Chapter35 Nicolasfrowned slightlyandrepliedina flat tone,Istheresomething youneed? Emmaliesmiledbrightly,unfazed.Iknowyoureclosewithlari ,soIthoughtIdvisitaswell.Wesharealoveforart,sowehadanicechat.Areyouhavingdinnerwithhimtonight?Maybel- Beforeshecouldfinish,Nicolascutheroff,hisvoiceturningcold.Imsorry,butIhaveplanstonight.Youwontbejoining Emmaliessmilefalteredforjustasecond,butshequicklyrecovered,hidinganysignofdisappointment. Withoutwastingmoretime,Nicolaswalkedpastherandaddedcoldly,MissRowland,Ihopeyouknowwherethelineis.Werenotclose,andIdpreferifyoudidntactotherwise. Emmalieclenchedherfists,stillmanagingtokeepherpolishedsmile.Ofcourse.Anothertime,then. Nicolasdidntbotherrespondingandquickenedhispaceinto therestaurant. Asshewatchedhimwalkaway,thewarmthinEmmalieseyesslowlyfaded.Shebrieflyglancedtowardahiddenspotandquicklycomposedherself . Inside,lanlookedvisiblyannoyed.WithoutevenglancingupasNicolasapproached,hemuttered,Afew yearsago,yourfatherhadthegallto rejectmysweetgranddaughter,claiminghehadsomeonebetterlinedupforyou .Iwasexpectingsomeoneremarkable,butinstead,hepickedsomepretentiouslittlething Nicolassexpressiondarkened.Haveyou mether? Yeah,lanscoffed. Shesgotwealth,sure,butheractdoesntfoolme.AndStefan?Hisjudgmentsslippingifhethinkssheswifematerial.WhenIgetthechance,Illsethimstraight. Nicolasfeltaflickeroffrustrationbutsaidcalmly,Shesnotwhatyouthink.Ifyougottoknowherbetter,youdseeshesdifferent. IanstaredatNicolas,confused.Whats gottenintoyou ? Are youdefendingher?Donttellmeyouveactuallyfallenforthistypeofwoman,huh?Noway!Thatsnothappening Nicolasopenedhismouthtoexplain. Itwasnt aboutfeelings;thiswas aboutprotectingTheasreputation.Afterall,theywereinamarriageofconvenience,andIansimpressionwasoff But beforehecouldclarify,lanwavedhimoff dismissively.Ivemether, andthatsenough.Iwont meddleinyourmarriage.Forgetdinner.Ivegotapaintingto finish. lanhadalwaysbeenlikethis,andNicolasdidntargue.HeinstructedDarwintoarrangeforsomeonetoescortlanhome. Justfiveminutesafterlanleft,Theaarrived,carryingsomeitemsandlookingconfusedas sheglancedaroundthe restaurant Nicolaswalked overandexplained,Somethingcameup,so lanhadtoleave. Hesaidyoullmeetanothertime. Theanodded,butherspiritsdipped.Itwasobviouslanwasnt impressedwithher,andthatstungabit. Still,thismarriagewastemporary.Nicolaswouldeventuallyfindsomeonemoresuitedtohim.IfitwerentforStefansinsistence,sheprobablywouldnthavemet lartat all . Seeingherexpression,Nicolasadded,Dontoverthinkit.Heseasytogetalongwith.Hejustdidnthavetimetogettoknowyoutoday 1/3 11:39Fri,Oct25 Chapter35 Theamanageda thallsmile.Iunderstand,Mr.Hendrix Doyouwantmetoarrangeanotherdinner?sheaskedtentatively. Nicolasshookhishead.Noneed.Sincewerealreadyhere,letsjusteat. Inthecozyprivate room,onlyTheaandNicolasremained.ItwasthefirsttimeTheahadbeenalonewithhimoverdinner.Herheart racedabit,andshecouldnthelpbutglanceathimseveraltimes. Nicolashadremovedhissuitjacket,leavinghiminacrispwhiteshirt,buttonedallthewayup.Itwasstillneatandtidy.withoutasinglewrinkle. ThesightofhisslightlybobbingAdamsappleandthevisibleveinsonhisstrongforearms,revealedbyhisrolledupsleeves,gaveoffanairofrestrainedallure. Theasuddenlyfelthermouthgodry.Shequicklyreachedforherwineglassandtookafewgulps. Ianhadanotherhobbyheloveddrinking.Hepreferredthewinetobesmoothandmellow,withasubtleflavorstrongbutnotoverpowering.TherestauranthadbeenchosenforitsselectionofBangolwaressignaturewines. Theawasntworried.Inherearlieryears,shehadoftenattendedbusinessdinnerstohelpJakewithprojects,wheredrinkingwasroutineDespitesomestomachissues,shecouldhandleherliquorwell. NoticingTheadrinkingafewglasseswithoutflinching,Nicolaslookedatherwithmildcuriosity.Afteramomentspause,hepickeduphisownglassandtookasip . Theablinkedand smiled.Mr.Hendrix,Imnotsureifthiswineistoyour liking.Itsmoreonthefruityandsweet side,but its- Beforeshecouldfinishhersentence,Nicolasdownedtheentireglassinonego. Theablinkedinsurprise.Shewasabouttocommentonhisimpressivetolerancewhenshenoticedhisnormallysharp featureshadsoftened.Hischeeksflushedslightly,and hisusuallycleareyesseemedtolosefocus. Hewavered,grippingtheedgeofthetabletosteadyhimself ,lettingoutaquietgroan. Theastaredindisbelief.Mr.Hendrix,areyoudrunk? Nicolasclearedhisthroatandattemptedtolookcomposed,thoughhisvoicewasunsteady.Isawyoudrinkingitlikewater,soIfigureditwasntthatstrong Theacouldnthelpbutsmile.Shehadntexpectedthis.Thewinewasstrongerthanittastedbutcertainlynotenoughtoknocksomeoneoutafterjustoneglass .Nicolassalcoholtolerancewasclearlymuchlowerthanshedthought. DespiteNicolassbesteffortstomaintainhiscomposure,itwasclearthathewasstruggling.Hisbodyswayedslightly,andheseemedunsteadyonhisfeet. Theahurriedtohisside,gently supportinghim.Mr.Hendrix,maybe Ishouldtakeyouhomeifyourenotfeelingwell.Nicolas ,stillsomewhatincontrol,didntfullyleanonher,butthewarmthradiatingfromhisbodyandthecoolscentofhiscolognemadeTheasheartraceevenfaster . Herestedhischinlightlyonhershoulder,his voicesoftandslightlyhusky.Justgivemeaminute. Fri,Oct25 Chapter36