Chapter 14: Trouble is Back

Arnold let go of Ruby, her warm, smooth skin lingering in his mind, sending signals through his body that he struggled to ignore. Not wanting to make things awkward, he cleared his throat and quickly muttered, "Good night," before stepping out of her apartment building. As he walked back to his car, he couldn't shake the feeling of her touch, her scent, her presence. This was getting complicated.

When he finally arrived at his penthouse, something felt off. The lights were already on, casting a warm glow over the living room. A bottle of champagne sat open on the counter with a used glass beside it. A woman's handbag lay abandoned on the floor, paired with a pair of high heels.

His muscles tensed. Who was in his apartment?

He reached into his pocket to grab his phone, intending to call security, but before he could dial, he noticed a figure sprawled across his king-sized bed, dressed in red lingerie. As he stepped closer, she shifted, a smirk on her face. "You're back," she said in a familiar, honeyed tone.

Arnold ran a hand over his face, sighing in frustration. "Chloé."

Chloé, his celebrity ex-girlfriend, the woman he'd tried to cut out of his life multiple times. She was trouble, and she had an undeniable knack for showing up at the worst possible moments.

"Don't you miss me?" she purred in French, her accent lilting with charm. Chloé was everything the tabloids loved—an actress and part-time model from Belgium, with flowing dark hair and a perfect, slender figure. Out of all the women Arnold had dated, Chloé was by far the most high-profile and, unfortunately, the most persistent. Despite his repeated attempts to end things, she never seemed to fully disappear.

"I... I didn't know you were back," Arnold said, keeping his tone controlled.

"Yes, I finished my shoot early," she replied with a coy smile. "Thought I'd come and keep you company." She slid off the bed and wrapped her arms around him, pressing her body close.

Arnold gently pried her arms away. "Chloé, stop. This isn't healthy."

"I know!" she exclaimed with a pout, but just then, his phone buzzed. He glanced down to see a text from Ruby, asking if he'd made it home safely. His heart softened as he typed a quick response, his lips curling into a small smile.

Before he could hit send, Chloé snatched the phone from his hand, glancing at the screen. "Ruby? Who is Ruby?" Her eyes narrowed, voice rising. "Your new girl?"

Arnold clenched his jaw as Chloé's face crumpled, tears welling up in her eyes. She let out a dramatic sniffle. Arnold had once thought her dramatics were charming, but now he found them exhausting.

"Chloé, stop it," he said firmly, trying to keep his patience.

"Fine." She instantly stopped, dabbing at her eyes and straightening herself. "Look, I'm here because… I'm in a bit of trouble. I don't want to get into the details right now, but I've got nowhere else to go."

Arnold resisted the urge to roll his eyes. With Chloé, there was always some kind of "trouble." He knew she didn't like going home since her mother's death, especially now that her father had remarried a woman almost Chloé's age. Despite his frustration, he couldn't deny that part of him still felt responsible for her, or at least sympathetic.

"Fine. You can stay," he said with a sigh. "But only for a week."

"Three weeks," she countered, crossing her arms defiantly.

"Two."

"Two and a half?"

"Two weeks, Chloé. That's all." He held firm, narrowing his eyes.

She rolled her eyes but shrugged in defeat. "Fine. Two weeks."

Arnold pointed to the door. "In the guest room, please."

She cocked her head, giving him a defiant look. "What if I like your bed better?" she said, sprawling back across the bed as if daring him to remove her.

With a groan, he stepped forward, scooping her up off the bed, and hoisted her over his shoulder. She shrieked in surprise, pounding her fists against his back in playful protest. He carried her down the hall to the guest room and unceremoniously deposited her onto the bed.

"Stay out of my room," he said sternly, stepping back and shutting the door firmly behind him.

He leaned against the door for a moment, letting out a deep breath. Chloé's presence was a headache he didn't need right now, especially with thenew discovery of his daughter.

Shaking his head, he retreated to his room, hoping he'd be able to get through these next two weeks with his sanity intact.