Chapter 15
Gabriel took a quick shower and got dressed in a black suit. Once he was done, he headed downstairs and settled in the living room to wait for Nicole. As the minutes stretched on, he checked the time and decided to make a call.
He dialed Daniel, a very famous chef in New York—and also a friend of his.
Gabriel’s construction company had built Daniel’s restaurant, and ever since then, Daniel had insisted Gabriel was a special guest who could walk in anytime without notice.
Still, Gabriel didn’t like abusing that privilege.
Instead, he explained that he urgently needed a reservation for a table for two.
After ending the call, Gabriel waited for another twenty minutes before he finally noticed movement on the staircase.
Nicole was coming down.
She looked incredibly sexy in a black off-shoulder long-sleeve bodycon mini dress paired with peep-toe ankle platforms. Gabriel found himself wondering—briefly—how women managed to walk in heels that high without stumbling.
Her hair was styled into a neat side-part bun, and for the first time since he’d known her, her hair was completely up.
She looked incredibly beautiful.
So beautiful that he momentarily forgot how to breathe.
He stood up from the couch just as she reached the bottom of the stairs and stopped in front of him.
“So?” Nicole asked with a small smile. “What do you think?”
“Wait here,” Gabriel said suddenly, already walking out of the living room.
Nicole frowned slightly, confused about where he was going. Moments later, he returned holding a small red square box in his hand. He stepped closer and gently asked her to turn around. Without questioning him, she did.
She heard the faint sound of the box opening and felt his fingers brush against the back of her neck. Then something cool and delicate settled against her skin.
A necklace.
Nicole reached up instinctively, her fingers touching a small, round-shaped diamond. Her breath caught. She couldn’t believe Gabriel was putting something so expensive on her.
“You look breathtaking,” he whispered close to her ear after fastening the clasp.
Nicole felt her cheeks warm instantly. The closeness, his voice, the way his hand lingered—it all sent unexpected butterflies fluttering in her stomach, and she didn’t understand why.
What is this man doing to me? She wondered.
Gabriel placed his hand on her lower back and gently guided her out of the mansion.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Nicole stopped short.
She stared at the building in front of her, completely awed by its grand architectural design. Everything about it screamed elegance and luxury.
“You like it?” Gabriel asked, pulling her gently back to reality.
“It’s beautiful. I love it,” she replied, her eyes still fixed on the building.
“I built it,” Gabriel said casually.
Nicole turned to him in shock..
“You mean… you built and designed this restaurant?” she asked, clearly surprised.
Gabriel nodded.
“Wow,” Nicole breathed. “You’re talented.”
“Thanks,” he replied simply.
A waiter soon approached them, led them to their table, and asked for their orders. Nicole suggested they start with a glass of red wine while they looked through the menu. The waiter returned minutes later with the wine.
Nicole picked up the menu and studied it quietly, realizing the restaurant only served French cuisine—something she had never tried before. She scanned the page repeatedly, growing more unsure by the second.
In the end, she asked Gabriel to make the order.
Gabriel called the waiter and ordered confit de canard with a Ni?oise salad on the side. Nicole nodded along, still unsure what she had just agreed to eat.
When the food arrived, Gabriel began eating immediately. Nicole, however, only stared at her plate, unsure of what to do.
Gabriel noticed.
He lifted his spoon, and motioned for her to open her mouth. Hesitant but obedient, she did. He fed her a spoonful of his meal.
She chewed carefully.
Then her eyes widened.
It actually tasted good.
Before she could stop herself, a soft moan escaped her lips.
Gabriel froze, staring at her as though she had done something forbidden.
“What?” Nicole said quickly. “It tastes good. I can’t help it.”
Gabriel said nothing and went back to his meal, pretending nothing had happened—though the moment lingered between them.
After finishing their main course, they moved on to dessert: banana cream cheesecake.
Nicole found herself stealing glances at Gabriel, studying his calm face, his posture, the quiet confidence he carried.
How could a man like this still be single? She wondered.
“Why are you single?” she suddenly blurted out.
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ask that.”
“You did,” Gabriel replied calmly.
She swallowed. He was right. The question had been sitting in her mind all evening.
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” she said softly.
Gabriel let out a slow sigh. His breakup with Ashley shouldn’t still matter after all this time—and he saw no reason not to answer.
“She got tired of me,” he said.
Nicole looked at him, surprised that he’d decided to speak. She stayed quiet, listening.
“I was too busy with work,” he continued. “I never had time for her. That upset her a lot. Eventually, she got tired and ended the relationship.”
“I’m sorry,” Nicole said gently, hoping that would help.
“That was five years ago,” he replied, trying to make her understand that an apology wasn’t necessary—though the memory still stung.
Nicole, on the other hand, was stunned.
Five years?
How is that possible? She wondered.
No wonder he was this cold.
“Can I say something?” she asked.
Gabriel nodded.
“Anyone can get tired of their lover’s attitude,” she said carefully.
“But you don’t get tired of being in love—not completely.
Your ex should’ve fought to get your attention when she realized she was losing you.
And I’m not saying you were faultless… but you should’ve fought to win her back when she left. ”
Gabriel understood her point. They had both been wrong—but it wasn’t like he hadn’t tried.
“She cut all contact with me and flew out of the country,” he explained.
Nicole blinked. “Wow. That means she really was tired of the relationship.”
Gabriel studied her quietly.
She was young. Beautiful. Intelligent—even without having gone to college.
Then a thought crossed his mind.
“And you?” he asked. “Why aren’t you in a relationship?”