ERIKA After that, there was nothing left to say. Nigel backed up the car and got it running again, back to the hotel. They entered the room and he motioned Erika to go freshen up first. That's what she did, she quickly took her shower and came out. The awkwardness had only increased between them, worse than what they were back at the mansion. It was his turn to freshen up and watching him enter the washroom, Erika decided to leave. She needed a breath of fresh air. She stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her, not knowing where she was trying to go. She knew the corridors and directions a little bit so she just decided to explore. There wasn't much to see but she knew the one place that could instantly make her feel better, and when she looked down the floors, she saw the pool area right away. When she reached the pool, she sat on the edge and dipped her legs in the chilled water. Her breath relaxed and so did her rushing brain. It was as if she could finally breathe
ERIKA "I don't even know why I am telling you all this," he said with a confused look as if he had just surprised himself. "What would we be if not enemies?" Erika slowly leaned towards his face with a half grin, as if to show that she was happy for her victory of seeing his vulnerable side for the first time ever. "Maybe.. friends?" He stared at her for a while as if trying to decipher the meaning behind her eyes with the slightest hint of guilt inside him. He wasn't the proudest of his vulnerable moment, especially after he had emptied some of his heart to his rival. He didn't look mad at himself, maybe slightly embarrassed. Erika just kept on leaning in till he was annoyed enough to push her away. And by that time, she had leaned in too close to him and was just about to trip towards him, he grabbed her face and pushed her back. But with the way she was turned, her upper body twisted towards him, and when he pushed her, she fell forward straight, losing her balance. And just lik
ERIKA A smile appeared on his face and he tilted his face just slightly to go in close to her lips, and the next words made shivers run through her spine. "Maybe this game was an excuse to get to hold you tight like this," he said. And that was all it took for her to completely melt. She didn't know what she felt at that moment but the way she looked up at him as if she was pleading to know if he meant that. If there was a slight possibility that this wasn't just a game and evil tricks for him. But as he stared down at Erika, his gaze only turned softer, his fingers slowly rubbing in circles on her waist and his warm breath on her. With Erika's hands wrapped around his neck tight, he looked like he had waited for a long time. If this was really a game, he was the ultimate master of it. And there was a seething hatred she felt about it. "You know what's worse than a liar?" She whispered to him, not being able to keep her scepticism out of her eyes. "What?" "A good liar," she said
ERIKA "I can't," she said and then looked at him, making his face completely dry up, "I'm going on a date too. You do know that, right?" And that always, somehow, managed to drain out all the colours from Nigel's eyes. If he liked her, why wouldn't he just outright say it? Even though Erika wouldn't believe a word he says, she would still have some basis to think upon. But he was truly giving her no chance. "A date?" He asked like he was totally baffled. "Yes," she nodded. "No, you can't," he said rigidly like he had every right to make her rules. She couldn't help but give him a look with disbelief. "What does that mean? You're going on a date too, aren't you?" She asked. "You said he was a friend," Nigel threw his hands up like he was tired of this. "Really? I won't go if you stay back. Will you agree to let go of your massive opportunity to keep me company? We are not friends and we have our boundaries, let's not overstep anything," Erika was factual and he stared at her t
ERIKA "We look like the cringiest couple with matching clothes on a vacation," he commented as they walked to the car. She rolled her eyes just at that thought because it felt so unsettling. "I know, keep walking," she said, trying not to laugh as their clothes and shades matched, attracting attention well enough. They somehow avoided the reaction, visibly awkward but moving through it as they reached the car and it was a beautiful matte black Maserati in front of her and she couldn't help but gasp. She remembered the times she had an obsession with cars that she couldn't hold back at all in admiring it. Nigel must have seen it in her face as he went ahead and held the door open for her, making her recoil immediately into her nonchalant demeanour as she got inside, not helping the giddy feeling in her heart. "Where are we going?" She asked as he got in beside her, not paying much attention to any of it. She realised she loved surprises just not when they came from him. Erika rolled
ERIKA Erika frowned as he looked at her, scanning her face to make sure if it was a good idea and then he gave her a very subtle smile. "The beach first or the art gallery?" He asked, making Erika grin wide at his acceptance. She didn't know if he had cancelled the date but she was certain because of how the time passed after that. Nigel was more laid back as they drove to the beach, the conversations never stopped. He told her about his adventures in the city and how he loved travelling here every time possible. He drove her to a supposed "spot" that was his favourite and it was a part of the beach that was completely empty, more like a hideout. People usually visited that side which made it perfect for privacy and just uninterrupted time. They walked barefoot on the beach for some time, not running out of things to talk about with giddiness in Erika's stomach even though she knew she shouldn't get that excited about something like that because it wasn't supposed to end up well.
ERIKAShe shook her head to not get ahead of herself, this was just the buildup of something that would soon wreck everything. She couldn't think of things like this when her ultimate motive would always be destroying him till he's buried. She knew what her priority should be, but she knew that the tricks she was using to try and seduce him had started to feel lesser than a set up and more something that came from within her. But she had gone way too far trying to make him feel the way she was feeling. And the fact that he was uncomfortable with how things were was enough evidence for there being something other than rivalry here. There had to be something more."You look very familiar, but I just can't place where I've seen you," Mrs. Lia says when they all stood together. There were a few more businessmen standing with them around the table as they shared glances, not being able to place where they recognize Erika from. She suddenly tensed up with the sinking feeling in her stomach
The man rejoiced like he had won an award for cracking the best joke about Erika being the spitting image of a skimpy cartoon character. But the look of relief on Nigel Asher's face only made her blood boil, she hated how much more concerned he was about this. And that's why she knew the plan would work the moment this trips comes to an end. That's what Metin had told her, even on text, to not dig too deep because she would know the plan very soon. She was sure she would be surprised herself."I think we'll wrap up for the day, we are all tired, jetlagged and all," Nigel announced, trying to wrap it up. "Ah, that's too bad you're leaving, Mr. Asher. But please don't hesitate to tell me how things go tomorrow, you know, with Rachel," Mrs. Lia said, sheepishly. Nigel only smiled and looked at Erika as a signal to get going. As they started leaving, Erika could hear the old woman going on boasting her matchmaking skills.Throughout all this ruckus about Mrs Lia and Rachel, he was actual