Chapter Five
B eing in this room and having him in front of me is overwhelming. Nathaniel is naturally elegant and exudes dominance. Only by looking at him one could feel the mix between refinement and authority. His voice is calculated and controlled. The way he moves seems rehearsed, not leaving any chance for error. The person I have in front of me right now sounds like Nathaniel, smells like him, and clearly knows me the way he knows me, but there’s something I didn’t feel before. Something dark below his surface.
I don’t feel in physical danger, but the reviving memories of him and having him in front of me are making my heart ache.
“Why aren’t you confronting your future wife? Aren’t you angry at Adam?” I ask trying to escape from my thoughts.
“Angry at Adam, always. But—my future wife? What are you talking about, Olive?” he asks, looking confused before coming closer to me. The way he adds Olive melts me. I’d forgotten how much I loved his way of saying my name.
“Adam told me all this is for your wedding,” I make a short pause, “and frankly, I don’t understand why you’re acting so hurt. You haven't been alone all this time, have you? You were probably already engaged when we met— ugh I feel like an idiot!” I burst out, passing by him to make my way to the door.
He sprints after me, grasping my wrist in an unyielding hold. With a swift motion, he spins me around and slams me against the door, pinning my hand above my head.
“So, according to you, I’m getting married.” He pauses and tilts his head. “And yet you put my hand between your legs while my bride-to-be was in the same room?” he asks softly, with a low and rough voice. “Did it turn you on?” he continues. “Being touched by someone not meant to be yours, and yet so willing to do as you wish?” His grip remains strong, keeping me still. “I might need to teach you better than this.” And I stare at him, contemplating how he is turning the tables, making me feel guilty.
“Olive, you might be surprised to hear this, but I’m not getting married— I’m not even engaged,” he declares. His confession surprises me.
“But Adam said—” I try to explain, but he interrupts with a teasing smirk.
“Oh, I see what’s going on.” He pauses. “Adam forgot to mention that he has two brothers, didn’t he?” His eyes bore deep into mine, the air heavy and silenced.
He breaks our gaze.
“I guess he skipped that part,” he says, releasing my hand. I stand frozen with my mind racing.
“I need to get out of here,” I finally manage to say, gripping the doorknob tightly as I prepare to escape from this unexpected nightmare.
Nathan places his hand over mine.
“You will. But first, find Adam. Excuse yourself for leaving early. Keep everything that happened in here to yourself…” he pauses, “…and let me accompany you on your way out.”
Would you also like me to bathe you and feed you grapes?
Who does he think he is, ordering me around as if I’m at his disposal? And on top of it making it seem as if he’s doing me a favour?
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Sometimes,” he replies, a mischievous smirk drawing on his lips.
“Why on Earth would I agree to that?”
“Because, love,” he says, “I can arrange for a driver.” His fingers gently brush my cheek, as if to soften the intensity of his words. “Adam won’t take you home. And honestly, do you really want to leave with him?” He makes a valid point. After everything I’ve learned this evening, the last thing I want is for Adam to take me back home.
I fix my gaze on him, my thoughts swirling in my mind. The boldness in his voice, the unwavering confidence in his posture, the way his fingers brush against my skin. It all leaves me conflicted.
I’m caught between the urge to confront him and the realization that I might need his help. There’s no clear exit from this mess, and I'm still wrapping my head around the tangled web of whatever this is.
Nathan steps back, giving me a little space, but not much. His gaze is locked onto mine, and I can feel the tension buzzing between us. Every fibre of my being wants to resist, to storm out without following his commands, but I can’t.
There’s something about the way he looks at me, a mix of challenge and daring, as if he’s silently urging me to embrace the moment and go with it.
“Fine,” I say, my voice steady despite the whirlwind inside. “I’ll do as you want. But don’t get it twisted, I just want to go home.”
A satisfied smile flickers across his face.
“Good.”
With a deep breath, I push past him and make my way out of the room. The tension doesn’t leave me, it clings to my skin. I glance behind and he is not following me, but I can still feel the weight of his presence. I go down the stairs and into the narrow, badly lit hall, following the music back to the party where the different lighting and chatter revolve around me.
I spot Adam across the room, engrossed in conversation. A lump forms in my throat, but I force myself to keep my composure. I walk to him and try to blend in with the group of people he’s with.
“There you are,” he says with a wide smile “I’ve been looking for you,” he emphasizes, taking me apart from the group. “Where were you?”
Ehm, I was in the closet with your brother while you were fucking your sister-in-law.
