Chapter 15

NICOLE

I looked at Nina nervously, feeling like I was losing my mind. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Who would have thought?" she said with a teasing grin.

I rolled my eyes and put my head down, trying to hide my embarrassment. "I guess no one," I said with a sigh. "Do you think he feels the same way toward me?"

Nina shrugged. "You would have to ask him that," she said.

I felt a knot form in my stomach at the thought of bringing up my feelings to him. What if he didn't feel the same way? What if it made things awkward between us?

“I don't know if I'm ready for that yet," I said, feeling a mix of fear and uncertainty.

Nina gave me a sympathetic look. "I understand, but you can't keep holding onto these feelings forever. You have to decide if it's worth taking the risk."

“I'm nervous," I whispered to Nina as we made our way to the sitting room. "What if he doesn't want to have anything to do with me aside from the contract?"

Nina noticed my unease and placed a comforting hand on my s