Nicole stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the front of her blouse for the third time like it might calm the storm inside her.
The fabric was soft cream satin—expensive, elegant, and deceptively gentle. It hugged her curves in a way that felt confident but not loud, the kind of outfit Ash would call quietly dangerous. She paired it with tailored black slacks and a thin gold belt that glinted whenever she shifted her hips. Her hair was half-up, half-down—thick, wavy, and carefully pinned back, but a few curls had already escaped near her cheeks the way they always did when she was stressed, like her body refused to stay perfectly controlled.
She looked composed.
Polished.
Unbreakable.
But inside, she felt like she was sinking.
Not into water this time.
Into silence… into the things she refused to say… into the questions that kept gnawing at her chest like teeth.
Her phone buzzed.
A calendar reminder blinked on the screen:
Client Presentation – 9:00 AM.
Nicole stared at it for a second too long, then exhaled as if she could breathe the fear out of herself.
"You can do this," she whispered, slipping on her heels.
And then she walked out.
⸻
Outside Ash's House — Xan
Xan was already waiting.
Of course he was.
He stood near the curb like he belonged there—dark tailored suit, one hand in his pocket, the other loosely holding his phone as if he hadn't been checking it every thirty seconds. The morning light brushed against his cheekbones, sharpening the angles of his face. His hair was perfectly styled, effortless in the way only someone who never second-guessed himself could be.
And when Nicole stepped closer, the scent hit her instantly.
Clean.
Warm.
Familiar.
The same cologne that had steadied her on the yacht. The same scent she'd woken up smelling in her memory—her body remembering comfort even when her mind fought it.
Xan's eyes lifted immediately.
Not to her face first.
To her posture.
To the set of her shoulders… the tightness in her jaw… the way her fingers gripped her purse strap like it was the only thing keeping her grounded.
"Morning," he said, voice smooth and steady—like he hadn't been up all night.
Nicole forced a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Morning."
His gaze dipped for the briefest moment to her wrist.
The faint bruise still lingered beneath her sleeve.
A shadow passed through his eyes so dark it almost scared her. Not anger—something worse.
Possession.
Protection.
A promise.
But he didn't mention it.
Instead, he offered his arm like a gentleman, as if this was normal.
"Car's waiting."
Nicole hesitated for one single heartbeat.
Then she stepped beside him.
She didn't take his arm.
She told herself she didn't need to.
But their shoulders brushed—just slightly—when they moved together.
And the spark that flared between them felt like a warning she didn't know how to obey.
⸻
The Drive — Quiet Heat
The city blurred past the tinted windows in streaks of gray and gold.
Inside the car, everything was too quiet.
Too warm.
Nicole sat upright, knees together, purse tucked close, pretending to look out the window even though she wasn't really seeing anything.
Xan sat across from her, phone in hand, scrolling through notes.
Pretending.
Because Nicole could feel his attention like a pulse.
Steady.
Patient.
Dangerous.
"I updated the deck last night," Xan said casually, as if it meant nothing. "Tightened your flow on slide four."
Nicole glanced at him. "You were working at midnight?"
Xan shrugged, like it was obvious. "I couldn't sleep."
The air thickened. Just for a second.
Nicole looked back down, pretending not to understand what he meant.
Because she did.
And her mouth went dry anyway.
Xan's voice softened slightly. "Are you okay today?"
Nicole swallowed. "I'm fine."
His eyes stayed on her, sharp and quiet. "You don't have to perform with me."
That hit her like a hand pressing against her chest.
Nicole turned her gaze back to the window quickly, breath shallow. "I know."
But the truth was—
She didn't know how to stop.
Not when everything in her life kept slipping out of her control.
Not when Xan was standing close enough to feel like a lifeline.
⸻
The Conference Room — Work Drama
The moment they stepped inside, the energy shifted.
Executives in expensive suits. Assistants whispering behind tablets. Overseas partners smiling too brightly—too polished, too interested. The room felt sharp beneath the professionalism, like everyone was holding a knife behind their backs.
Nicole could feel the stares immediately.
Not obvious enough to accuse.
But deliberate enough to make her skin crawl.
Curiosity traveled faster than airplanes ever could.
She married Director Gu Sean.
She disappeared right after.
Now she's here… with Xan.
No one said it out loud.
They didn't have to.
A woman from the partner company—Mira—approached with a polite grin and eyes that weren't polite at all.
"Nicole," she said sweetly. "So good to finally meet you. I've heard… a lot."
Nicole smiled smoothly. "Only good things, I hope."
Mira's gaze slid to Xan. "And you're traveling with Mr. Xan. How… supportive."
Xan's expression didn't change.
But his voice dropped into something colder.
"Nicole is leading today's presentation," he said flatly. "Stay focused."
Mira blinked, startled.
Nicole pretended not to notice the way Xan shut it down so fast.
She hated that part of her felt relieved.
⸻
The Presentation — Nicole Shines
When Nicole stood at the front of the room, the whispers died.
This was the one place she didn't feel helpless.
Her voice was clear. Confident. Her mind moved like a blade as she walked them through cost reductions, timelines, projections—every number placed like a chess piece she'd already won with.
People stopped staring.
They started listening.
Xan watched her with quiet intensity, pride tightening in his chest in a way he refused to name.
Nicole finished with calm authority.
"For our partnership to expand smoothly," she concluded, "we need trust, transparency, and shared standards. My team is ready to deliver that."
Applause erupted.
Nicole exhaled slowly, eyes flicking to Xan before she could stop herself.
He held her gaze half a second longer than appropriate.
Then nodded once.
A silent praise that felt more intimate than words.
⸻
Dinner — Celebration & Pressure
That night, the restaurant was dimly lit and elegant, soft jazz humming in the background. Long table. Too many people. Too much laughter. Too many eyes.
Wine flowed freely.
Plates came and went like waves.
Nicole laughed when someone made a joke, shoulders loosening slightly for the first time in days.
But she felt Xan watching her drink.
Not controlling.
Protective.
Like he was measuring the line between celebration and disaster.
And because he'd seen what fear did to her.
Because he'd seen what men did when they didn't accept "no."
And because if anyone at this table tried to corner her again—
He would end it.
Smoothly.
Publicly.
Without remorse.
Halfway through dinner, someone finally asked what had been hanging in the air like smoke.
"So…" an older executive chuckled, leaning in. "Is it true you weren't able to land the client yesterday?"
The table went quiet.
Nicole's throat tightened instantly.
Her mind blanked.
Everyone stared.
And Nicole could feel the humiliation rising like heat beneath her skin.