CHAPTER 4

Chloe’s POV

The rest of the day went by in a blur. The hours slipped past me as I tried to keep my focus on the work at hand, each task an attempt to distract myself from the inevitable. My thoughts kept wandering back to Nicholas. Had he really recognized me? Or was I just being paranoid?

No, I couldn’t be. There was something in his eyes, something that lingered between us, unspoken but felt. I couldn’t afford to get tangled up in it again, especially not now.

By the time the last customer left and the café quieted down, I felt a strange sense of relief wash over me. One more hour and I could lock up, go home, and forget that today had even happened.

“Hey, honey, I’m actually going out today, so can you lock up?” my mom’s voice pulled me from my thoughts as she finished her closing duties, pulling off her apron. “It’s just for an hour. You can handle that, right?”

I hesitated. Normally, we closed the shop together, but this time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. If I stayed alone, there was a higher chance that—

“I was planning on heading out with some friends,” my mom added, sensing my hesitation. “It’s just an hour. You can handle that, right?”

I forced a smile, nodding as I tied my apron around my waist. “Of course, Mom. Enjoy yourself.”

As soon as the door closed behind her, I glanced at the clock. It was 8:00 PM. One more hour.

The café was nearly empty, just a few customers lingering over their drinks, their murmurs blending with the soft music playing in the background. I felt the tension in my shoulders slowly ease as I settled into my routine, letting the minutes tick by. For a moment, I thought maybe—just maybe—nothing else would happen tonight. Maybe I could close the café, go home, and pretend none of this had ever occurred.

I was about to take a bite of a blueberry muffin when my phone slipped from my hand and clattered to the floor. Sighing, I bent down to pick it up, not realizing how fast my pulse was picking up.

And then I straightened.

He was right there.

Standing just inches away, separated only by the counter.

My breath hitched, and for a split second, everything seemed to freeze. His piercing eyes locked onto mine, unreadable yet intense.

My heart slammed against my chest as I froze, unable to move. Nicholas was standing right there, mere inches away, his gaze unwavering. The world outside seemed to fade, the sound of the café’s music, the murmur of the remaining customers—everything vanished. It was just him and me, and the unspoken tension that filled the air between us.

I barely registered the muffin crumbling in my hand as I stared at him, my thoughts jumbled, my breath shallow.

“I’d like to order coffee,” his voice broke through the thick silence, smooth and low. “Black. No sugar.”

I nodded, almost mechanically, trying to push past the rising panic in my chest. Stay calm. Act normal.

I turned away, my hands trembling slightly as I reached for the coffee machine. The dull hum of the machine and the soft clink of utensils felt like they were miles away, like I was moving in slow motion. I kept my focus on the task, but every muscle in my body screamed at me to do something—anything—but stay here.

His presence loomed over me, a constant pressure that made it difficult to breathe.

The coffee dripped slowly, and I forced myself to focus on the simple task. I couldn’t let him see how unsettled I was. I couldn’t give him any reason to know that I was anything but calm.

When I finally placed the steaming cup in front of him, I tried to steady my shaking hands.

“Here’s your coffee, sir,” I said, keeping my voice even, but the tremor betrayed me.

He didn’t move to take it right away. Instead, his gaze lingered on me, his eyes piercing, studying me in a way that made me feel exposed. I swallowed, trying to ignore the heat creeping up my neck.

“Nicholas,” he corrected softly, his voice like velvet.

I blinked, confused for a moment. “W-what?”

He smirked, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “My name is Nicholas.”

I nodded quickly, forcing my smile to stay in place. “Well, I’m Chloe.”

He chuckled “I know your name” make me smile awkwardly.

turned back to the counter, pretending to wipe it down. My mind raced. Why was he still here? He’d finished his coffee. He should have left by now.

But instead, he sat there, his eyes flicking over the décor of the café, his posture casual, as if he wasn’t in any hurry. As if he had all the time in the world.

I checked the clock. 9:00 PM. Closing time.

I cleared my throat, trying to ignore the flutter of anxiety in my stomach. “Um… Nicholas, it’s closing time.”

