After hanging up the phone, Corrine’s heart raced as if she had been caught red-handed sneaking a forbidden treat.
She exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself, and turned her gaze toward Nate, who sat in the wicker chair with his usual unruffled composure. Nate’s left hand rested casually on his knee, while his right held a cup of coffee. The sharp angle of his jawline gave him an air of effortless cool, as though he were impervious to the chaos of the world around him.
But what truly caught Corrine’s eye was the faint lipstick mark clinging to the corner of his mouth, a telltale sign of their earlier kiss. Her cheeks flushed a rosy hue as the memory replayed vividly in her mind. The kiss, still fresh in her thoughts, sent a wave of warmth rushing to her face. She stammered, “I-I’ll head back to my room now.”
Before Nate could respond, she turned on her heel and fled like a startled deer.
Once safely inside her room, she leaned heavily against the door, her palms pressed to her heated cheeks in a vain attempt to cool them.
Today had been nothing short of madness. Not only had she let him into her life, but she had also surrendered to his kiss-a kiss that left her wanting more.
Her hand drifted from her flushed face to her lips, tracing their outline as if to relive the moment. A shy smile crept across her face, unbidden and irrepressible.
Shaking her head as if to dispel her wandering thoughts, she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and made her way to the bathroom. The warm water cascading over her was like a soothing balm, washing away the fatigue of the day and the turmoil in her heart.
After drying her hair, she stretched out lazily on the bed, her thoughts drifting as sleep overtook her.
Meanwhile, the gates of the estate creaked open, and a sleek dark purple Bugatti purred into the driveway.
Moses strode into Nate’s study, his eyes casually scanning the rows of books that lined the shelves.
“Nate, you’ve finally resurfaced. Don’t tell me you’re still burying yourself in work.”
“Yourself in work? Let’s do something fun tonight,” Moses drawled, leaning casually against the desk.
“Not interested,” Nate replied without looking up, his focus firmly on the documents in front of him.
Moses flopped into an armchair, his legs crossed as he lounged like a cat surveying its territory. His eyes, with their mischievous glint and upward tilt, exuded a charm that had always served him well in his romantic escapades.
“Come on, Nate,” Moses pressed, his tone playful.
“Life isn’t all about meetings and paperwork. You’ve been back for days, and all you’ve done is lock yourself away. Where’s the fun in that? I’m here to give you a proper welcome back-you can’t say no this time.”
Nate’s response was immediate and curt.
“I can.”
His thoughts were elsewhere, preoccupied with Corrine’s impending departure. How could he squander their night under the same roof?
Moses straightened in his seat, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. He discreetly studied Nate, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. Compared to his own playful nature, Moses knew Nate was always aloof and unapproachable. He’d long believed that Nate was simply indifferent to ordinary women. But now, as he observed his friend’s aloof demeanor, a small voice whispered that perhaps the rumors about Nate’s hidden feelings weren’t unfounded.
Before he could probe further, his phone buzzed. With a slight frown, he answered, saying, “What is it?”
The butler’s voice came through on the other end, respectful but urgent.
“Miss Hughes has suddenly developed a fever and wishes to see you.”
Moses rolled his eyes, irritation seeping into his tone
“If she’s sick, she should go to the hospital.”
Without waiting for a response, he ended the call.
Turning back to Nate, Moses noticed his friend lost in thought, his fingers idly tracing the edge of a paper.
“Nate?”
“Sudden fever?” Nate mused aloud, his tone curious.
Moses hesitated before smirking knowingly. His voice carried a note of derision as he replied, “It’s just another one of her theatrics. Probably took a cold bath to pull this off. Her acting could use some work.”
“It does seem a bit… deliberate,” Nate remarked, his lips curving into a faint, sardonic smile.
Moses studied him for a moment, sensing that Nate’s thoughts were drifting far beyond their conversation.
“Nate,” he said, leaning forward with renewed determination, “let’s have some fun tonight, okay? I heard it’s going to rain. Perfect weather for a late-night race. It’s been ages since we had any real excitement.”
Rain?
The suggestion sparked a subtle interest in Nate’s eyes.
“Alright,” he responded.
The sky hung heavy with dark, swirling clouds, casting an ominous shadow over the nearly empty streets. The lively hum of the racetrack in the eastern part of the city felt out of place amidst the stillness of the surroundings. This track was one of the few in the country that hosted official races, open to the public only during rallies or friendly competitions. At the starting line, a few cars, their paint gleaming in the dim light, revved their engines, the sound a challenge thrown into the air.
As the referee waved the flag, the cars shot forward with the ferocity of wild beasts breaking free.
Though they were here for a simple race, the track seemed to ignite something more primal-the competitive spirit between the men roaring to life. The race grew more intense with each lap, the cars neck and neck, engines growling with effort.
After five laps, Nate’s sleek black Aventador crossed the finish line first, followed closely by Zack, and finally Moses.
As the three stepped out of their cars, staff members rushed over, eager to check the vehicles for any signs of damage or wear.
Moses pulled off his helmet, his hair slightly disheveled, and grinned in frustration.
“Damn it! Let’s race again!” The sting of losing burned in his chest.
Zack’s lips curled into a smirk.
“Doesn’t matter how many times we race.”
“Zack, that’s a weak excuse. I was holding back before. If you’ve got the guts, let’s go again,” Moses shot back, watching as Zack walked away, his challenge still hanging in the air.
Zack casually loosened the collar of his racing suit, his tone lazy
“Beating a rookie isn’t exactly fun.”
Moses, fuming, flipped Zack off behind his back before turning to find Nate standing nearby, holding his helmet in one hand, his gaze distant.
“Nate, what’s got you so distracted?”
Nate blinked, as if snapping back to the moment.
“Wasn’t there supposed to be rain tonight?”
“What?” Moses paused, his gaze drifting upward to the sky.
“Who knows? Maybe the rain’s not coming after all.”
With that, Nate turned and walked away.
As Moses and Zack emerged from the locker room, they spotted Nate standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, his hands casually tucked in his pockets, his eyes fixed on the distant sky as if lost in thought.
“Do you think Nate’s got something on his mind?” Moses mused.
“Why else would he be hoping for rain?”
Zack followed Moses’ gaze, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.