Chapter 125: I Miss You
He didn’t need to see her.
He recognized her before he even turned around.
A soft floral scent reached him first. It wasn’t exactly perfume. It was lighter than that, something warm and sweet that always lingered in her hair. It was the same scent that greeted him every morning whenever she knocked on his door.
Sean smiled.
"Makima."
She stopped for a second.
"...How did you know it was me?"
Sean turned to face her.
"I’d know that scent anywhere."
Makima blinked.
She had been so careful.
She’d walked as quietly as she could, convinced she’d surprise him.
"...Really?" she asked.
Sean nodded.
"You have a beautiful scent."
His voice remained calm.
"Sweet. Soft. It’s hard to forget."
Makima froze.
A faint blush slowly spread across her cheeks.
She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.
"...That’s..."
She looked away for a moment before meeting his eyes again.
"...That’s very forward."
Sean smiled.
"It was also true."
Makima let out a helpless little laugh and shook her head.
"I really wasn’t prepared for that."
She stepped closer until only a small distance separated them.
Then she looked at him properly.
The smile on her face softened.
"I missed you."
There wasn’t any teasing in her voice.
Only honesty.
"I know you’ve been busy."
"I know you’ve had a lot going on."
"But..."
She smiled.
"I missed you."
Before Sean could answer, she rose onto her toes and kissed him.
It wasn’t a long kiss.
It wasn’t hesitant either.
It was simply the kiss of someone who had been looking forward to seeing him again for days.
Sean’s hands naturally settled around her waist as he kissed her back.
Several steps behind them, James quietly looked away, pretending to admire the street.
Makima slowly pulled back.
Her hands were still resting on Sean’s shoulders as she studied his face, almost as if reassuring herself he was really standing there.
Then she smiled.
"Come inside."
"I was planning to."
"Good."
Without another word, she slipped her hand into his.
Together, they walked toward the apartment building.
Behind them, James calmly pulled the Rolls-Royce away from the curb with the quiet professionalism that had become second nature to him.
—--------
The lobby was peaceful.
Late afternoon had begun giving way to evening, that comfortable hour when most residents were either returning from work or settling in for dinner.
Makima never let go of Sean’s hand as they climbed the stairs.
"So..."
She glanced at him.
"Tell me everything."
Sean smiled and said "About what?"
"The last few days." Said Makima
"The showcase was last night." Said Sean
"I know."
Makima nodded.
"You texted me."
She smiled.
"So..."
"How was it?"
Sean thought back to Olivia’s performance.
"...She was incredible."
Makima looked at him.
Something flickered across her expression.
Just for a moment.
It disappeared almost as quickly as it came.
"I’m glad," she said softly.
"She worked really hard for it."
Sean nodded.
"The label meeting is Thursday."
"They already made an offer?"
"They did."
"And Olivia called me afterward."
Makima smiled.
"That’s wonderful."
She squeezed his hand gently.
"And Max’s sister?"
"Surgery went well."
Relief immediately appeared on Makima’s face.
"Thank goodness."
"I’m really happy for them."
They reached her floor.
Makima unlocked the apartment door before leading Sean inside.
The apartment felt exactly the way it always did .
Comfortable.
Warm.
The small lamp beside the kitchen was already on.
Outside the window, the building’s little garden glowed beneath the fading sunlight.
The bouquet Sean had given her last week had fully bloomed.
Bright orange flowers rested in the vase on the counter, filling the apartment with quiet color.
Makima closed the door before turning back toward him.
She looked at him carefully.
"You look tired."
Sean smiled faintly.
"I’m fine."
Makima shook her head.
"That’s not what I asked."
She stepped closer.
"I said you look tired."
"Those are two completely different answers."
Sean laughed quietly.
"I’ve just had a busy few days."
"I know."
Her expression softened.
She gently cupped his cheek with one hand.
It was a familiar gesture.
One she’d done often enough that Sean had stopped thinking about it.
It simply felt natural now.
"Are you okay?"
She looked into his eyes.
"I mean actually okay."
"Not the version you tell everyone else."
Sean was quiet for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"I’m better now."
He meant it.
Makima’s shoulders visibly relaxed.
"Good."
She lowered her hand.
"Take a seat,I’ll make coffee." Said Makima
"You don’t have to." Said Sean
"I know." Said Makima
She smiled.
"I want to."
"So..."
She pointed toward the table.
"Please take a seat"Said Makima
Sean sat at the same kitchen table where they’d shared dinner before.
She filled the kettle, took two mugs from the cabinet, and prepared the coffee with the quiet rhythm of someone completely at home.
Watching her put a smile on Sean face.
A few minutes later, she placed a steaming cup in front of him before sitting across from him with one of her own.
"The building’s been quiet," Makima said.
Sean nodded.
"The good kind of quiet?"
"The best kind."
She smiled into her cup.
"Walsh’s final handover was yesterday."
"Security’s completely back to normal."
"The tenants haven’t even noticed anything changed."
She wrapped both hands around the warm mug.
"I keep waiting for the next problem."
"But..."
She looked up.
"It never comes."
Sean smiled.
"It won’t."
Makima raised an eyebrow.
"You sound awfully certain." Said Makima
"I am." Said Sean
She studied him for a few seconds.
The same unasked question lingered in her eyes.
How do you always know?
She didn’t ask it.
Not because she’d forgotten.
Because she’d already decided she trusted him enough to wait.
Instead, she smiled.
"I talked to Danny yesterday."
Sean chuckled.
"How’s he doing?"
"He said we should have dinner together again soon."
Makima smiled to herself.
"And I’m quoting him exactly..."
She cleared her throat dramatically.
"I need to do more research on Sean before I can finalize my opinion."