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Later that day, when Noémie arrived at her apartment, she had just managed to unlock the door when she heard a door slam down the hallway.

“Hey, Rochester!” a guy’s voice called out from behind her, snapping her out of her daze. “Well, well, look who it is. Speaking of which—is it true? Does your boss think ‘day off’ is a myth, or are you just his favorite workaholic experiment?”

Noémie fought back a smile as she turned to face Gaël Marchant. He was a good-looking pilot who lived on the same floor and owned the most stunning car in the entire building. He was quite proud of it, even though he could easily afford a much fancier place. At first, Noémie had tried to understand his reasoning, but with so much happening in her own life, she eventually gave up.

"If I say yes, will that make you feel better?" she replied with a smile, brushing her hair back and discreetly tucking the file she was carrying behind her back. For some reason, she didn’t want him to see it. Maybe she was afraid he’d judge her if he found out about her situation. Even though they were just friendly neighbors and nothing more, she didn’t want to risk him thinking poorly of her. Gaël could be a bit cocky, but he was one of the good ones, and his company meant a lot to her in this unfamiliar city.

He hummed thoughtfully. "It depends..."

"On what?"

"How long he can keep pretending to be righteous and actually show some kindness to your exhausted soul."

"Do you think I’m working too much?"

"Have you even looked at yourself in the mirror?"

Noémie pressed her lips together, unsure if he was serious or joking.

But then he burst out laughing, and she let out a relieved sigh.

"You’re such a fool!" she complained, shaking her head as she turned to unlock her apartment door.

Gaël laughed, leaning against the wall as he watched her struggle with the key. "Here, let me help," he offered, raising his arm to reach for it.

Noémie was completely caught off guard. As she tried to insert the key into the lock, he suddenly placed his warm hand over hers, causing her to tense up.

Her heart began racing in her chest.

Their eyes briefly met before he gently pushed her aside and took her place. Standing to the side now, Noémie wrapped her arms around herself and watched as he effortlessly slid the key into the lock and turned it. A satisfying click echoed through the hallway.

The smirk on his face was more confident than ever as he stepped back and lightly pushed the door open. "There you go, your highness," he teased, returning the key to her and casually sliding his hands into his jeans pockets.

"Thanks for the help, Gaël," Noémie muttered, feeling a slight blush creeping up her neck. She couldn’t understand why she suddenly felt so flustered. She had always been able to handle his playful nature. Maybe the news of her pregnancy had made her more emotionally sensitive. She could only hope to regain her composure before things spiraled out of control.

Gaël nodded and took a step back. "So, are you coming to the rooftop party tonight? It’s Steven’s ninth birthday. Maybe Mrs. Colbert will finally open the bar this time."

"Nope, but keep dreaming," she chuckled, stepping into her apartment and turning back to face him. "Mrs. Colbert’s ex-husband drank himself to death. She’s not going to expose her precious son to that kind of stuff."

Mrs. Colbert, the landlady who owned the entire building and lived on the ground floor, was nice and considerate, but she could be strict—and a bit bossy—when it came to rent and her son.

"Really?" Gaël sounded surprised. "I thought those were just rumors." He scratched the back of his head.

"Nope, they’re legit. Take my advice and stop spoiling her son. Because once she finds out about all the useless tips you’ve been giving him to impress the ladies, she’ll kick you out so fast you won’t know what hit you." She smirked, her tone light but truthful.

Gaël squinted, rubbing his neck. "Well, why didn’t you warn me earlier?" He made a face like someone who’d just been saved from running a red light. "Guess I’ll have to cancel our super-secret meeting today, then," he said with mock seriousness, though a grin soon spread across his face.

He stepped closer to the doorway. "Since I’ve got some free time tonight, how about I take you out for a coffee? You just saved me from losing my apartment, after all. Let me treat you to a nice drink and some almond croissants. What do you say?" He gave her a playful wink.

Noémie couldn’t help but laugh at his sudden change in demeanor. She knew he was just teasing, like he did with every woman in the building. Surprisingly, though, his offer seemed somewhat genuine.

"Unfortunately, I’ll have to decline. Sorry," she said, feeling a twinge of guilt as she turned him down. "I’m not feeling great and should get some rest."

When Gaël opened his mouth, Noémie thought he was about to argue. But instead, he simply covered his mouth with his hand, touching his lower lip thoughtfully.

"Well, then, take care of yourself, Rochester. Call me if you need anything."

With that, he turned on his heels and walked away.

Noémie stood there for a moment, her door halfway open, watching him go. Her heart continued to race even after he disappeared down the hallway.

She stepped inside, closing the door behind her with a sigh. Was his offer genuine, or was he just teasing her? She wasn’t sure, but she knew one thing—she needed to sort out her thoughts before they got the best of her.