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Chapter 15: Her Decision
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2024-10-05 07:00:17The night air cladded around us as if refreshingly cold among the coziness of an intimate dinner we had just shared the moment we stepped out of the restaurant. Nicolai's hovering hand lingered at the bottom of my back, guiding me toward his car, but I stopped some distance from there. My back remained straight, my chin slightly raised, standing firmly in control of the moment.
"I can take myself home," I told him firmly, my voice leaving no doubt as to the subject of this conversation being closed.
Nicolai looked at me. His eyes searched mine for a second, perhaps for a crack in the armor. I held my ground, letting the brief silence between us stretch long enough for him to understand.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he inclined his head, hands dropping into his pockets.
"You always do like to be in charge, don't you?" His tone was playful, but the respect seemed to ring through.
He was accustomed to women fawning over him, bending themselves
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I sat near the fire, tracing the curve of an empty wine glass with the fingers of my right hand as I glanced over at my grandmother, Eleanor. Her eyes had always been warm and bright, but I could see a reserve growing in them now, and I didn't need it today."How about Nicolai's invitation?" she whispered. "Are you ready for that, my dear?" The voice was gentle but a steady reminder of who I once was, like it seemed to come from her lips, but rather from some place deeper.A smile spread over my face, but deep within me was a mile runner always setting his step according to the plan. "I'm thinking and realized that I've been ready for a long time, Grandma. Gideon won't know what hit him." I let the glass sit on the table. Standing up to give her a peck on the cheek ended that harsh line of thought for me. Her hand had reached out to gently squeeze mine into reality in this rare moment of softness."Just remember," she wh
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I paused, letting the tension simmer only for just a moment before answering. Nicolai's voice was rich with anticipation, a hint of smugness already present as if he knew my answer. He knew what showing up with me at Gideon's party would meanwhat kind of message it would send to Gideon and everyone else in that room."Yes, Nicolai," I said, dripping with seductive confidence. "I'll be your date to the party."I could almost hear his grin through the phone, satisfaction radiating from him. "Amethyst, you've made me a very happy man," he said, his voice full of delight. "It's going to be a night neither of us will forget. I'll have my team send the details to you shortly."The call ended, leaving Nicolai practically brimming with excitement. For me, though, this wasn't about going to some bash-it was a tactical step-a chess move. Nicolai would be my human shield, my human asset, but the real prize was what I would do to Gideon. Witnessing me there, arm-in-arm with the man who outclasses
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