𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝑰𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 24

"An extra day?" She looked at me weirdly. "Yes. Well, we still gave some work to do so I would not look at it from that angle entirely," I worked on the buttons on my cuffs.

I had expected her reaction to be quite honest. I was not one to take breaks, let alone extend one. However, this was for business, because that's what this was. Business. A contract.

I looked up from fastening my cuffs to find her standing in front of me. "Are you sick?"
"No. Why would-" my words came to a halt when she stood on her tippy toes, placing her soft palm on my forehead. "You don't feel sick. Did you eat something? Drink something?"

"No-"
"Oh no. The aliens finally got to you. Nicolas, are you in there?" She started calling to my head. "Aliens do not exist," I grabbed her hand. I began rubbing small circles of the inside of her wrist.

She chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "You say that now, but how do you explain this sudden change of heart? I thought you were the 'no rest for the wicked' type."

I sighed, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips. "It's not a change of heart. It's a calculated decision. We need the time to ensure everything goes perfectly."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Calculated, huh? Or maybe you just wanted an excuse to spend more time with me."

Her teasing tone caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond. My grip on her wrist loosened slightly as I searched for the right words. "It's... not like that," I finally managed, though even to my own ears, the words sounded weak.

She smiled, a knowing look in her eyes. "Sure, Nicolas. Whatever you say." She pulled her hand away gently, her fingers lingering on mine for just a moment before she stepped back. "But don't think I didn't notice you avoiding the question. Are you really okay?"

I nodded, trying to regain my composure. "I'm fine. Just focused, that's all."

She seemed to study me for a moment, as if trying to see through my words. Then she shrugged, a playful grin returning to her face. "Alright, Mr. Focused. But if I catch you staring off into space one more time, I'm calling the aliens myself."

I couldn't help but laugh, the tension between us easing. "I'd like to see you try."

She winked and turned to leave, but not before throwing a final comment over her shoulder. "Just remember, if this is all business, you're going to owe me a real break when it's over."

I watched her go, a small smile tugging at my lips. Maybe she was right-maybe I did want more time with her. But for now, I could live with the excuse of business. At least, that's what I told myself.
Our day started off with a farewell to everyone else as they were returning back home, with Lowie going to finish his final project in Germany before returning to the US officially.

Since the staff had not prepared for us to remain behind, I suggested we would get breakfast in town.

We drove into town, the morning sun casting a golden glow on the sleepy streets. The town was quiet, save for a few early risers and the soft hum of life beginning to stir. As we parked near a small café, she turned to me with a curious look.

"What's the plan for today?" she asked, unbuckling her seatbelt.

I glanced at her, noticing the way her hair caught the light. "First, breakfast," I said, stepping out of the car and holding the door open for her. "Then, we'll get to work. We still have some things to finalize before we can call it a day."

She nodded, though there was a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "Work, work, work. You sure know how to show a girl a good time."

I smiled, amused by her sarcasm. "I promise it won't be all work. We'll find time for a break somewhere in between."