The air inside the penthouse still felt thick — scented with expensive wood and something heavier…like silence that refused to leave.
What am I still doing here?
Nathan leaned against the counter, one hand tucked into his pocket, the other swirling a glass of water.
His eyes were fixed on her.
"So," he asked, expressions smooth and unreadable, "should we start with the project… or food first?"
He's actually all casual, like nothing happened.
How well his acting is!
She had seen him in 'that' state just a few minutes back. She knew he was aroused by that moment. Yet his expressions are so..normal.
Elena hesitated, her fingers holding her bag tight. "Actually, I should probably go," she said nervously.
His brow lifted a fraction.
"I have plans. And about the deal—" she paused, swallowing the dryness in her throat, "I just need to think about it. I'll let you know… by tomorrow."
He studied her for a few seconds too long and polite smile appeared on his face.
Just like my mom's practiced polite smile.
"Tomorrow then," he agreed but his expressions said otherwise.
"You always take your time, don't you?" He mentioned with an amused smile.
Phew! He's not pushing me!
She nodded. "Only when it matters."
Nathan's gaze flickered toward her — assessing, then softening.
"Let me drop you home," he offered. "It's late."
Don't agree. Just make something up.
She shook her head immediately. "No, thank you. Adrian's picking me up, actually."
Something in the air shifted.
For a moment, he said nothing — just watched her with a blank face.
Why can't I read his face? Why is he always so… poker-faced?
"Adrian," he repeated slowly. "Always in the right place at the right time, huh?"
Elena forced a quick laugh. "Yeah. He's… reliable like that."
"Very well, then. That's settled! But at least have some water before you go," he said, his tone composed — too calm.
He turned toward the kitchen, opening a cupboard, the faint clink of glass breaking the quiet.
As soon as he disappeared, she tried to calm her nerves down.
She slipped her phone from her bag. Her hands trembled, but she managed to type fast.
Steady Elena!
> Can you pick me up? Now. Please.
Share location — sent
Come on Dree, see my text!
The dots blinked for less than a second.
An instant relief swept across her body.
> Adrian: On my way. Fifteen minutes.
She exhaled quietly, a shaky breath that barely made a sound.
From the kitchen, Nathan's voice drifted back — light, casual, almost kind.
"You look tense."
Elena slid her phone back into her bag before he turned around.
"Just a long day," she murmured, her smile polite and practiced — the kind she'd learned from her mother.
He placed the glass in front of her, ice clinking faintly.
"Well," he said, eyes steady on hers, "then let's make it shorter."
She held his gaze for a moment — just long enough to seem unafraid — then lifted the glass to her lips.
The water was cold, but her pulse was burning.
Fifteen minutes. Just fifteen more.
The minutes crawled.
Elena sat on the edge of the couch, pretending to scroll through her phone, her pulse counting down the seconds.
Nathan had gone unusually quiet, leaning against the counter again.
"Your ride taking long?" he asked, his tone almost playful.
She glanced at the clock above the marble wall.
Two minutes left.
"Traffic," she said quickly.
He nodded once, a smile tugging at his lips. "London never changes."
Her phone buzzed.
>Adrian: Arrived!
She stood up too fast, nearly spilling the glass she hadn't finished.
Nathan tilted his head, smirking. "In a hurry?"
"Yeah, I really should—"
He stepped closer, blocking part of the doorway, not threatening, just… there. Too close. "You'll let me know tomorrow then?"
"Yes," she said firmly.
His gaze held hers, curious, unreadable, as if trying to memorize her hesitation.
Maybe he knows I'm uncomfortable.
Then he smiled — that same effortless charm that made everything sound harmless.
"Goodnight, Elena."
"Goodnightto you too," she managed, forcing her lips into a faint smile.
She walked out before he could say anything else.
The elevator doors closed around her like a shield, and only then did she exhale. Her reflection in the mirrored panel looked pale — her pulse still visible at her neck.
You did fine.
You're okay.
You're getting out.
When the doors slid open again, Adrian's car was already parked outside, headlights cutting through the dark parking light.
He leaned across the seat, arm resting on the steering wheel, scanning the entrance until he saw her.
The second their eyes met, a knot in her chest loosened.
She climbed in quickly, shutting the door behind her.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice low but sharp, already reading her silence.
Don't worry him, please!
Elena nodded, too fast. "Yeah. Just tired."
He didn't push, at least not yet.
