Billionaire Daredevil In Love

Nadine:

I couldn’t contain the feeling of ecstasy that was going through me; it had been quite a while since I had felt genuinely happy like that, and not for someone else, but for myself. I knew I had to be discreet, so I took my bath, got dressed in one of my beautiful gowns and slunk out of the house. I decided not to use the driver, as Clayton could later compel him to ask where I had been so I called for a designated driver. On the way, inside the car, as cool music filtered through the car’s stereo, I thought about my relationship with Enzo. It had morphed from a mere friendship into something deeper, something more intimate, and it both terrified and excited me. Whenever we talked on the phone, I could detect the feelings in his voice and I knew he could in mine.

“We’re here, ma’am,” the driver said as he slowed down and parked in front of a hotel.

“Thank you,” I said and handed him the wad of cash that I had folded in my hands.

I walked to the reception and demanded to see Enzo.

“Room 120,” the receptionist said and I walked away towards the elevator.

I had called him before I spoke to the receptionist so he was waiting for him outside the door. He had on a pair of pants and a t-shirt, something as simple as he was.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said to me with his characteristic disarming smile.

“Hi there, handsome,” I said to him as we hugged casually.

“Maybe we can have a few drinks at the bar first before coming back up here,” he suggested.

“Okay,” I said with a shrug. “Anything you say. I mean, you’re literally the celebrant.”

He gave a short, hearty laugh before saying, “well, as much as this is celebrating my company, it is also just wanting to enjoy being with you, you know.”

I smiled as he held my hand and we walked back to the elevator.

The bar was how I hoped it would be – quiet and dimly lit. I did not want anyone recognizing me, or Enzo, and saying something to Clayton, or spreading foolish rumors; the citizens of this city seemed to binge on rumors in a way that disgusted me. I wished everyone would just mind their business.

“Congratulations, once again,” I said to Enzo. “Really. I’m happy for you.”

“Well, thank you,” he said. “Wait, let’s say a toast.”

He raised his shot glass and said a toast to more wins and bigger things in life, and most importantly to the boon of friendship.

We continued like this for a while, drinking and chatting about everything until his demeanor assumed a severity and he said, “Nadine, I would like to tell you something.”

“Ohh, what is it?” I asked. “Is anything the problem?”

“No, not exactly,” he said. “But it’s actually something quite serious.”

“Spit it out, then,” I said, giving him a gentle nudge on the elbow.

He breathed heavily before he continued to talk. I could see the tension on his face. In fact, beads of sweat formed on his forehead, making me quite concerned. He had always managed to maintain his composure since I had known him.

“Nadine, the truth is that I am head over heels in love with you,” he said.

I was disoriented; I stared at him with my mouth agape. I had seen it coming, but I didn’t expect that he would express his feelings for me so blatantly. I just stared at him, as if he was an alien that had just emerged from a spaceship.

“I mean it, Nadine,” he said, “I’m very much in love with you, so much that it is driving me crazy.”

“Ohh,” I said, still confused, not knowing what to say.

“So?” He said, brows arched. “Are you going to say something about it?”

“I-I don’t know, Enzo,” I said. “I mean, I’m confused. And besides, I’m your brother’s wife; you seem to have forgotten that. What am I supposed to say? You put me in a very awkward situation, Enzo,”

“I know, I know,” he said and took my hands in his. “I know that this is very awkward, Nadine, and maybe quite unexpected, but I couldn’t bear to hold it in me much longer. Besides, I haven’t forgotten that you’re my brother’s wife; I just couldn’t help myself.”

“Enzo, I don’t know about this,” I said, pulling my hands away from this.

“And you can’t deny it, too, Nadine,” he said.

“Deny what exactly?” I asked, my brows furrowed.

“Your own growing feelings for me,” he said decisively.

“What?!?!” I said, my voice raised a few notches. I got on my feet.

“Hey, come on, Nadine, relax,” he said and got up with me. “I didn’t mean no offense.”

“I think I need to leave,” I said. “This is getting too uncomfortable.”

“Come on, Nadine,” he said. “Please, I’m begging you. Hear me out, okay.”

“I’ve heard enough, Enzo,” I said and took my handbag, but he grabbed me by the wrist.

“Nadine, please,” he said. “Alright, let’s get out of here. This is not a place for that kind of talk. Let’s go to my room.”

“Your what?” I said. “That’s even worse.”

I wrestled my wrist from his and left the bar.

Enzo:

I went back to my room, dejected and filled with shame.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” I said to myself.

I called her a couple of times, not for anything, but just to confirm if she had gotten home safely. She did not pick. I ordered a few more drinks from the bar and drank myself to sleep. I was awakened by my phone buzzing. When I looked at the screen with my bleary eyes, I saw that it was Nadine.

“Hello,” I said.

“Hi,” she said. “I’m sorry I stormed off like that.”

“It’s fine,” I said.

“I have something I want to tell you, too,” she said.

“What?”