POV Norah
Fiona’s voice still rang in my ears from earlier.
Red flag. Get your shit straight.
I knew she was right, but tonight wasn’t about Xander, not entirely. I wasn’t pregnant yet. That fact pressed against my chest like a secret escape hatch.
I wasn’t bound to him in the way I would be once there was a child. And Chris… well, Chris was just a friend.
A friend clearly with feelings for me. A friend who made me feel seen in ways that weren’t tangled in contracts and glass walls.
I stood in front of the mirror, curling a final strand of hair, slipping on the deep emerald dress that hugged me tighter than I intended. It was bold, too bold maybe, but I wanted to feel something tonight—light, beautiful, free.
I fastened my earrings and whispered to my reflection, “It’s just dinner. Nothing more.”
My chest still thudded with nerves.
Xander had a late-night meeting. I knew because Sarah had dropped a hint about the board members flying in. He wouldn’t be home—or in my orbit—until after midnight.
That gave me a few hours to breathe.
A few hours to remember who I was without him.
The elevator ride down felt like descending into another life. When the doors opened, Fiona stood in the lobby, already waiting, her eyes widening as she spotted me.
“Babe,” she gasped, grabbing my arm like she couldn’t trust her own balance. “Oh. My. God. You look insane. Chris is going to lose his entire mind when he sees you.”
I rolled my eyes, though my cheeks heated. “It’s just dinner, Fiona.”
“Dinner? Honey, you look like you’re about to accept an Oscar. Don’t you dare tell me this is ‘just dinner.’”
I laughed despite myself, letting her tug me toward the waiting car. My heart raced faster the closer we got to the restaurant, though I couldn’t tell if it was excitement or guilt twisting in my stomach.
Maybe both.
When we arrived, the glow of candlelight spilled from the windows, but the place was eerily quiet.
Fiona arched a brow. “Did we come on the wrong night?”
Before I could answer, the door swung open and there he was—Chris, all tailored suit and effortless charm. His grin stretched wide when his eyes landed on me.
“There she is,” he said, stepping forward. His gaze swept me from head to toe, lingering just a fraction too long. “Norah, you look… stunning.”
“Hi,” I said softly, biting the inside of my cheek. “This is… wow. Where is everyone?”
He gestured around with a shrug, almost sheepish but not quite. “Reserved the place. Just for us.”
My jaw slackened. “You… what?”
“I wanted it to be special.” His voice was calm, assured, like it was the most natural thing in the world. “No distractions.”
Behind me, Fiona made a low whistle. “Well, damn.” She squeezed my arm before leaning closer to whisper, “I’ll be outside. Call me if you need me.”
And just like that, she was gone, leaving me standing in a restaurant that suddenly felt too intimate.
Chris pulled out a chair for me, his hand brushing the small of my back as I sat. “I’m really glad you came.”
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “So… what brought you back? You told me that you lived abroad.”
He leaned back, folding his hands together like he was revealing something monumental.
“I was. But my family needed me. I’m taking over the company.”
My brows shot up. “Really? That’s… huge.”
He nodded, eyes never leaving mine.
“It is. But it feels right. And if I play my cards right, it won’t just be the company I’ll have by my side.” He paused deliberately, his meaning landing sharp and clear. “It’ll be you.”
My breath caught, my fingers tightening around the stem of my glass. “Chris—”
“Norah, you have no idea. My grandmother,” he leaned in, softer now, “she would adore you. I can already see it. The way you carry yourself, the way you laugh. She’s always wanted me to find someone who grounds me, someone real. I cannot wait for her to meet you.”
The weight of his words settled between us, heavy and warm, making it hard to breathe.
“You’re getting ahead of yourself, don’t you think?” I said, forcing a lightness I didn’t feel.
“Maybe,” he admitted, smiling. “But sometimes you just know. And I’ve known since the first time I saw you.”
Heat pooled in my chest. His certainty was intoxicating, dangerous in its own way.
Nothing like Xander’s cold, calculated control.
Chris was open, direct. He wasn’t hiding behind contracts or smashing photographs. He was laying it all out, unapologetically.
The night blurred in wine and conversation. He asked me questions, listened like my answers were gold. He laughed easily, teased me without cruelty.
For a while, I forgot the tension, forgot the coldness waiting for me back at the office.
When the plates were cleared and the last of the candles burned low, Chris walked me to the door. And there, just outside where Fiona’s silhouette lingered in the car, he turned to me.
“Tonight was perfect,” he murmured.
“It was nice,” I admitted, my voice softer than I meant.
He searched my face like he was memorizing it. Then, without warning, his lips brushed mine. Gentle. Brief.
But enough to ignite something that left me stunned, rooted to the ground.
Before I could process, he stepped back, his grin boyish and sure. “Goodnight, Norah.”