He started the engine, and for the first time that night, the hum of the car felt like safety.
The city lights streaked past the window as they drove. She watched them blur into gold lines, her reflection faint against the glass — eyes wide, shoulders tense, lips pressed into a thin line.
Halfway down the road, she whispered, "Thanks for coming."
He glanced at her briefly with a soft smile, then back at the road.
"Always."
She turned her face toward the window again, whispering more to herself than to him,
"Just needed to breathe."
He didn't reply — just reached across and turned up the radio slightly, letting the quiet melody fill the space where questions would've gone.
She felt at peace with him.
When they reached her street, he finally spoke.
"You sure you'll be okay tonight? I can stay with you if you want."
Elena replied. "You've already done enough, Dree. Go home, rest. We've got so much to do tomorrow anyway — I'll see you tomorrow morning, my driver."
He smiled but didn't look convinced. "I could stay. Just until you fall asleep."
She smiled softly. "If you stay, we'll end up working all night again. I'll be fine, promise."
He sighed but didn't push further. "Alright, stubborn girl. Call me if you need anything."
"I will."
I know I can always count on you.
She stepped out, waved as he drove away, and stood there for a second, breathing in the still night air before going inside.
For the first time in days, the silence of her room didn't feel suffocating. It just… felt quiet.
Quiet is what I really need. She huffed.
She lay replaying her kiss with Nathan. His touch, his voice, his warmth, his lips.
"I could get addicted to this heavenly scent" he said to her.
What do I do now?
She remembers how she kissed him back.
How she put her hands around his neck. How his skin felt when she touched him. How she let him hug her and hugged him back.
How she felt loved in that moment.
She dozed off thinking about him.
---
Elena woke early, sunlight filtering through her curtains.
She tied her hair up into a messy bun, pulled on her usual oversized hoodie and loose jeans — comfort disguised as armor. The reflection in her mirror looked the same as always, yet something inside her wasn't.
When she stepped outside, Adrian's car was already waiting.
"Punctual as ever," she teased as she climbed in.
He smirked. "You know me…But I'll need you to cover for me today – urgent meeting came up. Some supplier mess I need to sort out. You'll manage?"
"Of course," she said, though she secretly hated the idea of facing the day without him.
"Good. I'll text once I'm free."
And just like that, he was gone, the hum of the car fading into the morning air.
Campus was loud, ordinary, and somehow that helped.
Elena spent most of the day with Isla — classes, notes, small talk. She buried herself in numbers and presentations, pretending everything was normal.
But by the time they settled in their usual corner at the café near the quad, the pretense cracked.
Isla stirred her drink lazily, eyeing Elena over the rim. "Okay. Spill. You've been floating in and out of reality since Monday. What's going on?"
Elena hesitated, fingers tracing the edge of her cup. "We kissed again," she said quietly.
Isla froze mid-stir. "You and Nathan?"
Elena nodded. "This time… it wasn't an accident. I wanted it too."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, as if saying it too loud would make it more real.
Isla leaned closer. "And?"
"I like him," Elena admitted, words trembling as they left her mouth. "He's nothing like me — confident, composed, unpredictable. But whenever he's around, it's like… everything else disappears. It's not just attraction. It's…a connection I feel. The spark between us, it's undeniable. Every time he's near, it feels like something inside me wakes up."
Isla watched her quietly for a moment, then asked gently, "So what do you want to do about it?"
Elena's gaze dropped to her lap. "I don't know. How do I even tell my parents? They'll lose their minds. And his family is practically tied to ours — business, friendship, everything. If this goes wrong…"
She trailed off, shaking her head. "Our families could fall apart. It's not just me at stake. I don't want that."
Isla reached across the table, squeezing her hand. "Elena, listen. None of that matters right now. Not your parents, not the company, not what anyone else will think. Just — what do you want? Think about yourself for once for God's sake. You deserve to. I mean come on!"
Elena blinked at her, stunned by the simplicity of it.
She's right! I'm big enough, I'm gonna get through it. I have all the right to choose something or someone for herself.
She thought for a long moment, her voice quiet when it finally came.
"If I had to be absolutely honest… I'd like to see where the future takes us," she said softly. "I don't know if it's love. But I want to find out what it feels like — if it ever happens to me."
A small, thoughtful smile touched Isla's lips. "Then that's your answer."
Elena nodded slowly, the words settling somewhere deep in her chest — quiet, uncertain, but real.
Yes! She's gonna decide her own future.
