บท 14: The Moment Of Truth
Mila took another bite of the pastries, her eyes closing for a second as she savored it.
When she opened them again, there was something softer in her expression. "This is perfect, Nico."
"You're welcome." I shrugged, playing it cool. I sent a mental thank you to old Nico.
The pastries had been carefully selected but I wouldn't have known of them if not for him.
We sipped our wine, talking about everything and nothing. We flirted and laughed, letting the evening flow naturally.
The ocean breeze carried the sound of the waves, and with each passing moment, the world seemed to shrink down to just the two of us.
There was something about the way she looked at me tonight, the way her body moved closer to mine as we talked.
The chemistry between us had been building all evening, and before the night was over, it would reach the point of no return.
There was a lull in the conversation and Mila leaned back, her eyes fixed on the ocean and a soft smile on her lips.
But as the silence stretched out, her smile faded a little. She glanced at me, something more serious in her eyes.
"You know, I've been thinking about that first time we met." She said, tracing her finger along the rim of her wine glass. "On the bus."
I raised an eyebrow, curious where this was going. "The infamous coffee spill?" I asked with a grin, trying to keep the mood light.
She laughed softly but didn't match my energy this time. Instead, she looked down at the glass in her hand, hesitating. "Yeah, that... but there's more to it."
I tilted my head, sensing the shift in her tone. Oh God. I hope this won't be a mood killer. There's no way she'd ruin the atmosphere and nullify all my hard work would she?
It didn't matter. I had a role to play and I had to play it perfectly. "Go on." I said, keeping my voice soft.
She exhaled, like she was trying to decide how much to reveal.
"I wasn't supposed to be on that bus, you know. I usually don't... take public transport. But, well, I was kind of... struggling back then. Financially."
That admission hung in the air for a moment, and I fought to keep my expression neutral. I could see how much it had cost her to say it.
"You know, that's the thing about social media." She chuckled, shaking her head. "You only show people what you want them to see. They never really see the real you."
She took a deep breath before continuing. "At the time, I was going through a rough patch. Some investments didn't work out, and I had overextended myself."
"For a while there, I was living beyond my means. And that day on the bus? I was trying to avoid taking one of my own cars because... I didn't even have enough to put gas in the tank."
I stared at her for a moment, letting that sink in. What was going on? She had been facing financial struggles?
What about her sponsors? Or her cosmetic brand? Has this even affected her net worth? Will my reward be reduced?
"Wow, I didn't know." I said, my voice low. No matter what, I had to play along. "That must've been... hard."
She nodded, her eyes distant. "Yeah. It was. It felt humiliating, to be honest. To be in that position when everyone expects you to have it all. That's why I tried my best to ignore you after spilling coffee all over you."
I reached out, placing my hand on hers. "You know, everyone has moments like that. Moments where things aren't perfect. It doesn't change anything about who you are."
She looked at me, her eyes searching mine. "I guess that's what I've been trying to prove ever since. That I've got everything under control now. But it's exhausting, you know? Keeping up the image."
I nodded. "You don't have to pretend with me, Mila."
She held my gaze for a long moment, then let out a soft laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing. "You make it sound so simple."
"It is simple," I replied, squeezing her hand gently. "You don't need to prove anything to me."
Her smile returned, softer now, and she moved a little closer. "You're different, Nico. You're not like the others."
I shrugged, keeping my tone light. "Maybe I just see things differently." if only she knew why I was here with her tonight. Why I had set up this whole picnic.
She leaned in, holding my gaze. "Maybe that's why I like you." She whispered.
This was it. The moment we've all been waiting for. I could feel the electricity in the air.
Her eyes flicked to my lips, and in that moment, everything felt inevitable.
I leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted. But she didn't. Instead, she closed the distance between us, her lips brushing mine in a soft, tentative kiss.
It was slow at first, almost careful, but as soon as we both felt that spark, it deepened.
Her hands slid up to my back of my neck, pulling me closer, and I could feel the need in her touch.
I shifted, wrapping my arm around her waist, pulling her onto my lap as the kiss grew more urgent.
She pressed against me, her body melting into mine, and I knew there was no turning back now.
Every barrier had crumbled, every wall between us had come down.
And as time went on around us, we let ourselves get lost in the heat of the moment, forgetting everything else except for each other.
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