CHAPTER 5: ASHAMED

As I stood there, shocked and embarrassed, the woman’s voice cut through the room like a knife. "This is an office," she snapped, her eyes narrowing as she stared at me with the utmost disgust. "I suggest you stop slutting around with my husband."

Husband? My heart sank. Nathan never once mentioned he was married. I was mortified, and the shame washed over me in waves. He looked at me with pity, I couldn’t look back, not to him and not to anyone as my gaze was on the floor.

I wanted to escape from the scene and disappear, but Nathan’s grip tightened on my arm before I could move. He stepped forward, his voice dangerously calm but filled with authority.

"I am not your husband, and you will treat my guest with the respect she deserves," Nathan said, each word cutting through the tension like thunder. His gaze was locked on her, firm and powerful. “If you can’t manage that, I will personally have you thrown out of this building.”

The woman looked taken aback, her confidence wavered under Nathan’s firm gaze. "You can't - -"

"Oh, I can, and you know I will," Nathan interrupted, his voice low and unrelenting. "And you know what?  I will, without any hesitation. You don’t get to dance in here and insult my guest in my office."

I stood frozen, watching him handle the situation with such control, such unwavering strength. His protective stance over me was something I never expected, but at that moment, it made me admire him even more. 

No one had stood up for me like that. There was something about the way he commanded the room, how he shielded me from her insults, that stirred something deep inside me.

The woman’s expression shifted, her bravado crumbling as Nathan refused to back down. She huffed in frustration, but Nathan didn’t waver. He didn’t let go of me, didn’t let me fall under the weight of her words. His hand on my arm was a silent reassurance that I wasn’t alone.

"Leave," Nathan finally said, voice sharp as steel. "Now."

She turned and looked at me, fuming as she stormed out. I watched her go, heart racing. Nathan turned to me, his grip gentle now, his eyes softening.

"You don’t owe anyone an apology," he said quietly, still holding my gaze. And in that moment, I knew I was standing beside a man who wouldn’t let anyone hurt me, not even in his own world. For the first time in my life, I felt safe around a man and I could not even call him mine.

Nathan’s eyes softened as the door closed behind the woman. He turned to me, his expression apologetic, and gently let go of my arm.

“I’m sorry about that,” he said, his voice calm and soothing, the tension in the room slowly going away. “It seems like nature doesn’t want you to strip for me.” He chuckled lightly, trying to ease the moment with a bit of humor. His smile was warm, and disarming, and it made me feel like everything that had just happened was nothing more than a passing storm.

I couldn’t help but smile in return, my embarrassment fading. “Maybe it’s for the best,” I replied with a small laugh. “But I still owe you... after all, you did pay for the service.”

Nathan shook his head, still smiling. “Forget about that. You don’t owe me anything.” He paused for a moment, then added with a gentle sincerity, “How about we go out and get something to eat instead? You’ve had enough drama for one day.”

His words were like a balm to my frayed nerves, soothing the tension that had built up inside me. I took a deep breath and nodded, feeling grateful for the way he had handled everything with such grace.

“That sounds nice,” I said, feeling a bit lighter.

Nathan smiled again, this time a little wider, and for the first time since we’d entered his office, I felt the weight of the day begin to lift off my shoulders. The way he handled me with such care like nothing had to be forced, made me appreciate him even more. It was calming, his presence was strong yet gentle, steady, and reassuring.

“Good,” he said softly, his eyes kind. “Let’s go then.” And just like that, everything felt a little more manageable, as if I could let go of the chaos and just enjoy the moment with him.

As we walked out of the office, Nathan’s hand rested gently on the small of my back, guiding me through the opulent halls. Everyone who passed by us looked at me with some sort of envy, and I was enjoying it.

I couldn’t help the question that had been living at the back of my mind since the confrontation. I glanced up at him, my curiosity getting the best of me.

“Nathan,” I began, my voice soft but searching, “who was that woman, she claimed to be your wife?”

He looked over at me, his jaw tightening for a brief moment before he let out a quiet sigh. “That was Katrina... my ex-wife.”

The words hit me like a cold breeze, and though his touch felt comforting, the realization of who she was sent a ripple through me. My thoughts swirled. His ex-wife? The one who still acted like she had a claim over him, the one who had stormed in like I didn’t exist?

I tried to keep my expression neutral, but I could feel my face betray me. A thousand questions raced through my mind. If I ever wanted something more with Nathan, would Katrina always be in the picture? Would I always be battling her shadow?

He glanced down at me, and I could tell he noticed the shift in my mood. His voice softened, almost as if he could sense the unease settling in. “Hey, don’t worry about her. Katrina doesn’t control anything in my life anymore.”

But as much as I wanted to believe him, the weight of her presence still lingered. Nathan’s words were meant to reassure me, yet all I could think about was the unspoken war that might still be looming ahead. It was the kind I didn’t know if I was ready to fight.

And Nathan? He was watching me closely now, as if he could see the uncertainty brewing inside me. His gaze held mine for a long moment before he finally spoke again, his tone low and serious.

“There’s more you don’t know, and it is better it stays that way,” he said, his voice laced with something deeper, something darker. “But we’ll talk about that... when the time is right.”

I swallowed hard, feeling the pull of something unfinished between us.” More!” I exclaimed. Is he a Mafia or a drug lord?