Nathan held onto Elena tightly, refusing to let her go. His lips moved hungrily against hers as they lost themselves in the passion of the moment. It had been over five minutes, but he still wasn't ready to stop.
She, gasping for air, gently pushed him away and whispered breathlessly, "Nathan, stop…"
Nathan, his breathing ragged, looked at her with hooded eyes. "Why? What's wrong?" he murmured, his voice deep with desire.
Elena placed a trembling hand on his chest, trying to calm herself down. "Did we just… kiss, Nathan?" she asked, looking into his intense gaze.
Nathan smirked, lowering his lips to her ear. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long, Elena," he whispered, his voice dripping with longing. "And now that I have you, I don't want to stop… I need you."
Before Elena could say another word, Nathan scooped her up effortlessly and carried her towards her bedroom.
"Nathan!" she gasped, but he only chuckled, placing her carefully on the bed.
He slid off his suit jacket and leaned over her, gripping her waist firmly. His lips met hers once again, this time deeper, more demanding. Elena felt her entire body burn as his hands roamed her waist, his fingers tracing delicate patterns against her skin.
A soft moan escaped her lips, making Nathan groan as he kissed her down her neck. He was losing control. He wanted her—right here, right now.
Just as he was about to pull down her underwear—
BANG! BANG! BANG!
A loud knock on the door startled them both.
Nathan groaned in frustration, resting his forehead against Elena's. "Are you serious right now?" he muttered, clearly irritated.
Elena, still flustered, quickly pushed him away and grabbed her jacket. She hurried out of the room, her heart still racing.
Nathan clenched his fists and banged his palm against the bed. "Wrong timing, Thomas," he gritted out, running a hand through his already messy hair.
As Elena reached the door and opened it, she was shocked to see Mrs. Reed standing outside, while Thomas was awkwardly trying to explain something.
"Ma'am, Nathan and Elena are busy… discussing some very important matters," Thomas said, trying not to laugh.
Mrs. Reed gave him a knowing look and smirked.
Nathan, still adjusting his half-buttoned shirt, walked into the living room, his expression unreadable. As soon as his mother laid eyes on him, she raised an eyebrow.
"Oh," she mused, clearly enjoying the situation. "Did I interrupt something?"
Elena, trying to act normal, quickly forced a smile. "No, ma'am, we were just having a… normal conversation."
Mrs. Reed chuckled knowingly. "Oh really, Lena? What a beautiful conversation. You know, that's exactly what I told my mother back when Nathan's father and I were having our first… sweet conversation in my father's office."
Elena turned red, realizing that Mrs. Reed had definitely caught onto what was happening.
"You're funny, ma'am," Elena said, laughing nervously.
Nathan casually sat beside Elena on the couch, his shirt still slightly open. Elena noticed and tried to subtly signal him to button it up.
Mrs. Reed caught the gesture and smirked. "Don't mind him, dear. He's a naughty man—just like his father."
Nathan chuckled and finally buttoned his shirt.
Mrs. Reed sighed and looked at both of them. "I came here earlier to clear up the mess Aria caused. But seeing as the 'real owner' is already here…" She shot a playful glance at Nathan. "I think I'll excuse myself and let you two continue your… 'conversation.'"
Elena smiled and offered to walk her to the car.
As they reached the front yard, Mrs. Reed took Elena's hands in hers.
"Don't call me 'ma'am,' dear," she said gently. "Feel free to call me 'Mother.' Since you're my son's happiness, it's only right that you become my daughter-in-law soon."
Elena's eyes widened in shock.
"You… you really mean that?"
Mrs. Reed smiled warmly. "Of course, Lena. You deserve the best."
Tears threatened to form in Elena's eyes as she smiled gratefully.
"Thank you… Mother," she said softly.
Mrs. Reed nodded in approval before stepping into the car.
Meanwhile, inside the car, Thomas was watching everything from the side mirror.
"My boss is about to give us the real baby boy who will call me Uncle Thomas," he said dramatically, laughing to himself
As Elena re-entered the house, she looked around for Nathan.
"Nathan?" she called.
Before she could react, she felt strong arms wrap around her waist from behind.
"Babe, I'm here," Nathan whispered huskily against her ear.
She shivered at his touch.
"Nathan, stop," she said, turning to face him.
"Why should I?" he teased, leaning in to kiss her again.
Just as their lips were about to meet
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Another knock on the door.
Nathan clenched his jaw and exhaled sharply. "I swear, if this is my mother again—"
Elena rushed to open the door, and to her surprise, her aunt from Cebu stood outside with a bright smile
"Aunt!" Elena gasped, immediately hugging her. "I missed you so much! Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
Her aunt chuckled and patted her back. "I wanted to surprise you, dear."
As she pulled away, her eyes landed on Nathan.
"Oh? And who is this fine young man?" she asked curiously.
Nathan smiled charmingly and extended his hand. "I'm Nathan Reed, ma'am."
