CHAPTER NINE

~Nella~

My thoughts were interrupted by a playful push from behind. It was Hannah and Elsa.

“Seems like someone will be joining us for dinner tonight”, Hannah said with a smile. “Yes girl.. and I’m quite surprised too”, I responded feeling excited. I was exhausted but I was happy to be joining them for dinner, especially since it’s been a long time since I was able to do so. Just then the rest of the team walked out of the office building chatting with excitement.

Fridays were the best days for us especially when there was no carryover jobs.

“Excuse me guys but I won’t be joining in today. It’s my parents' anniversary and I need to be there”. Blair said as she waved goodbye. She was the youngest on the team but was the best photographer in the company.

“Bye Blair”.

We boarded three taxis, each dispatched for four people, since Blair wasn’t joining us, and Walter was still missing in action. We headed to our usual haunt, The Midnight Bites, a cozy restaurant just a few miles from the office. Known for serving some of the best food in the city, they generously give us discounts for being regulars.

As always, we placed our usual orders. Hannah, the heartbeat of our team, was the first to order drinks, and unsurprisingly, the first to get tipsy.

“So, Nella,” Hannah grinned mischievously, “tell us what went down between you and the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’?” She burst into laughter, and everyone followed suit.

I couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking my head. “Girl, I accidentally splashed a little sip of coffee on her dress while trying to leave the boss’s office.”

“What?!” Imara, one of our colleagues, nearly choked on her drink. “You’re lucky to still have your job after that!”

“I know, right?” I grinned, shaking my head.

Hannah raised her glass with a wink. “Here’s to Nella, still keeping her job!”

The laughter rang out as everyone followed her lead, raising their glasses in a chorus of cheers.

“And here’s to me handling a brand new project!” I muttered, sipping my wine, a slight smile playing on my lips.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed—it was Gray.

“Excuse me, guys. I need to take this,” I said, stepping away from the table.

I stepped outside, dialing the number with a soft smile already forming on my face.

“Hey, baby,” I answered.

“Hi, babe. Where are you?” Gray’s voice crackled warmly through the phone.

“I’m at a team dinner.”

“Should I come pick you up?”

“No, baby, I’m fine. Ashley’s picking me up later. She’s staying over at my place tonight,” I replied casually, glancing around.

“I see… Guess you’ve already got your night planned,” his voice softened with a hint of concern.

“Babe, I’m spending the weekend with you. You can come get me tomorrow morning, okay?” I spoke softly, my heart fluttering a bit at the thought.

“Oh, okay. See you tomorrow then.”

“Love you…”

“Love you, babe…”

I hung up and walked back inside, but the sight that greeted me was somewhat amusing—Hannah was already thoroughly tipsy, and a few others were in the same state. I couldn't help but chuckle as I took my seat.

“Nella,” Elsa asked, her voice a little more serious than usual, “what do you think about a one-sided relationship? Do you think it’s worth holding onto, hoping that one day your partner will love you back?”

The conversation seemed to shift, and I leaned back in my chair, taking a moment before answering.

“Well… I—I believe no one should settle for being loved less than they deserve. It’s better to walk away than to waste time hoping for something uncertain.”

“That’s exactly what I’m trying to say,” Hannah slurred, her words thick with alcohol. “I’ve got no love to waste on a jerk who doesn’t care.” She knocked back another drink and looked at me, her eyes hazy but determined.

Before I could say anything else, my phone rang again—it was Gray.

“Excuse me, guys,” I muttered, getting up to take the call.

When I stepped outside again, Gray’s car was parked right by the restaurant. I blinked, surprised but smiling at the sight of him.

“Hey,” I greeted him, walking over to the car.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, a smile tugging at my lips as I leaned in the car window.

“I came to pick you up,” Gray said, his smile warm. “I figured I’d come get you since I know you’d be here.”

I raised an eyebrow. “But I told you I was staying with Ashley tonight, and I was at a team dinner. You know how long it’s been since I’ve joined them.”

“Okay, babe. Let’s not have that conversation right now,” he said, his tone soft but insistent. He reached out, taking my hand gently. “Let me take you home. We can have a nice time together.”

“Babe, wait. I need to grab my bag,” I said, pulling my hand away briefly. “I’ll be right back.”

Inside, the team was buzzing with drunken chatter.

“What? Why are you leaving so soon?” Elsa asked, her voice full of concern. “Come on, Nella, we barely get this time together, and today was stressful enough.”

“I’m sorry, Elsa,” I said with an apologetic smile, kissing her lightly on the chin. “But I have an emergency to attend to.”

I rushed back outside to Gray, my heart a little unsettled as I left my friends behind. We drove off in silence, and after a few minutes, my phone buzzed again—it was Ashley.

“Hey, Nella, I should be on my way soon,” she said.

I glanced at Gray, who smiled reassuringly at me.

“Sorry, babe,” I said into the phone, “Gray had an emergency, so I had to go see him.”

“What happened?” Ashley asked, concerned.

“Babe, I promise I’ll explain everything later,” I said, my voice a little shaky.

“Okay, just take care of yourself, alright?” Ashley replied before hanging up.

An hour and twenty minutes later, we finally arrived at Gray’s place. He led me inside, and I sank into the soft, creamy-colored sofa, trying to steady myself. My thoughts swirled—should I bring up how I felt about the night? Or should I let it slide, patiently waiting to see what he had planned?

I took a deep breath, realizing I hadn’t exhaled in far too long. Gray appeared with a bottle of wine and two glasses, sitting beside me and offering me one.

“So, what’s the special occasion?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“What special occasion?” Gray responded, his eyes narrowing in slight confusion.

“Well, I thought maybe you had something planned, you know, with you coming over to pick me up,” I said with a small laugh, trying to make light of the situation.

Gray smiled softly, his fingers brushing against my hand as he took it in his own. “Come on, babe,” he said with a warm, almost playful tone. “I just want to spend the night with you.”

I swallowed hard, a quiet “Wow” slipping from my lips as I processed his words.

He gently took the glass of wine from my hand, setting it aside, then cupped the back of my head with one hand, letting my bun fall free as his fingers ran through my hair, allowing it to cascade down my shoulder. He leaned in, his lips brushing mine with a tender, almost possessive kiss.

"Babe…" I whispered, almost breathlessly, as I pulled back slightly. “Babe, I don’t think I can do this tonight.” My gaze met his, my eyes holding an unspoken plea.

His fingers traced the edge of my shirt, his voice hushed but insistent. “Why, babe?” His hands began to inch beneath the fabric of my top, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver down my spine.

“Babe, I’m tired. Please,” I implored, my voice barely above a whisper as I tried to pull back.

“I’ll be gentle, I promise,” he murmured, his words almost soothing, but his actions told a different story. Before I could protest further, his hands were already unbuttoning my shirt with practiced ease.

I shifted uncomfortably, attempting to sit up, but he gently coaxed me back down. His grip was firm but gentle, as if trying to ease me into something I wasn’t ready for. My heart raced, and I felt trapped, like I couldn’t breathe.

“Babe, please,” I whispered, my chest tight as I took a shaky breath. “I just need to sleep.”

I wanted to tell him how confused I felt—how I couldn’t understand why he’d shown up uninvited, only to push me further into something I wasn’t prepared for. But all I could do was stare at him, my heart torn between wanting to give in and needing to protect myself.