6
989 Words
Nadia’s smile disappeared.
“Tonight?”
“Apparently, he’s a busy man.”
“So am I.”
“I’m aware.”
“And I’m in the middle of something.”
“What could possibly be more important than securing the relationship that just saved your company?”
Nadia narrowed her eyes.
“You’re becoming irritating again.”
“I’ve been irritating since the day we met.”
“Fair.”
She sighed.
“Where?”
“I’ll pick you up from wherever you are.”
“I’m at a bridal boutique.”
There was a brief silence.
“A bridal boutique?”
“Don’t sound so surprised.”
“I didn’t realize you were taking this seriously.”
“I am taking the contract seriously. The wedding is just part of the contract.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
Nadia rolled her eyes.
“Send me the address of the restaurant.”
“I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
“Fine.”
The call ended.
Jacqueline immediately leaned forward.
“So?”
Nadia picked up another dress from the rack.
“Xavier got the Enzo contract.”
Jacqueline’s eyes widened.
“He did?”
“He did.”
“That is huge!”
“I know.”
“And?”
“Ryenzo wants to meet me.”
Jacqueline’s expression changed.
“Tonight?”
Nadia nodded.
Jacqueline glanced at the dress in Nadia’s hand, then at the racks surrounding them.
“Then we’d better hurry.”
“Thank you.”
“But we’re not leaving until I find you a dress.”
Nadia groaned.
“Jaqie.”
“One dress.”
“Simple.”
“Simple-ish.”
“Simple.”
Jacqueline smiled.
“Fine. Simple.”
⸻
An hour later, Nadia stood in front of the mirror in a dress that was almost exactly what she’d asked for.
It was elegant without being extravagant. Clean, understated, and nothing like the dramatic gowns Jacqueline had originally envisioned.
Nadia studied her reflection for a moment.
“This one.”
Jacqueline stared at her through the mirror.
“Okay…”
Nadia turned.
“What?”
“I hate how much I like it.”
Nadia smiled.
“I knew you would.”
“You actually look like a bride.”
“Don’t ruin it.”
Jacqueline laughed.
Before Nadia could respond, a car horn sounded outside.
She looked toward the entrance.
“That’s him.”
Jacqueline picked up Nadia’s bag.
“Go. I’ll deal with the dress.”
“You’re not coming?”
“I have work to do.”
Nadia raised an eyebrow.
“You mean you’re going to plan my wedding without me.”
“Exactly.”
Nadia laughed as she walked toward the door.
Outside, Xavier was waiting beside his car.
He looked at her as she approached.
For a moment, he said nothing.
His eyes briefly moved over the dress before returning to her face.
“That’s simple.”
Nadia stopped.
“Was that a compliment?”
“An observation.”
“Of course.”
He opened the passenger door for her.
“Ryenzo is waiting.”
Nadia got into the car.
As Xavier walked around to the driver’s side, she looked out the window.
“So, Mr. Sterling…”
“Yes?”
“Congratulations on getting your precious contract.”
“Thank you.”
“And if this dinner goes badly, I’m blaming you.”
He started the engine.
“Don’t worry, Miss Whitmore. It won’t.”
Nadia looked at him skeptically.
“You sound very confident.”
“I usually am.”
“That might be your most annoying quality.”
“I have several.”
She almost smiled.
Almost.
The drive to the restaurant was quiet for the first few minutes.
Not uncomfortable.
Just unfamiliar.
They had spent so much time discussing the contract, the press, and everything they needed to pretend to be that neither of them had really considered what it would be like to simply sit beside each other.
Nadia glanced at him.
Xavier kept his eyes on the road.
“You seem very relaxed.”
“I am.”
“Even though this meeting could determine whether you get one of the biggest contracts of your career?”
“I already have the contract.”
Nadia looked at him.
“What?”
He glanced at her briefly.
“Ryenzo isn’t deciding whether to give it to me tonight.”
She frowned.
“Then why are we meeting him?”
“To make sure he knows exactly who he’s doing business with.”
Nadia leaned back.
“So this is a test.”
“Everything is a test.”
She gave him a look.
“That’s a very exhausting way to live.”
“It’s worked so far.”
Nadia looked out the window again.
She couldn’t argue with that.
The city lights slipped across the windows as they drove.
After a moment, Xavier spoke again.
“You’re nervous.”
Nadia immediately looked at him.
“I’m not nervous.”
“You’ve been tapping your fingers against the door for the last five minutes.”
She glanced down.
She was.
She stopped.
“I was thinking.”
“About?”
“Whether Ryenzo is going to spend the entire dinner judging whether I’m good enough to be your wife.”
Xavier’s mouth twitched.
“He probably is.”
“That was supposed to make me feel better?”
“No.”
Nadia stared at him.
“You really are irritating.”
“I’ve been told.”
She looked away, but this time she didn’t quite manage to hide her smile.
Neither of them knew that the dinner waiting at the end of that drive would be about far more than a business contract.
And neither of them had any idea how quickly the lines they’d drawn around their thirty-month agreement were about to become difficult to keep.
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