44
My heart was racing, and couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling coursing through me. I never thought I’d be in this kind of situation again–confronted by doubts, and mistrust—not this early and definitely not with Nathan. But I had to admit, I didn’t know enough about him to be certain he wouldn’t put me in this posicion
Nathan’s expression was unreadable as he looked around the room. Without a word, he gently but firmly took my arm and led me to the side of the room. Another day, another pull. If this kept up, my am was going to need its own lawyer.
“What did Vivian tell you?” he asked, his voice calm but with an edge of Imiration.
Helded my arms, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of sidestepplag my question, “No, Nathin You first, who is she?”
He sighed, his hand moving to nob the back of his neck as he tried to find the right words, “Vivian’s a coworker,” he explained. “Unfortunately, one that she liked me. I told her I wasn’t interested, but apparently, that wasn’t enough for her.”
who confessed
The sincerity in his voice was hard to ignore, but my mind wasn’t letting go so easily. He looked genuine earnest, even but wasn’t that a lawyer’s greatest skill? To mask their emotions so well that no one could tell what they were really thinking? Or maybe he was telling the truth. A small part of me clung to that possibility like a lifeline.
My stomach churned as my thoughts spiraled why would Vivian say something like that if it wasn’t true? Was she lying? Was Nathan?
| 1 hadn’t even realized 1’d zoned out till Nathan snapped his fingers gently in front of my face. “Raina,” he said, his tone softer now, his eyes searching mine.
I blinked, snapping back to reality. Before I could say anything, he pulled out his phone and swiped through it, holding the screen out to me. There, clear as day, were dozens of texts from Vivian. The messages were blatant–confession of love, pleas for attention, and outright declarations that she wouldn’t give up on him.
Tbreathed, the weight in my chest lifting slightly. “She’s persistent.”
“Obsessive,” he corrected, his jaw tightening. “I should’ve dealt with this sooner. I’m sorry you got dragged into it.”
1 believed him then. Maybe it was foolish, but seeing the proof made me trust him. Vivian wasn’t just interested–she was obsessed, crazier than Eliza had ever been with Alexander.
But then Nathan smiled, catching me off guard. “What’s funny?” I asked, namowing my eyes
“You,” he said simply, his tone light. “You’re jealous.”
““This isn’t about jealousy,” 1 shot back, though I could feel the heat rising to my checks, “It’s about-
“What Vivian said to you,” he interrupted, his expression darkening. “What did she say, exactly?”
Thesitated, the memory of Vivian’s smug look flashing in my mind. “She implied that you two were together last night.”
Nathan’s jaw clenched, and without another word, he tamed on his heel and strode across the room. “Nathan!” Thissed, chasing after him.
Before I could stop him, he had pulled Vivian out of the conversation she was having and stood her directly in front of me. The entire room seemed to pause as heads tomed to watch the scene unfold.
“Apologize,” Nathan demanded, his voice low but firm.
Vivian blinked, her confidence faltering for a moment, “What? Why?” she stammered, teigning innocence.
“You know why,” he snapped.“Apologize to Rains”
Vivian’s eyes flicked to me, and the look she gave was anything but apologetic. “Sorry,” she muttered, her tone insincere..
Nathan wasn’t done. His voor rose slightly, enough to capture the full actention of everyone around. “Your obsession with me stops now,” he said fimnly. “I don’t want you. I’ve never wanted you. The only woman I want is standing right here.”
Nathan took my hand firmly in his, his grip warm but steady. He tumed to the onlookers, his voice calm but resolute. “Apologies for the outburst,” he said, addressing the gathering crowd. “But because Vivian has caused Baina distress, I’ll be driving her home.”
Without waiting for a response, he led me toward the exit, his hand still warm around mine. My cheeks burned, but not from embarassment. I was stunned—no, amazed by his actions–e had defended me so openly, so unapologetically.
–
In the car, he let out a long sigh, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly before he turned to face me. “I’m sorry,” he said again, his tone calmer now. “Thut wasn’t how I wanted tonight to go. Vivian just pushed me to my limit.”
