face instantly turning red. After a brief pause, he looked at me and nodded firmly, "Okay."
"Riya."
His voice was a bit husky.
"What?" My throat felt dry as well.
"Was the lemonade good?" he asked me, seemingly out of nowhere.
"It was good," I replied, momentarily confused, but nodded honestly.
"Let me taste it," he said, and then Axel kissed me, stealing my breath, as if he were a spirit trying to capture my soul.
This wasn't about tasting lemonade—this mischievous spirit clearly wanted to devour me whole.
The next morning, when I finished freshening up and came out, the breakfast I loved was already laid out on the table. Axel was sitting there, grinning in that annoyingly charming way.
"Come have breakfast," he called, waving me over.
I walked over and noticed a piece of paper tucked under the bowl of porridge.
I pulled it out and read the note: "Riya, have I passed the probation period?"
I looked up to meet Axel's expectant gaze and nodded.
His smile grew even brighter, and he handed me another note. "Here."
I took it and unfolded it to find a line that read: "First day of being officially hired."
I laughed out loud, and Axel leaned in to kiss me. "Good morning, my girlfriend."
"Good morning, my boyfriend," I replied, smiling as I kissed him back.
……
That evening, as I sat on the couch watching TV, my phone kept buzzing with notifications of red envelopes being received.
Puzzled, I opened my phone to see that Derek's old group of friends were sending me money one after another.
I was stunned and immediately started scrolling through Axel's social media posts.
"A bet's a bet. Time to pay up what you owe my wife. Don't make me come and collect it myself." Axel had commented this under the post directed at those who had once made bets about me in their group.
I quickly skimmed through the comment section and saw Beatrice's sarcastic reply: "Wishing brother and Sister-in-law a long life together, forever united in heart."
Axel responded with just one sentence: "Don't call me brother. I don't need a childhood sweetheart."
I smiled, realizing that this is what true security feels like.
