Chapter36 68% AsNicolasspoke,hisbreathbrushedlightlyagainstTheasneck,sendinganunexpectedticklethroughher.Shefeltherfaceflushinvoluntarily,andherheartracedevenfaster. SteadyingherselfonNicolassarm,sheaskedsoftly,Canyouwalk? Nicolasnodded,lettingherhelphimupwithoutprotest. Whentheyreachedtheparkinggarage.Thealeanedovertobucklehisseatbelt,feelinganoddsenseofbeinga wifecaringforherdrunkenhusband. Afterdroppinghimoffatthehotel,Theawas abouttoleavewhenDarwinapproachedherhesitantly.IfStefanfindsout,well.Imafraid- Thearemainedsilentforafewmoments,thensighed,Alright,Illstayfornow.Canyougetmearoomnextdoor?Darwinsfacebrightenedwithrelief.Thankyouforstaying Later,Theawentouttobuyhangovermedicine.WhenshereturnedtoNicolassroom,sheexpectedhimtobeasleepbutfoundhimsittinguprightonthecouch. Shethoughthedsoberedup,buthisgazemethers,unfocused.Myheadhurts,hemurmured,hisvoicerougherthanusualfromthealcohol.Hisusualcomposed,powerfuldemeanorhadsoftened,revealingararevulnerability. Theasheartskippedabeat.Shekneltinfrontofhim,holdingoutthemedicineandsomewater.Here,take this. Nicolascooperated,butasshehandedhimthemedicine,hislipsaccidentallybrushedherfingers.Theybothfrozeforasplitsecond. Nicolassgazedarkened,buthesaidnothing.Hesimplytookthecupfromheranddrankthewaterinonego..Theacouldfeeltheheatrisinginhercheeks,knowingherfacemustbered.Beforeshecouldfullyprocesswhatwashappening,Nicolassuddenlypulledherontohislap. Mr.Hendrix!shegasped. Hislargehandssettledonherwaist ,pullingherclosertohischest. Theasmindwentblank .Instinctively,sheplacedherhandsonhischestinanattempttoresist. Shetriedtocalmherbreathingandthinkclearly,butdespiteherefforts,shedidntfindtheintimatecontactentirelyunpleasant.Still,shecouldnthelpbutwonderifhewasonlyactingthiswaybecausehewasdrunk. TheaNicolasmurmuredhername,hiseyesclosedasheheldhertightly.Hiswordsweresoftandalmosttender.Iknowitsyou.Ifeelterrible.Dont move . Theaspounding heartslowlysteadied.Shewasntsurewheretoplaceherhandsorhowtorespond,Lookingdownathim.sheblurtedout,Mr.Hendrix,willyouregretthiswhenyouresobertomorrow? Nicolasdidnthesitate ,Imaynotseemfully hererightnow,butnevermakerash decisions. Hissteady,assuredresponsesentaripplethroughTheasheartshedidnt knowwhattosaynext,soshe stayedsilent,restinginhisarms. Afterawhile,shefinallygatheredthecourageto ask,Mr.Hendrix,whatamItoyou? Shewasntsurewhyshehadasked,butthequestionhadbeengrowingather.Nicolaswas a powerful , dignifiedman ,and La Chapter36 despite hercaution,itwasbecominghardernottofeelsomethingforhim. ButmemoriesofJakesbetrayalstillloomedlargeinhermind,andshedidntdaredefinethesefeelingsasgenuineaffection justyet. Shethoughtthatmaybeitwasjustafleetingsparkbetweenthemduetotheircloseproximity.Butifthatwerethecase,shefeltastrangesenseofdissatisfaction. Nicolassighedsoftlyandloosenedhisholdonher.Heansweredcarefully.Youremywife,legallyspeaking Theafrownedslightlybutchosenottopresshimfurther.Sheslidoffhislap,maskingherdisappointment.Mr.Hendrix.youshouldrest. ShewaiteduntilNicolashadfallen asleepbeforeleavingtheroom.Assheopenedthedoor,shefoundDarwinstandingoutside,stillkeepingwatch . Theireyesmet,andDarwinquicklyshiftedawkwardlyandsaid , IwasjustmakingsureMr.Hendrixdidntneedanything Theanoddedandletoutabittersmile,herlonglashescastingshadowsonherface.Iunderstand.Dontworry.Illkeepmydistance,justasIpromisedMr.Hendrix.Iwontcrossanylines. Darwinwantedtoexplain,butbeforehecouldgetthewordsout.Theahadalreadyturnedandwalkedintodoor. theroomnext Darwinsighedheavily.Hishabitofspeakingtoosoonalwaysgot himintotrouble.HewonderedifNicolaswouldbeupsetwithhimwhenhewokeup. Exhaustedfromthesedays,Theasleptinlaterthanusualthenextmorning.Asshestoodbythewindow, watchingthesunlightpourin,theeventsofthepreviousnightfeltlikesomethingoutofadream. Whenshefinallysteppedoutofherroom,shefoundoutthatNicolashadalreadycheckedoutandleft. Hedleftwordforhertostayandrestifsheneededto,assuringherthattherewasnorushwiththeVirtuexGroupbusiness.Theafeltawave ofrelief.Shedbeendreadingtheawkwardnessofseeinghimagainafterwhathadhappenedthenightbefore Butthen hermindbegantorace.DidNicolasleaveinsuchahurrybecausehefeltthesameway?shewondered. Justthen,herphonebuzzedwithseveralnotifications.Normally, Theapaid littleattentiontocelebritynews,buttheheadlinesimmediatelycaughthereye. [InternationalpianistEmmaliessecretromanceshemetherboyfriendsfamily .] EmmalicandyoungesttycoonNicolaswereseenlaughingtogetheroutsidetherestaurant!RowlandGroupinsiderhintsatengagementplans !] EmmaliehadstartedaTwitteraccountafewyearsback.Thankstohersocial mediapresence andTVappearances,shedgainedquiteafollowing Nicolastypicallyavoidedthespotlightandhadnointerestincelebritygossip.Buthisstrikinglooks,influentialbackground,and sharpbusinessacumenmadehimafrequentsubjectoffascinationinthemedia. Thepostsrackedupthousandsoflikesandcommentsinnotime [Theyresuchaperfectmatch 2/3 11:39Fri,Oct259 . Chapter36 [Thecold,powerfulCEOandtheelegantpianisttheyrebothatthetopoftheirfields.Lovethispowercouple!] [Hopetheytietheknotsoon!) 68% [IworkforaRowlandGroupsubsidiary,andtheengagementrumorsare definitelytrue.Theywant tostrengthenfamilyties.Thehigherupshavediscussedit.] [Whatsthisaboutstrengtheningfamilyties?] [Howcanyounot knowaboutthe7yeardramabetweenEmmaliessisterandJake?] AsTheacontinuedscrolling,shenoticedherandJakesnamesbeingdraggedintotheconversation.Herfrowndeepened as shereadthroughthec omments,andshefeltanunsettlingtensionrisewithinher.