I stare into his eyes. Looking for me, are you serious? I’m so close to explode and ask him how can he lie to my face. But Nathan’s words ghost in the air. Keep everything that happened in here to yourself. I must hold onto that ten percent of reason in me and leave this place.
“It took me a while to find the restroom,” I lie. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay.”
“Are you feeling unwell? Is it serious?” he asks, seeming genuinely worried. He looks behind him and sighs, pointing his thumb to the back. “We are about to be seated to eat, can we leave after that?”
“No, not serious. I just think I need to rest, and frankly I’d like to leave now—” I am cut off by another voice.
“I apologize for interrupting,” Nathan says, barely looking at me and directing his eyes straight to Adam. “I wanted to say goodbye. I need to go back to the city. I already talked with Mom. I’ll call you tomorrow.” He turns to me. “Miss James, it was a pleasure,” he says, briefly locking eyes with me. Charming, controlled, mature.
I guess he is not so interested in escorting me outside anymore. As soon as he turns his back to us, Adam stops him.
Oh great, I already see what’s coming.
“Nate,” he calls out, a hint of urgency in his voice. “Would it be alright if you shared the ride with Miss James? She needs to go back to the city, as well.”
Adam didn’t even think to ask me first. I feel like a child caught in the middle of a parental debate about who gets to take her to school. I look at Nathaniel's serious expression, and it's as if he is translating Adam’s words inside his head. He is certainly the kind of man that only plays games on his terms, and as far as things are going, he doesn’t only get to escort me out, but now take me home.
Of course, he didn’t tell me all his moves. And it’s not a surprise he waited until he saw me next to Adam to walk in like the saviour. I did not see this coming, and even if I hate the idea...can I even refuse? My only way out of here is to leave with him, because if I understood well, Adam is not going anywhere.
I’m looking at the scene astonished as Nathan hesitates to respond, as if it is a burden to share a ride with me. He looks in my direction and smirks satisfaction written across his face.
“My pleasure,” he says after what it feels like an eternity.
I can’t shake off the feeling of relief that washes over me. His silence created a tension that had me waiting, even hoping he would accept to take me home. Well played.
“Thank you, you’re a lifesaver,” Adam says and turns to me. “I’m sorry, Olivia. You’re in safe hands! I promise, I’ll come by the shop. Get better.” And there’s his charming smile again. He leans forward and places a kiss on my cheek while I think, Please don’t. Don’t come by the shop.
I avoid meeting his eyes, my skin tingling where his lips brushed my cheek. Everything feels off, as if I’m inside a dream—more like a nightmare—where nothing makes sense, but I’m powerless to change the outcome.
Nathan waits, his back turned to us, an air of indifference hanging between us, as if he’s trying to distance himself from the image of his brother and me. I give Adam a tight smile, still processing how I ended up in this situation.
“Thanks, Adam.”
He waves me off with that same carefree charm, as if everything is perfectly normal—as normal as it is fucking his future sister-in-law while all his family is downstairs. Classy . And now he handed me over to a man that can easily turn my life upside down, who has been taking over my head for quite some time. If only he knew he brought me today to meet this man I’ve been trying so hard to forget. But he wouldn’t even suspect it. For him, his brother is only driving his friend home.
“Shall we?” Nathaniel finally asks, not turning around but clearly expecting me to follow. His voice is low, almost too smooth, like he’s enjoying the control he unexpectedly has. As if he is renting me for the rest of the evening. And like a sheep, I follow behind. Baa baa.
Nathan starts walking ahead toward the exit, my shoes clicking softly against the marble floor. The air between us is thick with unspoken tension, but I can’t tell if it’s coming from me or him. Maybe both.
We step outside, the cool night air hitting my skin and making me shiver. And a couple of seconds later, a sleek, black car pulls up to the curb almost instantly.
Of course.
Nathan opens the door for me, stepping aside with that same composed demeanour.
“Miss James,” he says, his tone formal but laced with something I can’t quite place. It sets me on edge.
I hesitate for a second, catching his eyes. They're chill, laid-back, probably way too good at figuring things out. Maybe if I stare into them for a long time, he might even see through me. This man, with his perfect manners and pristine appearance, gives me the feeling that he’s hiding something. But what unnerves me more is the way I can feel his control tightening around me.
I step inside the car without a word. He joins me a moment later, closing the door behind him with a quiet click. The car starts moving, silence filling the space between us.
I stare out the window, my hands resting on my lap, gripping each other tightly as if they’re the only thing keeping me grounded at this point. My head is still putting the pieces together from this evening.
