Escaped My Ex, Got Snatched by His Rival - Chapter 197

Chapter 197: Is that a challenge?
Ari sighed as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. She said to the man who was done ogling at her body, “Mister De Luca, I am grateful for your timely assistance just now. But can you tell me why are you here? Is it about the debt?”

Upon hearing her words, Nicolai felt a nerve twitch in his forehead. Pray oh, tell him, why did he like this woman?

She spoke the cruellest thing without even mincing her words.

He ran his hand through his hair and said to her, “You are unusually testy, Pallas. Did you find another man and do not wish to be seen with me?”

A furrow appeared on Ari’s forehead as she questioned, “Is that even important at this point?”

“Have you?” Nicolai pressed. If she did, then he would end up immersed in another task, when he was already straddled with enough projects.

Especially after he shot his arms supplier guy dead.

However, this was way more important. His Nico the Great was on the line here alright.

He had worked his ass off to get this woman to get acquainted with him. Including paying off a debt that amounted to ten million dollars.

If someone intercepted him in between, then he needed to collect some interest from this intercepting fucker.

“Are you being serious?” Seeing Nicolai press for an answer, Ariana asked.

With a stiff posture, Nicolai nodded. Of course, it was significant. How could it be not?

“I am a divorced woman and as you can see, I am unlike those women who are demure and dress up to impress the men,” Ariana answered with a quiet voice. “It will be a surprise if anyone likes me when I dress up in such a grim fashion.”

She raised her head and stared at Nicolai right in the eyes, “Men flock over women who catch their eyes. I don’t think that I can do it.”

“Have you ever considered that maybe men do not dare to approach you because you glare at them as if they are the lowest of the low?” Nicolai offered.

He then glanced at the dark blue uniform that Ari was wearing. She looked rather unapproachable in that dark colour but even if she was not wearing that, she would be wearing something that screamed —— Back the fuck off you bastard.

It was not a surprise that she was not noticed by men as Ariana liked to dress up as a gothic Barbie. Compared to women who wore vibrant dresses, she stuck out like a sore thumb.

‘However, does she really not know that with that body she can subdue any man that she wants?’ Nicolai thought while setting his lips in a thin line.

Of course, he would not be as foolish as to tell her that Ariana was enchanting enough because of her body.

‘If I say that, I will sound like a lecherous pig,’ Nicolai thought with a smile on his lips.

“I do not wish to be entangled with a man currently,” Ariana spoke her mind as she looked at Nicolai. “I know what you are thinking and what you want, but I am afraid that I cannot give it to you, Mister De Luca.”

She placed her hand on her chest and looked down at the finger where she used to wear her wedding finger.

“I loved someone for more than twelve years. I cannot even think of looking at someone else in a matter of two months.”

“Not to mention, I am not exactly the kind of woman who fits perfectly with you. Given, that what I want is commitment and what you want is just a night’s endeavour.”

She closed her eyes, feeling slightly relieved as Ariana was worried that she might lead Nicolai on in one or another way. She had no plan of doing such a thing.

“Is that a challenge?”

Ariana snapped her head up and looked at the man in front of her. She had expected him to be livid, but the man was smiling at her.

“What…”

“Here,” Nicolai did not answer her question, instead he thrust the bouquet of books in her arms. “I brought this for you. Did you not say that you liked books?”

And the familiar nausea was back, as Ari hugged the books that were neatly arranged in the form of a bouquet, she suddenly felt a sort of itch in her throat.

She did not know what to say at that moment. She opened her mouth but closed it back down because this was the first time someone gave her what she liked.

Not something that Ariel liked, nor something that was handed to her out of guilt or apology.

“You should be saying thank you,” Nicolai arched a brow as he placed his hands inside his pants pockets. “That’s common courtesy, Pallas.”

*********

“Are you alright, Doctor Harlow?” Cassidy asked while handing the charts and material for treatment to Ariana. “Your face is unusually red.”

“Huh? Oh… I am alright,” Ariana replied while covering her mouth with the back of her hand.

What was going on? Why was she acting like this over some books?

But then again, was she reacting like this because Nicolai gave her books or because he took the time to make a bouquet of those books?

‘Get a grip, Ariana,’ Ariana shook her head a second later as she took the charts and materials from Cassidy.

“I will be leaving now,” Ariana said to Cassidy as she turned on her feet to head over to the ward of Mrs Cartwright.

“Please pay attention, Mrs Cartwright can be really handful sometimes,” Cassidy told Ariana, who nodded and took her leave.

However, as she marched past the nurse station her mind couldn’t help but fly back to Nicolai.

Maybe she should invite him to dinner?

****************

“Mister Noah…? How long are we going to stay here?” Brandon asked as he looked at Noah, who stood in the corner while looking at Ariana.

Noah stared at the woman whose back became smaller and smaller with each step that she took before sucking in a breath. He turned on his heels and said to Brandon, “Let’s go.” His fingers dug in his palm until the skin broke.