Other than Grandma Rosemary, this was the first time anyone had ever been so meticulous about helping her pack.

Maxwell was still wearing his work clothes. After they’d finished dinner back at the apartment, he’d heard that Arianna had a business trip the next day. Without missing a beat, he’d followed her upstairs, naturally taking over the task of packing her things.

His dress trousers clung to his long, lean legs, and his white button-down was tucked in tightly, emphasizing a waist that looked both firm and refined. Under the cool bathroom lights, the faint outline of muscle was visible beneath the fabric. He stood with his back to her at the vanity, carefully sorting through her array of bottles and jars. He picked out what she needed, tucking each item neatly into her travel organizer pouches.

His movements were methodical, unhurried, and precise.

Arianna let her guard down, allowing her eyes to wander. She didn't bother to hide her gaze, her focus lingering on his waist. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs—he was a natural clothes hanger. His skin was a cool, pale tone; she found herself wondering if a black shirt might look even better—even sexier—on him.

"Arianna."

The soft, steady voice cut through her thoughts.

Arianna jumped, snapping back to reality. "Ah? What?"

Maxwell turned to look at her, the corners of his mouth lifting into a faint, amused smile. He looked utterly content. "What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing. Why?"

Maxwell’s smile deepened. "Then why are you blushing?"

"Am I? I'm not..." Arianna reached up to touch her cheeks, feeling the heat radiating from her skin. Her brain raced, desperate for an excuse. "Maybe it's just hot in here. I’ve been packing for so long, I’m just a little tired."

What was she even saying? Fortunately, Maxwell didn't press her.

"Sit down and rest for a bit. I’ll finish this."

"No, no," Arianna said, feeling even guiltier. "I'll just pack a bit slower."

Maxwell didn't argue; he just murmured an "okay" and turned back to those daunting bottles and jars. In the reflection of the mirror, his handsome face was visible, his lips curled in a genuine, unforced happiness that he didn't bother to hide.

When he finally finished, Arianna let out a long, relieved breath. She grabbed a throw pillow and collapsed onto the sofa, her slender, pale wrists dangling off the edge. A moment later, she remembered Maxwell was still there and quickly pulled her skirt down, sitting up as if nothing had happened.

She locked eyes with him instantly.

He was leaning against the bathroom door frame, holding a transparent organizer pouch filled with her cosmetics and skincare, all arranged perfectly. He watched her, a slight curve to his lips, his voice lazy and warm. "Tired?"

Arianna leaned her head back against the pillow and nodded. "Yeah."

Her chin sank into the soft cushion, making one cheek puff out slightly. She looked up at him, her eyes clear and soft, her dark lashes casting tiny shadows across her lids. She looked impossibly well-behaved.

Maxwell’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He silently pulled his gaze away and began placing the pouches into her white suitcase. His peripheral vision caught her rubbing her wrists. "Are your hands hurting?"

"No," Arianna replied. "Just feels better to keep them moving."

Maxwell hummed. "Want me to rub them for you?"

Arianna froze. Before she could refuse, Maxwell was already sitting beside her. He took her hand, his other hand cupping her delicate wrist, his thumb beginning to press and knead with firm, rhythmic pressure.

His fingertips were warm.

He looked down, focused intently on her hand as he rested it on his own thigh, rubbing it with a gentle, steady force. The air between them grew heavy, a subtle, unspoken intimacy seeping into the room.

He parted his lips, his voice dropping into a low, husky register as he kneaded. "How many days for this trip?"

Arianna recited the line she’d heard from Joy earlier. "Five days tentatively. We'll see how things go; it might get extended."

"Extended by how long?" His brows furrowed instantly. "Why would it need to be extended? Isn't five days enough?"

Arianna blinked. "???"

Why was his reaction so strong? It was her business trip, after all.

"I don't know," Arianna said, watching his hands as they worked on her wrist. The pressure was perfect; it felt wonderful. "That's just what my manager said. To be prepared for it to drag on." She sighed, an unbidden thought crossing her mind. "I don't really want it to be, though."

Maxwell knew Arianna better than anyone. He knew she had a natural resistance to the unknown. Perhaps it stemmed from her childhood—a lack of security that left her anxious and worried whenever things weren't settled or certain. He knew exactly what she was stressing about, but he was afraid to point it out directly, thinking it might embarrass her.

Instead, he took a roundabout approach. "Are there any colleagues you're close with on this trip?"

Arianna thought about it. "No."

"What about people you know well? Anyone you chat with often?"

She hadn't been with the company long. Aside from her project team and the occasional crossover with Diana James, she didn't really know anyone. She didn't talk to the others much at all.

Arianna tilted her head, running through the list, then asked, "Does my manager count?"

Maxwell fell silent.

Being in a tense environment was one thing, but having to deal with a manager on top of it was just adding fuel to the fire. He realized he had to be direct.

"This is your first time flying, right?"

Arianna nodded, her beautiful eyes bright with anticipation. "I've never been on a plane. I've always taken the high-speed rail before."

"Do you know the procedure?"

"Mostly."

"That's good," Maxwell comforted her. "And if you don't, it’s fine. Just follow your colleagues. Security, lines—it’s just like the train station."

Hearing him say that, Arianna finally relaxed. "Okay, I got it."

Maxwell seemed to remember something. He let go of her wrist and stood up. "Wait here."

"Oh. Okay."

Two minutes later, he was back. He carried a transparent plastic bag in one hand and a small box that looked like bandages in the other. Arianna looked up, confused.

Maxwell opened the box and held it out for her to see, his tone gentle. "You might get ear pressure or tinnitus on your first flight. If it happens, don't panic. It’s perfectly normal."

"You can swallow or chew to help with the pressure. And remember to put these earplugs in before takeoff. They’re for pressure relief and noise reduction; they'll help ease the strain in your ear canals."

Arianna hadn't even processed this when Maxwell opened the plastic bag. "I checked your flight. It's in the afternoon, and they don't serve meals."

"I bought some snacks so you can have something to eat if you get hungry."

He tilted the bag, and the contents spilled onto the coffee table. His voice remained as gentle as ever. "Check if there’s anything you don't like, and just set it aside."

Beef jerky, dried mango, artisan cookies, chocolate-filled mochi, matcha shortbread... All of her favorite snacks.

When she had first moved in, Maxwell had cleared out two cabinets by the TV specifically for her snack supply. But she had been trying to cut down on sweets lately and hadn't bought any more once the last batch was gone.

"These snacks... where did they come from?"

"The snack pantry in the living room."

It took a moment for Arianna to realize which one he meant. "Wait, wasn't that..." empty?

Maxwell replied, "I saw it was empty a few days ago, so I restocked it for you." He paused for a second. "Have you not opened the snack cabinet lately?"

"No."

Maxwell pondered this for a moment, then murmured, "No wonder."

No wonder he’d gone to grab them and found the stash completely untouched. He’d actually thought she didn't like the snacks he’d picked out.

With her trip coming up, she’d been on edge all day. Maxwell hadn't wanted to burden her with his own nerves, so he’d spent time downstairs,整理 his own emotions, making sure he wouldn't let anything slip in front of her.

It turned out, he’d just completely misunderstood the situation.