“I’m guessing that you already found out…” Gael drawled. He made himself comfortable on the sofa with his arms spread out on the backrest—he even had his feet up on the coffee table like this was his territory, and Angela was the unwanted guest who invaded his place.

She scanned the length of his body, her brows knitted together, and the frown on her face worsened the more she looked at him. She watched as he noticed the papers that scattered across the table where his feet were. He picked some of them up and started skimming over them. She was horrified at his actions seeing that he was reading what she wrote last night. He was probably disturbed by what he read on her drafts when she saw his brows slightly furrow as his eyes were fixed on one paper.

Hurriedly, she scurried forward and snatched the papers from his hands. Along with the rest of the documents on the table, she shoved them all inside her luggage. “Did you know all this time?” she asked while her back was still facing him. “That I’m supposed to fly back with you?”

He only shrugged when she turned to him again. A cold expression replaced the smug look on his face. What he briefly read from the paper made him think that she had some pent up emotions—that of someone who had been hurt real bad in the past. He wondered if she was just that good at writing or just like her first book, was she also writing from experience?

Whatever it was, why did it matter? He was there to hear her beg for him to take her with him on his private plane when they were cleared to take off. A few hours ago, Samantha Cho had asked him a favor to have Angela ride with him back to Esmea. He refused given their circumstances, but he couldn’t really tell Samantha the truth. So in the end, he had to say yes—reluctantly. And when Riccardo told him about the flight suspension back at the restaurant, he cursed the heavens.

And now, he was here. He knew that Angela didn’t really have any option, but he refused to accept her request so easily. So he came to gloat and to rub it in her face that her fate was in his hands.

And because he couldn’t help himself, he just had to push her buttons. “You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

Angela couldn’t believe what she heard. “What?”

“Getting stuck here with me…”

She scoffed, unable to hold herself back. “Are you out of your mind?”

Gael enjoyed watching her react to his words. He was amused and he relished the feeling of seeing her getting all riled up, flustered, or annoyed because of him. “Humor me, Ms. Su. You’re a writer, aren’t you?”

He chuckled as he said the word “writer” as though it was ridiculously amusing for him thinking about the book that she wrote. A book that she wrote with him as her reference. She didn’t answer and so he continued, “Judging by your frustration… not to mention the last book that you released had been several months ago—”

“Someone has been doing his homework… I’m starting to think you’re actually a fan.” Angela crossed her arms in front of her chest. She didn’t like that they were talking about her work—her identity. She had never talked about it to anyone other than her best friend. So the conversation made her feel uneasy.

Gael ignored her remark and continued, “I’m guessing… as soon as you heard about the possible flight suspension this morning, as well as me having my plane… You probably stayed behind on purpose.”

The vein on Angela’s temple ticked at his words. “Are you that stuck up? Your head is so far up your ass for you to be thinking so highly of yourself.” She scoffed. “Why the hell would I want to be stuck here with you?!”

He found her attempt to insult him amusing that he chuckled. He had heard a lot worse from all sorts of people that there were only a few things that could actually affect him. Her words barely scratched his feelings. For him, she was like a little cub trying to scare him with her little claws. ‘Nice try, Angel,’ he thought.

He stared back at her, taking in the way she looked at him as if he was the vilest person in the room. He didn’t know why he was trying to make her blood boil. He was upset and he wanted her to be angry too. “I don’t know… Maybe so you can try your way with me again? Who knows? Maybe because you think you might be able to write a sequel to your naughty book?”

He was being an ass. He was already well aware of that. But did he care that he was? No.

At this point, Gael was trying to push her to the edge until she bursts and admits the truth. Maybe, just maybe… He might change his mind and not push through with the lawsuit. He couldn’t tell if he was doing this for himself or for her. What was he doing?

Angela felt every fiber of her being was lit up, and the words just escaped from her lips. “You’re disgusting. Move on, will you?”

“Really?” He arched a brow and got up from the sofa. He stalked towards her slowly and his grey eyes darkened—almost similar to the wrathful sky outside. His every step was a threat and every step he took forward, she stepped back.

Gael’s blazing gaze met her cautious one and he held it. He kept moving towards her until the back of her legs touched the bed and she fell back in a sitting position. Leaning forward until he was eye-level with her, he planted his hands on the bed, trapping her in place.

“Because that’s not what you wrote in your book, Angela. The way you described me… I gotta say… You’re pretty good with your words. If you found me so stuck up… so disgusting… Why the fûck does it seem to me like you’re the one who can’t move on?”

The distance between them made her unable to breathe. She had sucked in air and her eyes slightly widened. He was so close that she could smell his intoxicating cologne. So close that the pair of grey eyes were so clear in front of her. They were so beautiful just like she remembered and she couldn’t help but be awe-struck of how he had so much power over her.

She didn’t like what she was feeling. She didn’t like that her heart skipped a beat when his eyes trailed down to her lips and stayed there. She should have pushed him away. With how he was making her feel, she should be hating him.

Despite herself, her stare landed on his lips too. And damn if she didn’t want to kiss him.