"What—so Tom just kicked you out?" Ash asked, her voice loud, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Yeah," Nicole replied, sighing. "He said Dad agreed that he and Samantha should have the house."
"Apparently, newlyweds need their space," she added, rolling her eyes.
Ash, her expression shadowed with disappointment, suddenly lit up with an idea.
"Well, why don't you stay here with me until you find a place?" she offered, her voice lifting with excitement. "Seriously, I've got the extra room, and I don't mind. Maybe I can even ask around at the office—someone might have a spare room or know of a rental."
Relieved, Nicole threw her arms around Ash in a tight hug.
"OMG, Ash! You're the best!"
Ash, trying to wiggle free with a hint of annoyance, muttered, "Alright, alright—I'm just doing what any friend would do."
She yawned and added, "Now let's get some rest. We've both got work tomorrow."
⸻
The Next Morning
Nicole woke up dazed and disoriented. As her eyes adjusted, she scoffed.
"Oh yeah... Tim kicked me out."
Her phone lit up with a message from Tim.
Hey sis, didn't you already pay the rent? Why's the landlord texting me about it?
Come on, don't ignore me. I thought we agreed.
Dad wants you home for dinner next week.
Nicole sighed and flipped her phone face down, annoyed by the buzzing.
Today is going to be a good day, she told herself. No one's going to ruin it.
Right then, her alarm went off.
"OH NO!" she yelped. "I only have twenty minutes to get ready!"
She scrambled to get dressed and bolted out the door, rushing to catch the bus.
As she sprinted down the sidewalk, she collided hard with someone. She stumbled back, only to be steadied by a strong grip.
The sun peeked out from behind him—he had to be at least 6 feet tall, with broad shoulders and a lean, muscular frame. His brown hair was neatly cut, and he wore sleek black glasses. His eyes were kind but intense, and he was dressed in a crisp white button-down shirt and blue slacks.
A large coffee stain spread across his shirt.
His voice was calm and low. "Are you okay?"
"I'm so sorry!" Nicole blurted, quickly stooping to gather her things. "I'm really in a rush. Can we exchange info? Just send me the invoice on WhatsApp."
They exchanged contact information quickly, and Nicole darted off just in time to catch the bus.
The man stood there, watching her disappear through the bus doors. His phone buzzed in his hand.
Bank Notification:
You've received a wire transfer of $200 from Nicole.
He stared at the screen, surprised.
"I would've rather gotten to know her than be paid," he murmured.
⸻
At the Office
Nicole dashed into the elevator just before the doors closed.
"Made it... that was way too close," she muttered, catching her breath.
Her phone buzzed again. She glanced down—and gasped.
New Message:
Returned: $200
Another Message:
Let's meet instead.
Her eyes widened. "Why did he return the money?" she whispered to herself, stunned.
Still flustered but not wanting to seem rude, she typed back:
Sure. Pick a time and place.
His reply came almost instantly.
Tonight. 5:30—after you get off work.
Nicole blinked. Wait... how does he know what time I get off?
⸻
Later That Evening
Nicole pulled up to the restaurant he'd sent. It was quiet and stylish. Inside, she spotted him at a table, scanning the menu with intense focus.
When he saw her, he looked up and smiled, waving her over.
Nicole sat down, still a bit anxious. "Again, I'm so sorry about your shirt."
"I'm Nicole," she added. "Can I get your name?"
The man smiled. "Gu Sean."
Nicole froze. "Wait... Gu Sean? As in Director Gu Sean? From my company?"
He leaned in, calm and serious. "Let's make this simple," he said. "Nicole, let's get married."
"MARRIED?!" she sputtered, nearly sliding out of her chair.