The next morning,cool water cascades over me in the shower, soothing my skin. It has been a while since I last saw Nathan I take a deep breath, reminding myself not to think about this any longer. As each hour that passes, it becomes increasingly clear that Nathan is intentionally avoiding me, and I can't blame him. I should have put a stop to things that night before they went any further, but my emotions got the better of me.With a sigh, I step out of the bathroom and quickly change into a fresh outfit for the day. I mentally plan out my day, realizing that I can’t stay cooped up in this house for another twenty-four hours, wondering what's going on in Nathan 's mind. Work seems like the best escape, so I've decided to check out some of the properties we haven't seen yet.Lost in my thoughts, I’m abruptly interrupted by the loud ringing of my phone. I rush to the bedside table where it’s resting and answer it with a smile when I see that it’s Bekah calling. A chat with her just wha

The memories of that night are etched into my mind, no matter how much I try to deny it. It was the most memorable night I’ve had in over eighteen years. As I step into the dimly lit dining room, hoping to find my dinner waiting, I’m taken aback to see Nathan sitting there. The anger that has been simmering beneath the surface threatens to boil over. He doesn't look up as I enter, his gaze fixed on the table. Suppressing the tumultuous emotions, I take a deep breath and calmly make my way to the table. I can feel his eyes on me, his presence like a heavy weight in the room. Refusing to give in to his silent scrutiny, I sit down and pretend like he isn't there as I wait for Mrs. Brown to bring in the food. I can feel his gaze burning into me, his silence louder than words. My hands grip the edges of the table, my nails digging into the wood as I summon all my strength to keep my composure. For a moment, we remain like statues, the tension between us palpable. Finally, he breaks the s

"It does.""Perfect," I mutter in response. Ending this sooner may be for the best, as I don’t want to get too emotionally invested in all of this.I type quick responses to some of my emails as I wait for Natalia to join me. It's almost time for us to leave and she is nowhere in sight.Did she change her mind?I question in my head. I'm about to head to her room when she steps out into the hallway. My breath catches at the sight of her. She's wearing a stunning red dress that hugs her curves in all the right places. I'm momentarily lost for words, my usual composure slipping for just a moment."Hi, Nathan . I'm sorry I'm late," she says breathlessly. Her voice sends a beautiful sensation all over my body. For the first few minutes I'm tongue-tied as I take in her alluring beauty."Hi, it's…it's fine." My voice comes out like a whisper. I can't help it as my eyes openly sweep her body."You look amazing," I manage to say, my voice laced with sincerity.Her cheeks blush faintly as our ey

"Good evening, gentlemen," I greet them as we approach the table. Both men promptly stand."If it isn't the famous artist. Good evening, Nathan It's great to see you tonight," Lucas says." Likewise. Natalia , allow me to introduce Lucas and his son, Parker. this is Natalia ," I make the introductions."Pleasure to meet you, Natalia ," Lucas says, extending his hand for a handshake."Nice meeting you, Mr. Lucas," Natalia says, shaking his hand turning to Parker, she politely adds, "Nice meeting you too, Mr. Parker," Natalia says politely."Oh, please, call me Parker," Parker says, grinning. I feel urge to wipe it off his face. Frowning, I notice he is holding her hand longer than I’d like."Let’s focus on dinner and why we’re all here, please," Lucas says, bringing relief. Parker finally releases Natalia’s hand, allowing me to pull out a chair for her. It unsettles me that she will be sitting across from Parker, but I find solace int the fact that she’s seated right beside me.We sett

"Nathan , things aren't always as what they seem. My marriage was a nightmare from the start. I despised Jason, but I had to obey him or else my father would have come after you," she says, her lips trembling slightly. I'm drawn to her, closing the gap without hesitation."I wish I could give you all the details, but it's not that simple. Please, trust me."She bites her lip, fear and uncertainty flickering in her eyes. The tension between us grows as I search for answers, but fear is all I see. Her marriage is over, her father is dead, so what has her so scared? Taking a deep breath, I imagine the horrors she must have faced."Fine, but please, when you are ready, I want to know everything," I relent, my voice softer now. I'm relieved when she nods."I want you so much, Nathan . You're the only man who affects me this way.""I want you, too, Natalia . In fact, I've failed every time I tried to resist. I can't deny what's between us, Natalia . It becomes harder to fight it each time."