How did I go from enjoying a nice brunch with my best friend, to inside a car with Nathaniel Martens on the same day? The probability of this happening is at its lowest, and yet here we are.
I glance at him from the corner of my eye, trying to gauge his mood. His expression is calm and unreadable, but I can see the hint of satisfaction in the way he leans back, casually in control.
“Peter,” he says, “we’ll be making a stop to leave Miss James at home, please.” Nathan looks in my direction and signals for me to give my address to the driver.
I give the address of the laundromat located at the end of my street, a few metres away from my building as I don’t feel comfortable giving him my exact address.
I sink back into the seat, trying to relax, but my mind is racing. Nathan’s presence beside me is overpowering in its quietness. I can feel his gaze on me, even though he hasn’t said a word since asking for my address.
“How long has it been?” Nathan startles me by breaking the silence.
“What?” I respond with confusion.
“You and Adam, how long has it been?” he repeats. I blink, caught off guard. Nathan’s tone is sharp but restrained, as if he’s making a concerted effort to remain civil. I guess two can play this game.
“You mean our relationship?” I pause for dramatic effect. “Not long.”
I notice how he tenses, keeping a hard expression, jaw clenched. He takes a deep breath, my vague answer clearly annoying him. However, now I wonder, is he bothered by the possibility of me having a relationship with his brother, or is it my not-so-precise response?
“How long?” he insists. Ok, maybe both.
“Does it matter? Whatever it was, it’s not going any further after tonight,” I say, leaving our possible past to his vivid imagination.
“I see,” he says, looking ahead, and I sense resentment in his voice.
I open my mouth to speak, but stop myself. I figure it is better this way. He will drop me off, I’ll walk to my apartment, and this whole night will be behind me. Things will be back to normal. No Nathan. No Adam. Only an unusual weekend engraved in my memory.
The rest of the drive passes in an odd, heavy silence. I’m going through my mind, repeating his words, his expressions, the feelings he reflects on me. My head is about to burst from overstimulation.
“Olive, I intend to see you again,” he says softly. I meet his eyes, but I can’t read them. I hold my stare, challenging him, building tension.
“We have arrived, madame,” Peter says. The car stops, so smoothly I barely notice.
“Thank you,” I say without removing my eyes from Nathaniel.
In one movement, I open the door and step outside. Without looking back, I input the code on the building door and enter as fast as possible. I close the door behind me, leaning back against it until I hear the car leave.
I climb the stairs as if my feet were heavy, and think about the roller-coaster this evening was. Crazy. I open the door to my flat and I close it behind me with my back pressing all of my weight on it.
Juan Valdez, as always, comes to greet me, requesting caresses behind his ears. I let myself fall on the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. And suddenly, I get a rush. My heart skips a beat. A wave of realization washes over me, leaving my pulse thudding in my ears.
How did he know where I lived?
I specifically gave the address of the laundromat, the one place far enough from my apartment to keep me feeling safe but close enough to walk. Yet, somehow, he knew exactly where to drop me off. My body tenses as I lie on the bed, the cool fabric of the sheets doing nothing to calm my racing thoughts. I sit up slowly, as if moving too fast might bring on a thought I’m not ready for.
Did Nathaniel already know where I lived all along? Has he been watching me before?
Oh shit. Oh shit.
My heart pounds louder now. I stand up, pacing the room, my mind darting between possibilities. I can’t believe I didn’t notice it when the car stopped. I was too distracted by his words, the tension, the unspoken things hanging between us. He intends to see me again. That’s what he said, right? As if that is a certainty. But why? What does he want from me?
I pull the curtain back and peer outside. The street looks calm, familiar. A car passes by slowly, but there’s no sign of him or his black car. Still, the unease settles deeper in my bones. I should call someone, tell someone what happened—but who? I don’t even know what this is. Nothing illegal, nothing dangerous has happened…yet. Just a gut feeling that this man is playing a game I don’t fully understand.
I sit back on the edge of the bed, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. The attraction, the fear, the mystery swirling around him and his words. A part of me feels like I should run, hide, forget all of this. But another part, a darker part I barely recognize, is intrigued. Why do I feel like this is far from over? And the real question is, do I even want it to be?
Juan Valdez jumps up on the bed, curling next to me, offering the only semblance of comfort I have right now. I absentmindedly stroke his fur, my mind still racing. There’s no denying it—Nathan knows more than he’s letting on. And now, he’s got me right where he wants me:
Interested.