When the woman saw Corrine step inside, she didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she lingered by the door, eager to see how the scene would unfold. To her astonishment, not only did Nate not throw Corrine out, but he actually pulled her into his arms.
In the blink of an eye, the woman’s face morphed, her expression a perfect storm of disbelief.
Corrine noticed her gaze, and slowly, she lifted her eyelids, locking eyes with the woman. A faint, sly smile curled her crimson lips, as if daring the woman to look away.
The woman’s pupils constricted, and in a whirlwind of humiliation and rage, she quickly averted her eyes and stormed out.
Once the door clicked shut behind her, the brief surge of satisfaction Corrine had felt slowly dissipated. Indifferent now, she casually brushed Nate’s hand off her waist and lowered herself to the seat beside him. She picked up the glass of wine from the table, swirling it absently before taking a delicate sip.
Nate watched her in silence for a moment before suddenly reaching out to pull her onto his lap. In one swift motion, he snatched the wine glass from her hand, setting it back on the table with quiet authority.
Caught off guard, Corrine felt a quick, almost disorienting lift as she found herself seated in his lap. Her brows furrowed, and instinctively, she tried to shift away, but his arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back into his embrace with unwavering strength.
Corrine met his gaze, the air between them thickening with unspoken tension. Her expression remained composed, her eyebrows arched in silent inquiry as she met his gaze, her eyes asking, “What are you doing?”
Nate’s hand rested on her slender waist, his touch lingering for a moment longer than necessary. He exhaled slowly, the restlessness in his eyes barely contained.
“What did I do to upset you?” His voice softened, a hint of frustration beneath the calm.
“Tell me. Why sulk and torture yourself?”
“Did you upset me?” Corrine shot back, her tone sharper than intended. Nate’s gaze never wavered from her face, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
“Didn’t I?”
With a flat expression, Corrine replied, “No.”
“Then let’s stay like this,” Nate said, his voice low and steady.
“When you’re ready to talk, we can go eat something.”
Corrine’s frown deepened as she tried to shift away, her body tensing in resistance.
“Let me go.”
“No.”
She fixed him with a steady gaze, her eyes slowly scanning his form. His shirt collar was carelessly unbuttoned, revealing the smooth line of his Adam’s apple and the sharp cut of his collarbones. Nate’s usual relaxed charm, the effortless confidence he wore like a second skin, seemed almost deliberate today-as if he were trying too hard to be noticed by every woman who walked past him
Her eyes narrowed, frustration bubbling up.
“Can you dress yourself properly?”
Nate raised an eyebrow, his confusion evident as he glanced down at his attire, seeing no fault in it.
Corrine reached up, her fingers tugging sharply at his collar, the cold edge of irritation clear in her voice.
“What kind of impression are you trying to make? You look ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous?” Nate looked down at the open collar again, a slow grin spreading across his face, his eyes lighting up with amusement.
Corrine noticed the shift in his expression and deliberately put on a stern face.
“Any objections?”
“No objections,” Nate murmured, his tone now teasing but obedient.
“I’ll listen to you, my girlfriend.”
He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her chin, before reaching up to button his shirt with exaggerated care.
“Are you happy now?” he asked, his voice playful as he met her gaze.
Corrine’s gaze lingered on Nate’s meticulously buttoned collar. The subtle curve of his Adam’s apple, now partially visible, only heightened the allure of his features, making him seem even more captivating than before.
Her brows knitted together as she pressed her lips into a thin line, taking in the face that seemed to cast a spell on everyone around him. She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. It was always because of this face.
Nate noticed the slight furrow in her brow, his expression curious.
“Still upset?”
A slow smile curved across Corrine’s lips, her gaze becoming playful as she met his eyes.
“Mr. Hopkins, your charm is truly unmatched. No wonder you seem to captivate everyone you meet.”
“Well, hearing that from you, I must admit, it’s a bit of an ego boost,” Nate said with a smirk. He tightened his hold around her waist, pulling her closer, and then teasingly pinched the soft flesh at her side.
“I didn’t realize I was that charming.”
Corrine’s expression flattened, but her thoughts were anything but calm. What a show-off.
Nate caught the fleeting look on her face and chuckled, enjoying the playful tension between them.
“I wonder, though… are you perhaps interested in me?” His voice, smooth and seductive, drifted into her ear, sending a wave of warmth down her spine. Corrine’s breath hitched, her heart suddenly fluttering in her chest.
She didn’t answer right away, simply keeping her eyes fixed on him, the silence between them thick with unspoken words.
Nate noticed the blush creeping up her neck, his smile widening in triumph. He leaned in closer, his chin resting on her shoulder, his warm breath sending a shiver through her as he whispered, “I’m not interested in anyone else. I just want to use this face to charm you, Miss Holland. Will you come with me tonight?”
His breath on her ear was like a flame, hot and electrifying, making her senses momentarily numb
The intensity of the moment made Corrine’s heart race uncontrollably, her fingers curling reflexively.
She glanced at him, her smile now playful, and asked, “Mr. Hopkins, are you trying to recommend yourself to me?”
“Would you accept?”
Corrine’s eyes twinkled with mischief.
“I’ll think about it.”
Standing by the door, Zack overheard their conversation, feeling like an unwanted observer. What really threw him off, though, was Nate’s attitude toward Corrine. In Zack’s mind, Nate had never been the patient type. He had little tolerance for things that didn’t pique his interest, let alone the idea of humbling himself to charm a woman.
Zack turned and walked away, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. As he entered the hall of the club, he spotted Jules, who was getting ready to make a call. Zack’s gaze flickered as he approached, his voice low but friendly.
“Jules.”
Jules glanced up and saw Zack walking toward him, offering a smile in return.
“Zack, it’s been a while.”
“Too long,” Zack said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a cigarette.
“How about a drink?”
Jules hesitated, eyeing the cigarette, then looked back at Zack. Zack raised an eyebrow, teasing, “Not available now?”
“I’m free,” Jules replied with a nod.
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.