“get it,” I replied, my voice quiet. “But still don’t understand why she thought it was okay to come up to me like that.”
Nathan ceached across the console, taking my hands in his “Because she knows how I feel about you,” he said simply, his eyes locked on mine
He stared at my lips, and my heart began to race, but this time, it wasn’t fear that he was playing me. It was excitement.
Nathan leaned in slightly, his intent clear in the intensity of his gaze. My breath hitched, and for a split second, i thought about closing the distance. But before he could press his lips to mine, I spoke. “Nathan,” I said softly, my voice steady but fim, “you’re not supposed to be kissing me when we’re on a break
He froze mid–motion, his eyes flickering with a mix of frustration and understanding, with a deep, audible sigh, he pulled back just enough to meet my gaze.”
1/2
You’re right,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair, his voice heavy with resignation. “But once everything is over once this is all behind us–you’ll be mine, kaina And I won’t let you go again.”
The determination in his voice made my chest tighten, but I couldn’t let myself get carried away. I had to stay grounded.
I thought about my plan to get to know Nathan better before making any serious commitments. Thad to ensure that whatever happened next wasn’t just about emotions namning high, but about building something lasting and real. I couldn’t afford to nach into amthing, not with everything going on
Nathan drove me home, and as he pulled up in front of the house, he glanced at me with a serious look. “The court date is drawing near. No more distractions from now on–beed to get to work”
I nodded, appreciating how focused and driven he was, “You’re right,” said quietly. It wasn’t the time for distractions, especially with everything else hanging
from excitement. It
I got out of the car, and as I stepped into the house, my mind immediately replayed the less–the way my heart had raced, not from fear, but from had been unexpected, but it was a feeling I couldn’t ignore.
I walked through the living room, still lost in my thoughts, when i tumed around and noticed my family sitting in the room. They all looked at me, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. My hand flew to my chest in surprise. “You scared me!” Lexclaimed, heart still racing,
Fath was the first to stand up, a mischievous smile playing on her face. She walked over to me with a teasing look in her eyes. “oh, I know that look,” she said, almest gleeful. “Someone just had a kiss–er something close to it. Spill!”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm, even as my cheeks flushed. I sat down, knowing I couldn’t escape their curiosity now. I told them everything–how Nathan had handled Vivian, how he’d kissed me, how he had confessed how he felt about me.
They all listened intently, occasionally laughing at the tension breaking out between me and Vivian, and teasing me when I admitted how Nathan had made me
The next morning at work, my mood was lighter, though I still couldn’t entirely shake the tension from the night before. I threw myself into my tasks, determined to make the day productive.
That resolve faltered slightly when my inbox pinged with an email from Alex. The subject line alone was enough to make me groan “Read this about your boy toy. I wasnight”
I stared at the email for a moment before clicking away. I wasn’t going to let Alex dictate how I viewed Nathan, to make me outrightly paint him black. If there was something I needed to low, I’d find it out myself–on my own terms.
Shaking off the imitation, I returned to my work, refusing to let Alex’s antics derail my focus
The hours passed, and 1 was just beginning to feel settled again when my assistant, Greg, poked his head into my office. “Graham,” he said, his tone cautious, “there’s a man here to see you.”
I frowned, immediately suspicious “Did he say his name?”
“No, but he’s waiting in the lobby” Η
A knot tightened in my stomach. I had a sinking feeling I already knew who it was. Rising from my desk, 1 followed Greg clicking sharply against the floor.
Sure enough, Alex stood there, exuding his usual air of entitlement as he scanned the space.
toward the reception area, my heels
I stopped in my tracks, my blood boiling. This was harassment now–plain and simple. Without a word to Alex, I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed Nathan’s number.
“he answered almost immediately, his voice steady and reassuring.
“I need your help,” I said, my tone clipped. “I want to file a restraining order.”
Nathan didn’t ask any necessary questions, “Done,” he said flanly,
