ERIKA The silence that spread after that felt like it would last forever. She felt much more on edge when she was not talking or distracting herself and with Nigel Asher beside her, she felt stiff. Like she would be scolded if she even moved, she couldn't be at ease. She had never been comfortable with him truly, because no matter the pretence, they weren't close. And their intentions for each other were never peaceful or of no harm. They both knew that. She only took deep breaths and tried to think of positive thoughts that were too hard to come by considering what has been happening in her life. She took the drink with shaky hands when the flight attendant handed it to her with a smile. She placed it down and looked down at her hands, not very okay with everything around her. There was nothing she could fall back on to earn a moment of relief from her fears. "Are you okay?" Nigel asked and she somehow looked up, trying to look the part as she nodded to a yes. "What's going on?"
ERIKA "Because..", he started and when his eyes locked with her, she saw the pure look of desire in his eyes that took her aback immediately. "..it will be difficult for me to look at you the same "normal" way if you sleep here next to me. I don't know how that will go." "Don't," she said, immediately looking away as if it was wrong to even hear that from his mouth. "Why?" He asked, visually confused. "When you say things like this, I genuinely don't understand you. None of it. And it makes me feel like a fool when I sit and look back at you trying to figure out if you're being for real or you're testing me to witness the exact moment I fold to go back to teasing and mocking me," she spewed out without a stopper and she didn't really need one. It was time they were honest to say the least. "Do you really care that much?" He asked, raising an eyebrow with forced surprise. "No." "You're lying. None of these would've been your concern if you didn't give a shit. You'd have continu
ERIKA Once the awareness spread within them that the deal was on, the air immediately shifted around them. She felt a little jammed up when she looked at him but she was sure he had already started plotting. Which only meant she should too. Erika took a moment to think about what she could even do to compel him. She thought about Metin's words and realised how perfect this opportunity was. He wanted her to seduce Nigel, to trick him into her lies and waiting for him to get close enough to make a pitfall. And that's when Metin's plan would come into play. But it did come with some regulations. Erika was sure to not touch him or get close to him in a way that would look like she physically used him and then made him fall into her trap, it just felt cruel, even if it was Nigel Asher she was talking about. She promised to herself that it would be harmless flirting. Walking to the cliff but never taking a leap. Even if Nigel was drop dead gorgeous, she believed herself enough to not be s
ERIKA Nigel Asher smiled too, knowing he wasn't up against someone who wouldn't give him a tough competition. "This will be fun," he said, nodding once to himself, only making her intentions and ideas grow wider. She knew what were his pins and needles and she sure wanted to press them to get a reaction out of him. It was all fun and games after all, an ode to the newfound normalcy between them. But this almost always drove her to think where they would stand if things were different. If everything was normal, if he was a well meaning man, if he wasn't planning to snatch Erika's father's legacy completely. What would they be if not enemies? They got out of the car and entered the event. It was a summit with leading companies from all over the world. One company was invited from each country to meet and build up a rapport with each other. This opens up further business opportunities for both the companies and gives a greater scope for globalisation. Erika was relieved that she wou
ERIKA "And I wanna push you off the terrace to see how you react. You would like that, won't you?" She said with utter confidence that only made him laugh louder. "Come here and try. If you can even get me to bend over backward, you win," his confidence made her want to gauge his eyes out of their sockets. "Come close." And she just couldn't help herself as she rushed over to him at the blatant challenge. She rushed over to him and placed both hands on his chest and pushed with all her might, certain that he had to bend over if not fall because that wasn't what she wanted to do for obvious reasons. She put all her force over to that push to make him at least bend back but he did not move a single inch. He stood there with his cocky grin, making her look like a clown trying to fool herself. She pushed harder and harder, her body closing in on him as she tried to push with all her weight. What was more annoying was how his hands were at his side, he didnt even need support.
ERIKA After that, there was nothing left to say. Nigel backed up the car and got it running again, back to the hotel. They entered the room and he motioned Erika to go freshen up first. That's what she did, she quickly took her shower and came out. The awkwardness had only increased between them, worse than what they were back at the mansion. It was his turn to freshen up and watching him enter the washroom, Erika decided to leave. She needed a breath of fresh air. She stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her, not knowing where she was trying to go. She knew the corridors and directions a little bit so she just decided to explore. There wasn't much to see but she knew the one place that could instantly make her feel better, and when she looked down the floors, she saw the pool area right away. When she reached the pool, she sat on the edge and dipped her legs in the chilled water. Her breath relaxed and so did her rushing brain. It was as if she could finally breat
ERIKA "I don't even know why I am telling you all this," he said with a confused look as if he had just surprised himself. "What would we be if not enemies?" Erika slowly leaned towards his face with a half grin, as if to show that she was happy for her victory of seeing his vulnerable side for the first time ever. "Maybe.. friends?" He stared at her for a while as if trying to decipher the meaning behind her eyes with the slightest hint of guilt inside him. He wasn't the proudest of his vulnerable moment, especially after he had emptied some of his heart to his rival. He didn't look mad at himself, maybe slightly embarrassed. Erika just kept on leaning in till he was annoyed enough to push her away. And by that time, she had leaned in too close to him and was just about to trip towards him, he grabbed her face and pushed her back. But with the way she was turned, her upper body twisted towards him, and when he pushed her, she fell forward straight, losing her balance. And just
ERIKA A smile appeared on his face and he tilted his face just slightly to go in close to her lips, and the next words made shivers run through her spine. "Maybe this game was an excuse to get to hold you tight like this," he said. And that was all it took for her to completely melt. She didn't know what she felt at that moment but the way she looked up at him as if she was pleading to know if he meant that. If there was a slight possibility that this wasn't just a game and evil tricks for him. But as he stared down at Erika, his gaze only turned softer, his fingers slowly rubbing in circles on her waist and his warm breath on her. With Erika's hands wrapped around his neck tight, he looked like he had waited for a long time. If this was really a game, he was the ultimate master of it. And there was a seething hatred she felt about it. "You know what's worse than a liar?" She whispered to him, not being able to keep her scepticism out of her eyes. "What?" "A good liar," she said