Nothing Better (Than You) - English Vers.

¤ Chapter 10

Nate walked back into the office after lunching with Layla, only to notice Pete shutting part of his sliding door—something he usually only did after hours, once all the staff had gone home.

"What's going on? Why's the door shut?" Nate asked, rushing over to Pete.

"You haven't heard? Mrs Carter's passed away, and everyone's going to the funeral," Pete said.

Nate and Layla locked eyes, both looking stunned. Mrs Carter had been the senior procurement staff member whose role Nate had inherited. The older woman had frequently assisted Nate via chat, offering valuable guidance. It now made sense that her chat had gone dark the previous day.

"Will you be going to the funeral?" Layla asked.

"I'm not sure," Nate said, sounding uncertain. Her dad had always drummed it into her that while she could get out of weddings, funerals were non-negotiable. "I'd like to go, but how would we even get there?"

"Shall we get an Uber? We can ride with Lily and Devi as well," Layla proposed.

"Actually, you can go with Keith—he drove in today," Pete added.

Nate's heart skipped a beat when she heard Keith's name. She hastily retreated to her office to compose herself. Devi was already packing up her things. But when they emerged outside, Nate was surprised not to see Keith's Mini. Instead, a Ford was parked in the car park, rapidly filling up with admin staff.

"Aren't you coming?" Keith asked, catching Nate off guard. He nodded towards the car, already settling in behind the wheel.

Nate, Layla, and Devi, the youngest members of the team, claimed the backseat. They made their way to the funeral home to bid their final farewells to Mrs Carter. As the afternoon wore on, the staff began to disperse, with Layla and Devi among those heading home. Only a handful of senior staff, including Mr Paul, lingered.

As Nate emerged from the funeral home, she pondered her next move. Should she head straight home, or indulge in some retail therapy and spend the afternoon getting lost in a new novel over a cup of coffee at a quaint café?

"Hey, fancy a stroll?" Keith popped up behind Nate, giving her a gentle tap on the shoulder.

Nate trailed Keith to his Ford and slid into the passenger seat. ""I could've sworn you drove a Mini."

"I've got both, but I tend to drive the Mini more. The Ford's for personal use, really. Today, I figured I'd need the extra space, so..." Keith trailed off, focusing on the road. "By the way, sorry for that impromptu kiss. I hope you're not still fuming about it?"

Nate's cheeks went bright red. The truth was, she hadn't been bothered by Keith's kiss at al—in fact, it had left her with a curious, fluttery feeling in her chest that she couldn't shake. "No worries."

Keith led Nate to Hyde Park, which was surprisingly deserted. Usually, the place was teeming with people, but today it was peaceful. Perhaps it was because it was a weekday. As they strolled along the tree-lined path, Keith casually took Nate's hand, sending a flutter through her chest.

"You seem a bit on edge—everything okay?" Keith asked, his eyes locked on hers.

"My husband never used to hold my hand when we walked," Nate admitted, her cheeks flushing.

Keith couldn't help but smile and tightened his grip on Nate's hand. "You've never really talked about your husband, have you?"

"There's just nothing to say about him, really."

"I'm curious, what's the man like who's so fortunate to wake up to you every day?"

Nate's gaze dropped. "I'm not as special as you think. If I was, he'd have put me first. Instead, it's always felt like I'm the one trying to make things work between us."