Chapter 17
Three months had passed since Nicole and Gabriel had started their fake relationship.
During that time, they had gone on several dates, shared laughter, quiet conversations, and subtle touches that lingered a little too long.
Everything between them seemed to be flowing smoothly, yet the contract that defined their relationship lingered in the back of both their minds.
It was late at night, and Gabriel was in his study, hunched over piles of documents as always.
The desk lamp cast a warm glow over his strong features, highlighting the sharp lines of his face and the focused intensity in his eyes.
The room was silent, filled only with the rustle of papers and the faint ticking of the wall clock.
Nicole stepped quietly into the room. Her presence immediately softened the sterile atmosphere of the office. She walked across the polished floor, her movements silent, and lowered herself into the chair across from him.
“Hey,” she said softly, her voice carrying the familiar warmth that always seemed to pull at him.
“Hey,” he replied, barely looking up, returning to the papers in front of him.
For a long moment, silence enveloped them.
Nicole studied him quietly, her gaze soft, noticing the way his fingers moved over the papers, the subtle tension in his shoulders, the way his tie was slightly loosened from a long day.
The quiet seemed comfortable, almost intimate, before she finally spoke again.
“What do you always do with all these documents?” she asked, curiosity lacing her words as she moved closer, leaning slightly to peer at the stacks of papers on his desk.
“I’m working,” Gabriel said bluntly, without looking up.
Nicole chuckled softly, stepping even closer, her fingers brushing the edge of the desk. “It’s obvious that you’re working, but I mean… how do you even understand all this stuff? Doesn’t it get complicated sometimes?”
Gabriel felt a spark of amusement and something else—a strange, magnetic pull.
He liked that she was curious, that she cared enough to ask.
Her presence was distracting, irresistible even.
She had been joining him in the study regularly, usually sitting quietly while he worked late until she felt sleepy, her presence calming yet enlivening.
But tonight, it seemed like she had some other plans, as her curiosity seemed sharper, more daring.
“Would you like to know what they’re about?” he asked, leaning back slightly, his deep voice low but inviting.
Nicole blinked, surprised at the sudden offer. Her excitement showed in the quick nod of her head.
Gabriel stood up from his chair and gestured for her to sit.
At first, Nicole hesitated, unsure if this was normal, but then she obeyed, curiosity winning over hesitation.
He stepped behind her, placing his hands on either side of the desk, his frame leaning just enough to trap her gently in place.
The warmth radiating from his body and the scent of his cologne enveloped her, sharp and intoxicating, sending a shiver down her spine. Her heart began to beat faster. She could stay here forever, just breathing him in, letting the world outside fade.
“These documents contain agreements between me and business partners, as well as clients,” he explained, his hands resting near hers, careful, grounding.
“I have to study them carefully to find any flaws or funny business so my company doesn’t end up at a loss.
” He pulled a few more papers from his briefcase, neatly stacking them beside the others.
“And these…” he continued, showing her the next set of documents.
“These are the financial statements of each of our companies.”
Nicole nodded slowly, taking it in. She was impressed by the depth and responsibility of his work. Her admiration for him also deepened—not just for his wealth or power, but for the discipline, focus, and sharpness he displayed.
“This is quite tough, isn’t it?” she asked softly, looking up at him with genuine curiosity.
“Not really,” he replied evenly, his eyes scanning her face briefly, seeing her fascination. “Once you get used to it, it becomes… routine.”
Nicole began to rise from the chair, intending to step aside.
But her breasts brushed against his chest. The subtle contact was enough to send an unexpected warmth rushing through her, freezing her in place.
She couldn’t move. She looked up at him, eyes locking with his, and something shifted.
The air between them thickened with unspoken tension, a pull neither could ignore.
Without thinking, she rose onto her toes, closing the gap between them, and their lips met.
The kiss was slow, tender, almost dreamlike. Nicole wrapped her arms around his neck, anchoring herself to him, needing to be sure this was real. Gabriel’s hands responded, roaming over her back and sides, sending goosebumps over her skin, stirring a low, involuntary moan from her lips.
The world outside ceased to exist. All the late nights, all the contracts, all the distance between them melted away into the heat of the moment.
