Hired as His Fake Fiancée

CHAPTER EIGHT: THIN LINE.

NORA

It was the first time I had gone head-to-head with Gabriel. I had always been at his beck and call; every word from him sent me flying for results, and yet now he was scolding me for his brand and not because he was trying to protect me.

“You are expecting too much,” I murmured to myself, staring at the mirror.

I dropped my head, my hands gripping the cold marble slab of the bathroom sink. I finally took a long, deep breath after staying in there for a long time. I washed my face and stared at myself again.

“Nora, this is nothing but business; no more messy feelings and expectations, just business.”

From now on, if he wanted business, I would give him the coldest version of it. The one I didn't exist in.

I stepped back into the bathroom, and Gabriel was seated at the edge of the bed, stripped into his pyjamas. It is then that I realise that we might have to share a bed.

“I will take the couch,” I offer, moving to pick up some pillows.

“I can’t allow that,” he said in a tone of finality.

Ugh! That need from him to control everything.

“You aren’t possibly saying we have to share the bed, are you?” I asked, trying to sound as detached as possible but realising how much I was failing at it.

I try not to fantasise about how good he looked stripped of all his armour and looking human.

“It’s a big king-size bed; I am sure we can manage.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he pointed to the bed. “Lie down, Nora,” he mumbled. "What if we get a visitor in the morning?"

Of course, he was not worried about me; he was worried about appearances. I had made up my mind, yet a glimpse at his handsome face had made me forget all my resolve.

I wanted to fight back, but instead I swallowed and turned away from him. We can't have two fights in a night when we are at each other's throats.

“Yes, Mr King.” I don’t turn to him as I slip into bed, my back to him, the covers up to my chin and me in a straight line so I don’t make a mistake.

I feel the bed dip a moment later. The bedside lamps went off, and we were plunged into darkness except for the light that was streaming in through the blinds from the security lights outside. The hat from his body is hitting against mine, making it extremely difficult to sleep.

“Nora?” He called my name, and instead of answering, I froze and pretended to be asleep. I didn't want to engage with him, not tonight at all.

“Don’t go to the stables alone,” he said softly and then added in a more serious voice – the one I was most used to. “My father expects us to ride tomorrow; if you don’t look natural on a horse, the contract will be the least of your worries.”

I want to tell him to get off his high horse. Normal people don't just know how to ride horses just because they exist; it's only a privilege those born with a silver spoon in their mouth could afford.

Gabriel shook me awake; I stared at the time angrily. Why did we need to ride at five am? What was this supposed to achieve?

Gabriel is already in his riding attire, brown and tailored to his size. I stared at him and dragged myself out of bed. I changed into Elise’s great pick before I met him by the door. He dragged his eyes over my body in an assessing manner.

His eyes did all the talking; he approved of Elise’s style because nothing about the plaid blazer, vicuña breeches, and tall leather boots screamed my name. He led us to the stables, which I would have found by myself if I had been left alone.

“Did you have to keep us waiting?” Aurelia spoke as soon as we got in.

“Don’t be so mad, Aurelia; your brother and his fiancée must have been having a sexy time,” Evelyn called from the pristine white horse she was already on. She looked effortless, as if she did this every day.

I won't be shocked if she did, though.

“What of Mom?” Gabriel ignored their taunts and turned to his father, who was looking so angry he could burst into flames.

Evelyn's face fell; it was as if she were fishing for answers. She didn't like his silence. It killed her more.

“She is not feeling too well.”

I should have told him I was not feeling well to get out of riding a horse so early in the morning when the snow would beat against our bodies.

“Why don’t we get you on a horse?” Gabriel asked, taking my hand and pulling me away. Why did he even ask if he was just going to do what he wanted to anyway?

Julian approached before Gabriel could act.

“Mr King let me,” he said, stretching his hand to me.

I couldn't help but smile when his bright eyes met mine, and his smile was plastered across his face. He gave me a small nod, and I returned it. When my eyes met Gabriel’s again, he had a warning expression on his face.

I heard him loud and clear. "Don't cuddle with the help."

“I have got her,” Gabriel dismissed. His hand pressed intimately against my waist as he helped me up to the horse.

The horse swayed too much; it had been a while since I was on a horse, and I was not sure if I was going to be able to do this.

“Ms Nora, don’t panic; she is one of the calmest ones we have,” Julian explained, and I nodded. He ran his finger through her mane, and she snuggled closer to him. The tension was too high for me to be trying to learn the name of the horse now. I will do that when the King family is not staring me down.

“I hope you can ride as pretty as you dress.” Evelyn cut the air with her snide remark. Of course, she was going to try to turn this into a competition.

Gabriel squeezed my hand gently, and when I looked down at him, an emotion I was not familiar with passed his eyes.

“I will ride with her,” he declared, getting on behind me at once. “Since she has never ridden before”

I couldn't correct him because it would mean I would have to explain how I knew how to ride a horse. I was determined, but the chest pressed to my back was not part of the plan, and with him that close, all of my resolve vanished.