I can't be wimp, a damsel in distress.
I'll have to be strong.
---
The house was silent when Elena stepped in.
She kicked off her shoes by the door, texted Adrian a quick "Home safe. Don't worry." and headed upstairs.
> Adrian: I'm so sorry. I am still stuck here.
She saw her laptop was still open on the desk, surrounded by scattered notes and empty coffee mugs. She sighed, pulling her hair into a loose ponytail. Might as well finish what's left before I lose momentum.
The room filled with the soft clicking of keys. Numbers, data, layout charts — the safe comfort of order. For once, her thoughts were quiet.
Until the doorbell rang.
She frowned. Nick wouldn't be back yet.
Who could it be? Probably Adrian…
When she opened the door, the last person she expected stood leaning casually against the frame, a familiar grin on his lips.
"You?" she blurted.
Nathan's eyes gleamed. "Yes, me. Were you expecting someone else?"
"Uh, no. I was expecting a quiet evening just to myself."
And here I thought he had his own place now.
He laughed lightly. "Then why don't I feel sorry for bothering you?"
"Because you like to irritate the hell out of me."
"Or maybe," he chuckled, leaning closer, "I like spending time with you."
His tone softened, that easy charm back in place. "Besides, I came to do my part of the deal because someone ghosted me today."
Her brain scrambled for a second before remembering — the project.
Right. The deal.
Shit! I promised to tell him today.
"Come in," she said, quickly stepping aside and gesturing him to go upstairs to her room.
He always looks breathtakingly handsome.
Her room was a battlefield of papers, files, and open notebooks. Nathan stopped at the doorway, eyebrows raised.
"Wow."
"In my defense, I didn't expect you here today and..," she said quickly. "I'm messy."
He crouched beside the desk, scanning the scattered sheets. "Messy? No. All I see is hard work."
How does he always have something flattering to say to me?
She tried to hide a smile as he picked up a few pages, flipping through them with surprising focus.
"Show me what you've got so far."
Elena passed him her laptop. "Layouts, reports, data sheets — it's all in there."
Nathan's eyes moved over the screen, skimming through formulas and graphs.
"Not much left for me to do, apparently. Bright girl."
She snorted. "Really? It's a heck of a lot left. I don't think I'd finish it on time."
He looked up, smiling. "Actually, there are some tricks you can follow to shorten your work. I'll show you while we work."
Obviously! He's a genius in business as I heard. I hope he lives up to the title.
And just like that, the teasing faded and he switched into work mode — sleeves rolled, posture straight, voice calm and measured.
He asked questions with an authoritative tone, cross-checked data, dictated notes for her to type.
Hours passed quietly, filled with the faint tapping of keys and the occasional brush of their hands when they reached for the same page.
Each time, her heart stuttered just a little — that silent, treacherous awareness neither of them acknowledged.
She was actually enjoying working with him. He was actually really good at it. She'd already learnt some useful methods.
The spell broke when her phone buzzed.
"Keep at it," she said, reaching for it. "It'll only take a minute."
Adrian's name flashed across the screen.
She answered. "Hey."
"Hey, workaholic," his voice came with that familiar teasing warmth. "You free? Isla and I are heading to this new club. You should come."
Elena hesitated, glancing at the papers. "Raincheck. I'm stuck with the project."
He groaned dramatically. "Borringgg."
She laughed. "Sorry. Next time."
Nathan was still bent over the laptop, scrolling through data.
"Who was that?" he asked casually.
"Adrian," she said. "He and Isla are going to a club. I told him I'd skip."
Nathan looked up instantly, his expression lighting up.
"Why would you say no? Let's go. We're almost done here."
She blinked, caught off guard. "You're joking, right?"
He turned the laptop toward her. "Take a look yourself."
Her eyes widened. The entire layout was complete — neat, structured, ready for review.
"Wow. How… how did we finish this so fast?"
He smirked. "You underestimate my brilliance, Miss Hamilton."
For a second, all she could do was stare — not just at the screen, but at him. The calm focus, the confidence, the way he made everything feel effortless.
"Come on," he said, standing up and stretching. "We deserve a break. Call him back. Tell him we'll join in an hour."
Lol! Did he just self invite?
She hesitated, but looking at his excitement she dialed.
"Hey, Dree," she said when he picked up. "Where's that club again? …Yeah. We're coming."
Nathan's grin widened.
"Good girl," he said with a smirk.