Before long, she felt herself pressed against the desk, Gabriel straddling her, the intensity of his kisses consuming her senses.
Every movement was fueled by weeks of restrained desire.
She had longed for this closeness, had longed to feel his touch, realizing with painful clarity how much she wanted him.
Her hands moved to his shirt, ready to unbutton it, to explore further. But suddenly, he paused, pulling back slightly. Nicole froze, heart hammering, mind spinning with a mix of desire and confusion. A hint of hurt flashed across her face.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered, the worry in her voice betraying her vulnerability.
Gabriel ran his fingers through his hair, straightening his shirt. He stepped back slightly, breaking the closeness that had consumed them both, his expression a mixture of frustration and restraint.
“Goodnight,” he said, his voice firm yet calm, a wall she hadn’t expected.
Nicole’s chest tightened painfully. She felt rejected, not cruelly, but like an unexpected wall had risen between them just when she had let herself lean in, something everyone else made her feel.
Tears pricked her eyes, her vision blurred, but she refused to let them fall.
She wouldn’t cry in his presence—not now.
“Goodnight,” she whispered back, voice low, tinged with disappointment, before quietly retreating from the study.
Gabriel watched her leave, chest tight, mind racing.
He couldn’t believe what had just happened.
He had almost crossed a line, almost let himself give in to a desire he couldn’t control.
A surge of guilt washed over him—he hated that he had let things get so close.
It wasn’t in his nature to take advantage of someone, and the fact that he had almost done so filled him with self-loathing.
Yet, alongside the guilt, an unrelenting, confusing heat lingered in his chest. He was consumed by her presence. Nicole’s nearness, the softness of her skin under his touch, the warmth of her lips—it was intoxicating, disorienting.
This girl, Nicole… she had become the only thought he couldn’t shake for weeks.
She invaded his focus, distracted him from his work, and left him restless.
He had to stop himself from thinking about her this way, because he couldn’t afford to give her false hopes.
And yet, the guilt, the frustration, the unexpected desire—it all gnawed at him.
What was this girl doing to him?
Two weeks had passed since the incident in the study.
Both Nicole and Gabriel avoided each other.
The tension hung in the air, silent but palpable.
Nicole, unaccustomed to prolonged anger or distance, found herself growing restless and frustrated.
She admitted to herself that what happened was a moment of weakness, a lapse in professionalism.
She had let her feelings guide her, despite the contract that defined their relationship.
Determined to make amends, Nicole woke early the next morning, freshened up, and went downstairs for breakfast. The table was set for two. Her heart skipped a beat. Had Gabriel not eaten yet? Had he waited? Her curiosity and worry outweighed hesitation.
When she asked the maids if he had left for work, they told her he hadn’t come down yet. That was unusual. Nicole saw it as a small window of opportunity to address what had happened, to apologize before he left for work.
She knocked gently on his bedroom door.
No response. Taking a deep breath, she decided to enter, carefully opening the door.
The room was dark, the curtains drawn, and the only visible outline was the faint outline of Gabriel’s figure under the duvet.
He appeared completely cocooned, the rise and fall of his breathing steady but slow.
Nicole stepped toward the window and drew the curtains back, flooding the room with warm morning light.
“Aargh! Close that back!” Gabriel groaned, muffled under the duvet, irritation lacing his voice despite the deep sleepiness in his tone.
“Aren’t you going to the office today?” Nicole asked softly, moving closer.
She stood beside his bed and tugged gently at the duvet. He groaned again, burying his face into the pillow, stubbornly resisting.
“Come on, you need to get up,” she said, reaching for his arm. Her fingers brushed his skin, and she immediately noticed the heat radiating from his body.
“Gosh, Gabriel, you’re burning up!” she exclaimed, worry flooding her voice. “You need to see a doctor.”
“Leave me alone,” he mumbled, muffled and reluctant, still hiding beneath the blankets.
Nicole’s determination hardened. She knew he wouldn’t get up on his own. She couldn’t leave him like this. Without hesitation, she left the room to fetch a doctor, her heart pounding, anxiety sharpening with every step down the hall.