Her aunt shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Nathan. Are you just a friend of Elena's?"
Before Elena could answer, Nathan smirked and confidently said, "Actually, I'm Elena's fiancé."
Her aunt's eyes widened in shock.
"Fiancé?!" she exclaimed.
Elena felt like strangling Nathan right there.
"Aunt, I was going to tell you—"
Her aunt frowned. "But we talk all the time! Why haven't you ever mentioned him before?"
Nathan gasped dramatically. "Lena! You didn't tell your aunt about me?"
Elena groaned in frustration and grabbed Nathan's suit jacket. "That's enough, Nathan. Let's go outside!"
As she dragged him out, Nathan called over his shoulder, "Aunt, we'll talk later! Just so you know, I love Lena very much, and we're getting married soon!"
Elena turned and clamped a hand over his mouth.
Her aunt laughed. "I see. He's a funny one."
Elena shoved Nathan toward the car.
"Thomas, take him home!" she ordered.
Nathan grinned. "I'll leave… but only if you give me a kiss."
Elena huffed but leaned in and quickly pecked him on the lips.
Nathan smirked. "That's more like it."
Thomas shook his head, chuckling as he started the car.
"Boss, you are something else," he muttered as they drove off.
As soon as Nathan's car disappeared down the street, Elena took a deep breath and turned to face her aunt, feeling guilty for not telling her everything sooner.
"Aunt, I'm sorry for keeping things from you. I didn't mean to hide anything… it's just that everything happened so fast," Elena explained, looking down.
Her aunt folded her arms and gave her a playful smirk. "Well, well, Lena. You have been living a whole romantic movie without telling me? You should have known I'd want to hear all the juicy details!"
Elena chuckled and sat beside her. "I know… it's just—Nathan and I have been through a lot. We started as friends, then everything got complicated, and—"
Her aunt cut her off with an amused grin. "No need for the long explanation, my dear. I could see the way that man looked at you. He's crazy about you!"
Elena blushed slightly and nodded.
Her aunt leaned in closer and whispered teasingly, "And I must say, good of you, Lena. You have excellent taste. That man is charming and extremely handsome. If I weren't getting old, I'd have toasted him myself!"
Elena's eyes widened in shock before she burst into laughter.
"Aunt! You're unbelievable! You're married, and you still want to flirt with Nathan?" she teased.
Her aunt shrugged dramatically and placed a hand on her chest. "Of course, my darling niece. Nathan will be my sugar lips, while my husband remains my baby boo!"
Elena laughed so hard she had to hold her stomach. "You are impossible, Auntie!"
Her aunt laughed along with her. "What can I say? A woman must always keep her options open!"
They continued teasing each other, filling the house with laughter. For the first time in days, Elena felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted off her chest.
Meanwhile, across town, Aiden sat alone in his dimly lit apartment, his jaw clenched in frustration. His mind replayed the scene from earlier—Nathan kissing Elena, Elena accepting his embrace, Nathan boldly calling her his fiancée.
He gripped his phone tightly, his knuckles turning white as rage consumed him.
"Damn you, Nathan Reed!" he muttered under his breath.
Unable to control his emotions, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.
The moment the call connected, a female voice answered. "Aiden, why are you calling me this late?"
Aiden's voice was low and filled with anger. "We need to get rid of Nathan."
The woman on the other end gasped. "What?!"
"You heard me. I want him dead!"
"Are you insane, Aiden? Nathan Reed is one of the most powerful men in this city. If you do anything reckless, you'll be the one to pay the price!"
Aiden gritted his teeth. "I don't care. He stole Elena from me! I won't just sit back and watch them be happy together!"
The woman hesitated before asking, "Are you absolutely sure about this? Nathan and Elena are really getting married?"
Aiden slammed his fist against the table. "Yes! I saw it with my own eyes! They were all over each other. I need him out of the way!"
The woman on the phone took a deep breath. "Alright, Aiden. Killing him is too risky. But… I have a better idea. We'll make sure they don't end up together."
Aiden narrowed his eyes. "What's your plan?"
The woman chuckled darkly. "Leave that to me. Just trust me. By the time I'm done, Nathan and Elena will never be together."
Aiden smirked, feeling a sense of satisfaction for the first time that night. "I'm counting on you."
As the call ended, he leaned back in his chair, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
"Enjoy your happiness while it lasts, Nathan Reed."
Back at Nathan's mansion, Nathan was in an entirely different mood.
He had just returned home, and for the first time in days, he felt genuinely happy. A deep sense of relief washed over him as he whispered to himself, "She's mine again. Elena belongs to Nathan Reed alone."
Thomas, who had been silently watching Nathan's reaction, smiled in satisfaction. "Boss, I've never seen you this happy before. You're glowing!"
Nathan smirked and replied, "Of course, Thomas. When a man finally wins the love of his life, how can he not glow?"
Thomas chuckled and nodded.
