The Enemy I Hate To Love

CHAPTER 11! The Dance

Emma's POV

My mind was still spinning from everything Michelle had just said. Two hundred crores? He was offering me two hundred crores to pretend to be his girlfriend for six months. My heart raced as I tried to wrap my head around the absurdity of it all. But his words kept replaying in my mind—"This is for Vanessa."
Vanessa. I couldn’t forget how happy she looked, how much she meant to Michelle. That’s what made me pause, made me reconsider my initial rejection. He wasn’t asking me to do this for him; he was doing it for his sister, the person he cared about most in the world. And in that moment, it was hard not to see him as something more than just the arrogant businessman who had made my life chaotic.
Before I could gather my thoughts completely, I felt Michelle step closer again, the warmth of his presence making my pulse quicken. His hand cupped my cheek, and I instinctively looked up into those piercing blue eyes that always seemed to see right through me. My breath hitched when his lips brushed against my cheek in a soft, unexpected kiss.
It wasn’t a rough or demanding kiss—it was gentle, tender even. The kind of kiss that left my skin tingling, my heart pounding in my chest. My eyes fluttered shut for a brief moment, and when I opened them, Michelle was watching me with that same unreadable expression, his thumb grazing the spot where his lips had just been.
“Let’s go back to the club,” he said softly, his voice low and intimate. “Vanessa’s waiting.”
I nodded, though my thoughts were still in disarray. I wasn’t sure if it was the kiss, the offer, or the sudden closeness between us, but something had shifted. I could feel it. The air between us felt charged, heavy with unspoken words and undeniable tension. But instead of confronting it, I let Michelle take my hand, leading me out of the private lounge and back into the pulsating rhythm of the club.
The music was loud, the lights flashing as we made our way back to the VIP section. Vanessa spotted us almost immediately, her face lighting up in pure joy as she rushed over.
“Oh my God, you two!” Vanessa squealed, throwing her arms around both of us, pulling us into a tight hug. “I knew it! I knew something was going on between you two! I’m so happy!”
I awkwardly patted her back, trying not to meet Michelle’s gaze as Vanessa practically crushed us in her embrace. Her happiness was infectious, though, and despite the whirlwind of emotions running through me, I found myself smiling.
Vanessa pulled back, her eyes shining with excitement. “You two should spend more time together tonight! This is just… I’m so happy you’re finally getting together.”
I opened my mouth to correct her, to tell her that this was all just pretend, but the words stuck in my throat. This was for her, after all. I couldn’t ruin it now, not when she looked so genuinely thrilled.
Michelle’s arm slid around my waist, pulling me closer, and I felt his breath against my ear as he whispered, “Relax, Emma. Just go with it.”
Easier said than done.
Vanessa eventually left us alone, still buzzing with excitement as she danced with her friends. But as soon as she was gone, I became acutely aware of how close Michelle and I were standing. His hand rested lightly on the small of my back, his thumb drawing idle circles that sent shivers down my spine.
I looked up at him, suddenly feeling the weight of his gaze. It was intense, heated in a way that made my heart race even faster. The club seemed to fade away, the music and lights dimming in comparison to the moment unfolding between us.
“Do you want to dance?” Michelle asked, his voice soft but with an edge of something deeper, something that made my stomach flip.
I hesitated for a second, but then nodded. Without a word, Michelle guided me to the dance floor, pulling me close as the music changed to a slow, sultry beat. My hands instinctively went to his shoulders, and I felt his hands settle firmly on my waist, pulling me against him in a way that left no room for space.
As we swayed to the rhythm, the tension between us only grew stronger. Every brush of his fingers against my skin, every shift of his body against mine—it was intoxicating, overwhelming in a way I hadn’t expected. I could feel the heat radiating off him, the firmness of his chest pressed against mine, the steady rise and fall of his breath as he held me close.
For a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the room. I could barely think, barely breathe as I looked up into his eyes. They were dark, intense, filled with something I couldn’t quite place, but it made my heart race all the same.
“You look beautiful tonight,” he murmured, his voice sending a shiver down my spine.
I blushed, looking away, but Michelle’s hand moved to gently cup my chin, tilting my face back up to meet his gaze. “Don’t hide from me,” he said softly, his thumb brushing over my bottom lip.
I swallowed hard, my heart thudding wildly in my chest. The way he was looking at me, the way his touch sent electricity coursing through my veins—it was too much. Too intense. I felt like I was drowning in the moment, unable to think straight.
“Michelle…” I whispered, not even sure what I was trying to say.
But he didn’t give me a chance to finish. He leaned in, his lips dangerously close to mine as he whispered, “You know, event crasher… you seem to like ending up in my arms.”
His words were playful, teasing, but there was an edge of truth in them that made my pulse race. I couldn’t deny the way my body responded to his, the way every touch, every look made me feel things I didn’t want to admit.
I didn’t know what was happening between us, or why it felt so intense, but I couldn’t deny that I was caught in the moment, completely and utterly captivated by him.
As we swayed together, lost in the rhythm of the music, I let myself get lost in him, just for a little while. The world outside could wait. The questions, the doubts—they could all wait. Right now, it was just us.
And for the first time in a long time, that felt like enough.