Hired as His Fake Fiancée

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: PINES AND THE SMELL OF HIM.

NORA

The ride to the King's mansion was suffocating, with the car closing in on me every second it got. I was facing the window while feeling the heat from Gabriel radiating from the driver’s seat.

I wished that there was someone else with us. A few weeks ago, I would have killed for this moment, but now I just feel like I would kill myself to get out of this situation.

I was forcing a smile while sitting next to him, while he was gripping the steering wheel like popping it open might give him more answers than he deserved.

For the first time, it felt like I had the power over him. He looked like he wanted to speak, but I was not going to give him the privilege to do so.

By the time we get back to the mansion, the maids are waiting to take the dress out. Everyone, including Helena, is gushing about how I managed to land such a beauty.

The dress was the star of the show for dinner. Aurelia and Evelyn didn't seem to like it, but they dared not go against Helena.

Everything feels suffocating, so I slipped out of the house when no one was watching for a walk. For some reason, Gabriel’s warning about Julian sticks in my head like a sore wound that just refuses to go away.

"Nora?" I raised my head to Julian, sitting with pines around him. I narrow my eyes and close the gap between us.

‘Think of the devil, Nora!’ my mind screamed at me.

“Hi,” I said, stopping right in front of him. My eyes rake the floor around him. “Are you doing that alone by hand?”

“You sound shocked.”

“I am; I just didn't think the King family would be petty enough to let you do this all by yourself.”

“Well, your fiancé is not a fan of me, so…”

Was he saying Gabriel had put him on this ridiculous task of making the pine boughs and winter garlands all by himself? I didn't want to push, and he didn't seem to want to say anything more either.

“Let me help,” I said, lowering myself beside him. He scooted over and smiled at me.

“Do you know how to?” he asked, trying to show me how to do it.

I smiled and shook my head. “You’d be shocked at how much I knew how to do,” I murmured, picking up the pieces and connecting them.

"You seem skilled.” I nodded, and we both fell into comfortable silence.

I hated silence, but it was the first time I wanted to stay as long as I could. The sound of the winter air slamming against the old King building and whistling in the atmosphere was calming enough.

Julian cleared his throat and shifted in his chair. I raised my head to him, and it looked like he had something to say.

“Just spit it out already,” I said in a surly tone, focused on the trimming at hand.

“How did you know I had something to say?”

“Well, your face says it all, and you cleared your throat at least three times,” I pointed out without looking up.

“I know we just met.” He moved closer, and I felt my heart stop for a moment before it began to pump quickly.

I ignored the feeling in my chest and tried to make my finger work faster on trimming the pines.

“But I am already growing a soft spot for you,” he added.

‘Oh my goodness!’ My mind screamed. Could he have fallen for me? In three days? Was it possible, or was I already getting ahead of myself with ridiculous thoughts?

“Julian, I am flattered but…”

“You are Mr King’s fiancée, but you need to be careful in the house,” he continued, cutting off my small murmur. “These rich people are not what they seem.”

I let out a silent sigh of relief and shifted in my seat. “Thank you very much, but I am sure I can take care of Msyekf.”

At least he didn't declare his love for me and put me in an awkward position with him. If he did and Gabriel heard it, it would be my fault solely for giving him the chance to have those feelings.

“Just be careful, especially of his ex-wife. She still wants him; I'd be careful if I were you."

“I am sure I can take care of myself,” I said, trying to put an end to that discussion now.

It was no news even to the staff. I wondered why Gabriel was trying his best to run from her when we could all see him ending up with her. She was his best option at the end of the day.

“Well, he has chosen me now, hasn’t he?”

I didn't even convince myself with that string of words, and I didn't need to look up to know he was not convinced either. The conversation died off on its own, and we both sat there until darkness began to descend.

I knew I couldn't stay here any longer; I had to move. I thanked him and made my way to the house. Evelyn intercepted me at the stairs.

“Do you think you already fit in just because Gabe bought you the Duchess dress?” She asked with her nose in the air and a smug smile on her face.

"I didn't need the dress to win; I already won when he chose me and not you," I smirked, pressing my palm into the side of my waist.

Her eyebrows knitted, and her eyes grew wider. “I am going to expose you and make sure that Lawrence sees how bad you are for Gabriel.”

I scrunched my nose and nodded gently. “Well, good luck to you.”

I pushed past her and made my way to the room. The first thing I saw as soon as I opened the door was Gabriel sitting by the nightlamp, the rest of the light in the room switched off.

He held a glass of bourbon in his hand and was resting on the couch like some mafia boss. I had only seen images like this in my mind.

“Where have you been?” He gets out of the chair and closes the gap between us like a predator ready to pounce on his target.

He stands too close to me and sniffs before I can answer. His actions leave me puzzled, and my mind tries to come up with an explanation.

“I was…”

“You smell of him, Nora.”

I gulped. That was definitely not the right thing for him to say. Was he drunk? I blinked and tried to open my mouth, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me closer as much as possible.

He picked pine out of my hair and stared at it for a long time before tossing it to the ground.

Since you have so much energy for midnight walks, you can finish the investment brief. My study. Now."

He pulled me into the study he had been using since we got there. I loved working for him, so I threw myself into the work. We fell into our perfect harmony, except now we both couldn't deny the palpable tension simmering above our heads.

“You are perfect for me, Nora.”