Meanwhile, Allision had been eavesdropping from a distance, curious about what was happening. She quickly rushed over to Thomas and whispered, "What happened? Why is Mr. Nathan so happy all of a sudden?"
Thomas grinned widely and whispered back, "Mr. Nathan kissed Miss Elena today!"
Allision gasped dramatically, her eyes widening. "WHAT? But weren't they fighting just yesterday?"
Thomas smirked. "You should know Mr. Reed better by now. He never lets go of what belongs to him. Elena is his, and he's never going to lose her again."
Allision clapped her hands in excitement. "Oh my! This is such good news!"
As Nathan stepped inside the house, he stretched his arms and sighed in satisfaction.
"Thomas, go home and get some rest. You've worked hard today."
Thomas bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, boss. But you better not mess things up with Miss Elena again!"
Nathan chuckled. "Don't worry, Thomas. I plan to make things right."
As Thomas left, Nathan turned to Allision.
"Get me a cold drink," he instructed.
Allision nodded and quickly ran off to the kitchen.
The maids in the mansion had all noticed Nathan's change in mood, and they whispered excitedly among themselves.
"Look at him! He's finally back to his normal self!"
"Miss Elena must have worked some magic on him."
"Thank goodness! The mansion was starting to feel like a graveyard without his energy."
Nathan overheard their whispers and smirked. Instead of scolding them, he decided to join in their laughter.
"You ladies gossip too much," he teased.
They giggled, relieved to see their boss joking again.
After taking his drink, Nathan headed to his room, still thinking about Elena. He smiled to himself, feeling at peace for the first time in a long while.
Nathan lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind completely consumed by thoughts of Elena.
He could still feel the warmth of her hands as she wrapped them around his neck. The memory of her soft lips against his sent shivers down his spine. He smirked as he replayed their passionate kiss in his mind, remembering the way she moaned softly under his touch.
As he shifted slightly, he suddenly felt something hardening beneath his trousers.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, realizing that just thinking about Elena was enough to turn him on.
Frustrated yet amused by his reaction, he grabbed his phone from the nightstand and immediately dialed Elena's number.
After a few rings, she picked up.
"Hey babe," Nathan said in a deep, husky voice.
Elena's cheeks instantly flushed. Hearing him call her babe made her stomach flutter. She bit her lip and replied shyly, "How are you doing, Nathan?"
Nathan clicked his tongue and corrected her immediately.
"Not Nathan. Call me something sweet, love," he teased.
Elena blushed even more. She hesitated for a second before whispering, "Okay… how are you doing, love?"
A smirk spread across Nathan's lips. He loved how shy she was but also how effortlessly she made his heart race.
"Mmm, that sounds so much better. Say it again," he demanded playfully.
Elena giggled. "No way, Nathan!"
"Ah, there you go again! love, not Nathan," he insisted.
She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Okay, love, how was your day?"
Nathan chuckled, feeling satisfied. "Much better now that I'm hearing your voice. I swear, Elena, You're making me crazy."
Elena's heart skipped a beat. She clutched her pillow tightly as she lay on her bed, feeling overwhelmed with emotions.
"You're exaggerating," she said, trying to sound casual.
"I'm dead serious, babe," Nathan replied smoothly.
Their conversation continued with playful teasing and laughter, each moment bringing them closer.
After some time, Nathan suddenly asked, "Babe, can you come over tomorrow?"
"Why?" Elena asked curiously.
"I want to cook for you," he said confidently.
Elena laughed softly. "You? Cooking for me? I don't believe it."
Nathan scoffed. "Oh, come on, don't underestimate me. I'm not just a billionaire CEO, I also know how to handle things in the kitchen."
Elena smirked. "Mmm, I wonder what else you can handle?" she teased.
Nathan groaned dramatically. "Oh, sweetheart, don't tempt me. I might just show up at your house right now."
Elena giggled. "You wish!"
Nathan sighed and asked, "So, will you come?"
Elena hesitated for a second before saying, "I would love to, but I have to go to Liam's Luxury tomorrow to sign my contract."
Nathan's eyes lit up with excitement. "That's amazing, babe! Your dream is finally coming true."
Elena smiled. "Yeah, I still can't believe it."
Nathan's voice softened. "I'm so proud of you, Elena. You deserve this and more."
Elena's heart melted at his words. "Thank you, love," she whispered.
Nathan smirked. "Ah, say that again."
"Nathan, stop!" she giggled.
"Alright, fine," Nathan pouted. "But promise me we'll celebrate together after your signing?"
"Of course," Elena assured him.
Nathan sighed, not wanting to hang up. He loved hearing her voice, but he also didn't want to disturb her rest.
"Get some sleep, my love. I'll call you first thing in the morning."
Elena smiled. "Okay. Goodnight, love."
Nathan grinned. "Goodnight, my queen."
After hanging up, Nathan lay back down, still smiling to himself.