Chapter 3

After a stressful day at work, Gabriel decided it was finally time to leave. He took a few moments to tidy his desk, straightening out documents and ensuring everything was in place, a habit he had developed over the years. Once satisfied, he picked up his jacket and headed out of his office.

At the entrance of the company building, his chauffeur was already waiting beside a sleek black Rolls Royce, standing upright as always.

“Good evening, sir,” the chauffeur greeted politely, opening the door for him.

Gabriel gave a brief nod in reply as he stepped into the car. As soon as he settled into the leather seat, he loosened his tie slightly, exhaling as though trying to release the weight of the day. Almost immediately, his phone began to ring. He glanced at the caller ID and sighed when he saw it was his mother.

He wasn’t ready for her pep talk—not tonight.

He ignored the call, slipping the phone back into his pocket. Meanwhile, his chauffeur remained silent, waiting patiently for instructions on where to take him.

His phone rang again. And again.

The repeated ringing only added to the dull headache forming behind his temples. He knew exactly why she was calling, and the more she tried, the more irritated he became. Finally, deciding it would be easier to end the call than ignore it, he answered.

“Hello, Mom. I’m really busy at the moment. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”

He ended the call immediately, not giving her the chance to say a single word.

“Darren,” he said calmly, leaning back into his seat. “Take me to the usual.”

“Yes, sir,” the chauffeur replied, starting the car without hesitation.

Gabriel sat at the VIP lounge, sipping slowly from his drink, just like he did almost every night. It had become his routine—his way of passing time before returning to the silence of his empty mansion.

He scoffed quietly at the thought.

Empty mansion.

If Ashley hadn’t broken up with him, it wouldn’t be empty. The realization hit him harder than he expected. Just the mere thought of her drained him completely. He had loved her deeply, more than he had ever loved anyone, and even though she was now part of his past, his mind refused to let her go.

Every memory, every shared moment, kept replaying in his head. He knew he needed to get her out of his thoughts because the constant reliving was slowly driving him insane.

His attention was suddenly pulled back to the present by the sound of laughter coming from the bar stand. He turned in that direction and noticed a group of guys laughing loudly, drinks in hand. But what truly caught his attention was the lady standing among them.

She had raven-black hair, smooth as silk, cascading effortlessly, and a smile that lit up her face beautifully. He tried to look away, tried to focus back on his drink, but his eyes betrayed him. He found himself staring.

She was stunning—her toned skin visible even from a distance. There was something natural about her beauty, something unforced. He couldn’t help but wonder what someone like her was doing working in a place like this. Such beauty shouldn’t be serving drinks. She should be admired, cherished, treated like a queen.

And in that very moment, an idea formed in his mind.

“Nicole, don’t tell me it took just a tip to get you looking this good… No wonder you decided not to wear your uniform today.”

Rick, Nicole’s colleague, teased her openly, drawing laughter from everyone around them. Nicole smiled, slightly embarrassed, yet secretly pleased. Even she couldn’t deny the difference a simple makeover had made. And it was all thanks to that generous customer.

She still wished she could meet more customers like him—or even better—once in a while. Life would be so much easier if generosity like that came more often.

“It’s not that obvious, Rick,” she replied playfully. “Besides, what better way to spend a tip than on myself?”

With that, she tried to shift her attention back to her duties, even as Rick continued grinning at her.

                                        HOURS LATER

“Bye, Nicole. See you tomorrow,” Rick said as he wrapped up his shift.

“Oh no, Rick. You’ll be seeing Vanessa tomorrow. I only did her a favor today,” Nicole replied with a smile.

“Okay then. Have a good night’s rest.”

“Thanks, Rick. I hope you do the same.”

With that exchange, Nicole stepped out of the pub. It was already midnight, her shift finally over. All she wanted now was to get home and enjoy a peaceful, uninterrupted sleep—just like Rick had advised.

Once home, she went straight to the bathroom for a quick shower, washing away the exhaustion of the day. Afterward, she decided to fill her stomach with the leftover pizza she had ordered earlier. She had just settled in when a knock sounded at her door.

She froze.

She wasn’t expecting anyone.

She waited for a moment, wondering if she had imagined it.

Knock knock knock.

That confirmed it.

Curious and slightly annoyed, she made her way toward the door, already assuming it was Rick. Maybe she had forgotten something at the pub and he came to return it.

“This had better be good, Rick, else I’ll kill you for interrupting my dinner,” she muttered as she opened the door.

Her words died instantly.

Standing before her was a complete stranger.

Her eyes widened as she took him in. His brown eyes were captivating, intense yet calm. His well-defined jawline, perfectly pointed nose, and polished appearance made him undeniably breathtaking. She couldn’t deny it—he was handsome. Very handsome.

But confusion followed quickly.

What was a wealthy-looking man doing at her door at this hour?

                                  HOURS EARLIER

She had the perfect features—the exact kind of woman he needed for the job. If his plan worked, which he strongly hoped it would, his mother would finally be off his case.

All he needed to do was speak to her in person.

He waited patiently until she finished her shift. After she said her goodbyes, he stood up and followed her, careful to keep a reasonable distance so he wouldn’t draw attention. When she got into a taxi, he instructed his chauffeur to follow discreetly.

They arrived at an apartment building. Gabriel remained in the car while his chauffeur followed her inside, careful not to be noticed, just to find out her apartment number.

After a few minutes, the chauffeur returned.

“Sir, her apartment number is 32.”

“Thanks, Darren.”

Gabriel stayed in the car a little longer, staring ahead as doubt crept in. He questioned whether what he was about to do was the right approach. But he was already here. Turning back now wasn’t an option.

He took a deep breath, composed himself, and stepped out of the car.

He knocked once. No response.

He knocked again and heard faint movements and murmured voices behind the door. Moments later, the door opened.

Standing before him was the lady from the pub.

Only this time, she was even more beautiful up close.