He didn’t respond immediately, and for a brief moment, I thought he hadn’t heard me. But then, with a smooth, almost effortless motion, he stood up.

“Great. I’ll walk you home,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I felt my stomach drop. “Oh—no, you don’t have to do that,” I stammered, my mind scrambling for a way out.

He didn’t even flinch. His expression remained cool, unfazed. “I insist.”

I sighed inwardly, the weight of inevitability pressing down on me. There was no arguing with him.

I gathered my things, my heart racing as I stepped outside into the crisp evening air. The breeze chilled me, but not as much as the thought of being alone with him again.

I was about to pull out my phone to call a cab when his voice stopped me.

“I’ll give you a ride,” he said, almost as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

I shook my head, trying to keep my composure. “No need. I can call a cab.”

His jaw tightened slightly, and his eyes narrowed just a touch. “I won’t hurt you, Chloe. I’m just offering you a ride home. You’ll save money.”

I bit my lip, about to make another excuse, when the sky seemed to shift suddenly. The first drop of rain hit my cheek, and before I could react, the sky opened up in a torrential downpour. The cold, heavy rain soaked through my clothes in seconds.

I gasped, barely processing the change in weather when, in one fluid motion, Nicholas grabbed my wrist. His grip was firm but not painful, and before I could protest, he was leading me toward his car.

“Let’s go,” he said, his voice calm, like he knew exactly what was best.

I didn’t have a choice. Not now.

The warmth of the car hit me as soon as I slid into the passenger seat, the contrast to the cold rain soaking into my clothes making me shiver. Nicholas turned on the heater, glancing at me with an almost imperceptible raise of his brow.

“Are you warm enough?” he asked, his voice low, almost too soft for the silence that hung between us.

I nodded, unsure of how to answer. I was warm now, but my mind was still spinning. He didn’t know who I was. He couldn’t.

“Here,” he said, reaching into the backseat and retrieving a jacket. “You’ll need this.”

I hesitated before accepting the jacket, feeling his fingers brush mine for a fraction of a second. His touch lingered in my skin, sending an unexpected jolt through me. I pulled the jacket on quickly, trying to shake off the sensation.

“Thanks,” I muttered, barely able to keep my voice steady.

The car hummed as Nicholas started driving, the rain tapping gently against the windows. The silence in the car was suffocating, but I didn’t know what to say. What could I say? He was a stranger who didn’t recognize me, yet everything in my body screamed that this was far from ordinary.

After a few minutes, he spoke again, his voice cutting through the quiet.

“Tell me about yourself.”

I stiffened slightly, my mind instantly going on alert.

Careful, Chloe. Keep it light. Keep it casual.

I forced a smile, leaning back in my seat to give myself a moment. “Well, my name is Chloe Monroe. I work at my mom’s café. I moved here eight years ago from Boston.”

I caught a flicker of interest in his eyes as he glanced at me, though his expression remained unreadable. “Boston?”

I nodded, relieved he wasn’t pressing further. “Yeah.”

“And you?” I asked, trying to shift the focus off of me.

He smirked, though it was brief, and when he spoke again, it was with a certain cold confidence. “I’m Nicholas Romanov Fortune. The heir to Fortune Enterprises.”

The name struck something in my memory, but I couldn’t place it. I kept my face neutral, unwilling to let on that it meant anything to me.

“I have a younger brother, Ken. My parents are out of the country right now,” he added, and then fell silent.

Before I could ask anything else, he pulled up in front of my house.

“Is this the right address?” he asked, his eyes still on me.

I nodded quickly. “Yes, thank you for the ride.”

He didn’t respond immediately. His gaze lingered on me, studying me for a beat longer than what felt comfortable. Then, he gave a nod.

“Goodnight, Chloe.”

I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt and jumped out of the car, my heart still racing. I didn’t relax until I was safely inside, the lock clicking shut behind me.

Pressing my back against the door, I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breath.

What had I just done?

I had let him drive me home. The same man I had spent years running from.

I peered through the window, watching as his car drove slowly away into the night.

He doesn’t know who you are. He can’t.

But deep down, something in my gut told me that it wouldn’t be long before he did.

Then would he be so generous?