Hired as His Fake Fiancée

CHAPTER FIVE: NOT READY TO MOVE ON.

NORA

Gabriel pulled away, my lips trembling, and the heat caused by his lips lingered against mine. He whipped his head to our audience, who looked too stunned to speak.

“Do you really think that show is going to convince us?” Evelyn was the first to speak. She was not impressed by his sudden display of affection.

Why was that? Was it so obvious that a man like Gabriel couldn't desire a woman like me?

“You hate public displays of affection, so there is no way that is all.” Evelyn continued as she slyly got out of her seat.

She walked over to us and stopped right in front of me, one leg stuck out like she was putting on a show, chest out and one hand holding her waist. She puckered her lips and waited for a reaction.

My free hand clutched the side of Gabriel’s custom-made jacket. I knew he could tell how much I was shaking, but that didn't seem to bother him at all. His hand on me stayed steady; I wished in that moment to know how he was so calm even now.

“Darling, this is just a piece of advice: Gabriel is not that kind of guy.”

“What kind of guy, Evelyn?” Gabriel cut her off before I could say anything.

Of course, I was not to speak unless spoken to, and now was definitely not one of those times. I swallowed and pressed my teeth into my lower lip.

“I know you, Gabriel.” Everlyn shifted to now stand right in front of him. She lazily touched the collar of his jacket, adjusting it as she pleased. “You aren't the kind of man to put on such a show; it’s obvious you want to prove a point.”

“Prove a point to you?” He scoffed and shook his head. “Do I need to prove a point to you? Why?”

She was taken aback by his question, and her discomfort showed as she shifted from foot to foot. Her mouth opened, but Helena-Gabriel’s mother beat her to it.

“We can discuss this another time.” Her gaze stayed on her husband as if she were waiting for approval. He nodded very curtly, almost unnoticeably, and she got out of her chair.

“Gabriel and Nora must have had a long trip. Why don’t I show them to their rooms, and we can continue that discussion another time?” She was not asking, as she had already pulled herself through the large room towards the staircase.

Gabriel’s hand found my wrist, enclosing it, and I was just realising how small mine was in comparison to his. He pulled me towards the staircase, following after his mother.

“Gabriel, if you were bringing a guest, you should have told me so I could prepare a room for her,” Helena said as we got to the very top of the stairs after a long, tiring journey up.

“There would be no need for that; we would share a room.” Gabriel’s answers were short and clipped. His voice was extremely tense, like the time I had to give a speech before the whole school while dripping wet with milk that my sister’s minions had dumped over me.

“Oh, right, you are a couple,” she exclaimed as she turned in the vast hallway.

Right! We were a couple; it would only make sense if we shared a room after all. She finally stopped in front of a double door and pushed it open.

“You can use this room.”

Gabriel pulled me in, and without another word to his mother, he closed the door in her face. His hand fell from mine; the warmth that I loved disappeared with him. He stepped into the room, moving as far away from me as possible.

This was what I was to him: a tool to be used to escape his father’s arranged marriage and nothing more. I had a million questions thudding against my chest, but I was waiting for the right time to be able to say any of them.

I turned to the room instead, taking all of its glory in. The ceilings were high, too high to reach without a ladder. A huge chandelier hung above the bed, and there were three doors, probably leading to other inner rooms we would never get to use.

This was a three-week trip, so I'd have to share a room with him. I had thought of the possibility, but I was almost sure that the King family were a bit outdated, and that should count for something at least, but here we were.

“Speak, Nora.”

“Wh…wha…what?” I stuttered a bit, taken aback by his voice.

“You have that look,” he said, like it was normal. “The one when you want to say something troubling you.”

“I don’t have a look,” I murmured, but his raised eyebrow was a great flaw to him. He never showed such expression, but maybe the King family villa was going to change him a bit. Soften him up so I see his other side.

“Are you just going to spring a kiss on me at any time?”

No, that was not what I was supposed to say first. But I wanted to know to prepare myself so my heart didn't beat out of my chest next time. So I knew better how to control myself.

“It’s all in the contract, Nora.”

“Right.” I turned from him. I had signed it without reading, after all. I knew that my next question was going to hurt me, but I still asked.

I cleared my throat, pretending to walk through the room, checking it out. “If I had refused to come with you, who would you have brought?”

Maybe a random actress who would have done a better job than me, and not ask stupid questions? I licked my lips, sure that my red lipstick, which was supposed to make a statement, was all gone by now.

“I am only asking because I was worried; I didn’t mean anything by…”

“I’d not have come.” His answer was short, clipped, and unclear, cutting me off before I went into a full rant.

Why won't he come? Because I was not there? ‘Oh my goodness! Nora! Once again, you are building castles in the air. How pathetic!’

“What does that mean?” My heart was begging for something to hold onto.

He took off his coat and tossed it to the bay chair by the window before he began to undo the buttons of his sleeves.

“Dinner will be ready soon; why don’t you take the first shower?”

I didn't need to say anything more; he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

“Sure, Mr King,” I murmured and disappeared into the bathroom. It was only day one, and I was already grasping at straws.

Maybe this was a good thing; spending time like this with him would rid me of all the fantasies I have about him, and by the time I get back to work in the new year, I would be ready to move on.