LOGINAUTHOR POV Nicole stared at him in horror. Then he smiled. "I'm joking." She hit his chest lightly. "You're horrible." "I've been told." A small laugh escaped her. It wasn't much. But it was enough to make him smile properly. He brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb, then stopped. "Is this okay?" Nicole looked at his hand. Then at him. "Yes." He gently wiped away the remaining tear. Neither moved for a moment. His gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes. Nicole's heart began to pound. "Raphael?" "Yes?" "Why are you looking at me like that?" He gave a quiet, almost helpless laugh. "Because I'm trying very hard to remember that I promised to take things slowly." Her cheeks warmed. "And are you?" "Trying?" She nodded. "Very hard." She smiled. Then, before fear could talk her out of it, she reached for his hand. His fingers closed around hers immediately. "Thank you for coming with me," she whisper
AUTHOR POV She read the first paragraph. Then the second. By the time she reached the bottom of the page, her hands had begun to shake. Raphael noticed. He didn't take the paper from her. He didn't tell her to stop reading. He simply moved his chair closer. Their shoulders touched. Nicole drew a shaky breath and continued. The document described a meeting between the three families shortly before her parents separated. It referred to missing financial records, an accusation of betrayal, and a demand that the matter be settled privately. But one sentence caught her attention. The parties agree that the matter must not be discussed with Nicole until the family dispute has been resolved. She read it again. Then she looked up. "My name is in here." Elias nodded. "Yes." "They were discussing me?" "They were discussing how much you should know." Nicole let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "Of course they were." She dropped the paper onto the table
AUTHOR POV Nicole woke up before her alarm. For a few seconds, she lay still, staring at the ceiling. Then she remembered the meeting with Elias, her mother's photograph, and the conversation she'd had with Raphael the night before. She reached for her phone. Raphael: Good morning. I hope you slept well. I'll pick you up at nine. And Nicole? Whatever we discover today, you won't face it alone. She read the message twice. Then she smiled. It wasn't the kind of smile that came from having all her problems solved. Her problems were still there, waiting for her. But for once, someone had offered to face them with her instead of deciding what she could handle. Nicole: Good morning. Don't be late. His reply arrived almost immediately. Raphael: I'd never risk disappointing you. Nicole: You say that now. Raphael: Nine o'clock, Nicole. She put the phone down before she could embarrass herself by smiling at it again. Today, she would get answers. And whatever those answers were,
"I wanted to hear your voice."Silence.I stared at the ceiling.He couldn't possibly have said that so casually."Raphael?""Yes?""You can't just say things like that.""Why not?""Because..."I stopped.Because I liked hearing it.Because I had spent so long convincing myself that I didn't need anyone that I had forgotten what it felt like to want someone near me.Because every time he made me feel special, a small, frightened part of me wondered when it would end."Because you make it difficult to think," I finally said.He was quiet for a moment.Then he laughed softly."I'll take that as a compliment.""Don't.""Too late."I smiled into my pillow.We talked about the office, the terrible lunch he had eaten, and a book I had been trying to finish for weeks.Ordinary things.Beautifully ordinary things.Then the conversation slowed."Nicole?""Hmm?""Can I ask you something?""You ask a lot of questions.""This one matters."I turned onto my side."Go ahead.""Do you think you cou
NICOLE POV "No, it's fine.""It isn't."I looked at him."Then why does it feel as though everyone is making decisions around me again?"He went quiet.I swallowed."I know you told me everything you knew yesterday. I believe you. But I don't want to wake up next week and discover that you and Elias have decided what I should know about my own mother."Raphael nodded slowly."You're right."I blinked.I had prepared myself for an argument.For him to explain why meeting Elias alone was necessary, or why he needed to handle everything before telling me anything.I hadn't expected him to agree.He leaned forward."I was going to tell you about the meeting tonight. I wasn't going to hide it.""But you weren't going to ask me either.""No."His honesty stung.He didn't look away."I can't change the decisions I made before yesterday. But I can change what I do now."He paused."Would you like to come with me?"I stared at him."To meet Elias?""Yes.""Why?""Because the questions concern
A Chance at UsThe first thing I did on Tuesday morning was check my phone.Not because I was expecting a message.At least, that was what I told myself.I placed the phone on my bed, walked to the wardrobe, and picked out a dress. Then I returned to the bed, picked up my phone, and checked it again.Nothing.I stared at the screen."Ridiculous," I muttered.Raphael had sent me a message the previous night. I had replied. We had exchanged a few more messages before I went to sleep.That was all.One dinner.A few jokes.A conversation that had made me smile more than I wanted to admit.It wasn't as though we had suddenly become a couple.I dropped my phone on the bed and went to the bathroom.Five minutes later, I came back for it.Still nothing.I groaned.This was embarrassing.The old Nicole would have spent the morning wondering whether she had said something wrong. She would have reread every message, searching for a hidden meaning, and convinced herself that silence meant reject
RAPHAEL POV The door slammed harder than necessary. I let out a slow breath, fingers still resting on the steering wheel as I watched her storm into the building without looking back. Was I surprised about tonight!!? Yes , because I never expected the turn out of events. If anyone has to
Nicole pov At 8 pm, I arrived at De paradise .As I got down from the cab ,I took a deep breath seeing people walking in and out of the hall, elegantly.I walked in too with my gift in hand.I most say the party planner did a very good job…every where was beautifully decorated.I smiled when I saw
Nicole pov I stared at the floor unable to look at him.I should really learn to control y tongue if I don't wanna lose my job.I waited for him to speak,but he didn't..the silence was making me more uneasy.I slowly glanced up and our eyes met.He was staring at me ,but I couldn't read his facial
Nicole pov I'm still in a state of panic and intense anxiety.Why!Why am I so out of luck?!I still can't believe he's going to be my new boss.I thought about what transpired between us earlier today.I thought about what I said to him.Ahhh…. I'm finished!Why did I say the things I said to him







