"Where are we going?" I asked, my voice low, careful.
Gabriel didn't answer right away. He leaned back, eyes fixed ahead, a smirk tugging at the edge of his lips. "Somewhere we both need."
I stared at him, unsure whether to feel nervous or intrigued. My heart wasn't calm—it raced like it had somewhere to be. Maybe with him.
The city lights blurred past as we drove, the silence thick with unsaid things. I could still hear his voice in my mind from earlier—"I'm sorry for leaving you like that." And that look in his eyes… like he wanted to say more.
He finally broke the silence. "You don't trust easily, do you?"
I looked at him. "Should I?"
Gabriel chuckled. "Maybe not. But maybe I'm the exception."
I didn't reply. Not because I agreed, but because I wasn't sure anymore.
Ten minutes later, the car slowed down in front of a tall building—sleek, glass, modern. Not a restaurant. Not a bar. It looked like… a penthouse suite.
"This is yours?" I asked as we stepped out.
"One of them," he replied casually.
My breath hitched. Billionaire, sure. But this—this was real. And still, I followed him.
The elevator ride was quiet. Intimate. I could feel the tension humming between us. When the doors opened, we stepped into a luxurious space—dim lights, soft music playing. But none of that mattered.
Because as soon as the door closed behind us, he turned to face me.
"I need to ask you something," he said.
I blinked. "What?"
"Why did you leave that morning?" His voice was quiet, searching.
My lips parted, then closed again. I didn't have the right words. "I panicked," I said finally. "I felt guilty. I didn't mean for it to happen."
He stepped closer. "And yet… here we are again."
I backed up slightly, but the wall met my back before I could get far. Gabriel didn't move fast—but he moved with certainty. His hand reached up, brushing hair from my face.
"You made me forget her," he whispered. "That night… I didn't expect to feel anything."
My breath caught. "Gabriel…"
His hand moved to my waist. "You still make me forget."
His lips brushed against mine, not quite a kiss, but enough to send a shiver through me. And just like that night… I felt the world fall away.
But this time, I didn't want to forget.
I pulled back, eyes searching his. "This can't happen again."
"Why not?"
"Because it means something."
He exhaled deeply, like he'd been waiting for me to say that. "I know."
We stood there, inches apart, the tension between us thick enough to choke on. He leaned in again, slower this time, testing.
And I didn't stop him.
But just before his lips touched mine, my phone buzzed—twice.
Luca.
I froze.
Gabriel stepped back immediately, reading my reaction.
"Answer it," he said softly.
I looked at the screen. Three missed calls now.
"I'll call him later," I muttered, dropping the phone onto the nearby couch.
Gabriel stepped closer again. "Are you sure?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I kissed him. Hard. Like I was trying to silence the voice in my head screaming that this was wrong. But it didn't feel wrong.
It felt… inevitable.
His arms wrapped around me as we stumbled toward the nearest couch. But just as things heated, a voice echoed faintly from the phone I'd dropped.
"Aria… it's urgent. Call me back. It's about Gabriel."
My eyes flew open.
Gabriel stilled.
"What is it?" he asked.
I picked up the phone, pressed play.
Luca's voice again. "You need to know something. That man—Gabriel—he's not just a rival. He's someone from my past. Someone I hurt.
The blood drained from my face.
"What did he say?" Gabriel asked, his brows pulling in.
I stared at him. My voice came out as a whisper.
"Do you know Luca… from before me?"
Gabriel blinked. A flicker of something crossed his face. "It's… complicated."
I stepped back.
"Complicated?" I echoed. "What haven't you told me?"
And then… the doorbell rang.
We both froze.
Neither of us moved to open it.
Another ring.
Faster. Urgent.
Gabriel looked at me, something heavy behind his eyes. "Stay here."
He moved to the door, opened it.
I peeked just in time to see who was standing there.
It was Luca.
And his words shattered the air:
"You planned all of this… didn't you, Gabriel?"