Chapter 26 - Liar Liar.

I shouldn't have come here.

That was Cara's first thought as she walked into Nicholas's apartment. she was fidgeting and she felt very nervous even as he said different words to reassure her.

"Do you want to go back home?"

He finally asked and she shook her head. No, she didn't really want to go back to her cold empty apartment.

"No."

She said as she finally turned to look at him. If she thought he looked good in a suit, he even looked more tempting clad in nothing else but sweatpants and a tight T-shirt.

"I hope I didn't interrupt anything?"

She asked as she chuckled nervously, seeing his laptop on the counter open and he rushed towards it and quickly closed it.

"Nothing much. Just catching up on a little work. Signed a major deal."

He said and Cara's eyes widened.

"That's great! I'm happy for you."

She said and he nodded.

"Yea, that was what I was working on before you came in."

"Can I see it?"

She asked and he looked taken back.

"Are you sure? It's a lot of mumbo jumbo and boring stuff. I don't want to bore you."

Cara saw the way his eyes lit up and knew it was something he probably enjoyed talking about, she didn't mind listening to him at all, at least it'll get her mind off things.

So for the next few minutes, Cara watched Nicholas talk about his projects and company and she was really listening. Unlike her and many other people, Nicholas clearly enjoyed what he did and maybe that was why he was so good at it.

"So, why are you really here?"

"And don't tell me it's because of nothing because you clearly didn't risk coming all the way here for nothing."

Cara chuckled.

"Yea, well you're right."

"So? What is it?"

His voice was calm and soft and Cara relaxed, all her anxiety had left and she was feeling so much better.

"I really needed to see you. That's why I'm here."

She looked into Nicholas face and his feature softened slowly.

"Oh..."

Cara continued.

"I thought about what you said and it made a lot of sense. I need to find a way, some way to not get married to Alexander."

"Because the more I think about it the more I just realise that I can't do it!!"

She rolled her shoulders and sighed. It was the truth, every second spent with Alexander was strengthening her resolve and she needed to find a way out.

"But, I don't know how and I need your help."

She said and Nicholas nodded.

"Of course. I'd help you out as much as I can. I will do everything to ensure you don't get married to him."

He paused then he held Cara's small cold fingers.

"Not only because you shouldn't be forced to marry someone you didn't choose but also because I just cant imagine you with my brother when I feel so strongly about you."

Cara nodded.

She felt the exact way about him too.

Ever since that one night when they had both exploded for passion, she had been left wanting more of Nicholas. She cherished every second she spent with him and only wished she could spend more.

It was crazy, the way the feelings between them had bloomed in a matter of weeks, they were two smart logical people with very different lives and there they sat together, mesmerized by one another, throwing caution to the wind and deciding to start something that could well enough destroy the both of them.

"You must be tired. Do you want anything to eat?"

He asked and she shook her head.

"No. I'm good. You have a really nice place here. Must be cozy and all."

Nicholas shrugged.

"It can get a bit lonely sometimes. I mean... look at it."

He said as he looked around, sure it had a nice view and by all standards it was perfect, he did feel lonely sometimes. Even sometimes when he brought a girl home, it would feel empty and suffocating and he would rush to get her out of his place.

But with Cara, standing in front of the windows and her eyes looking at the view with a smile on his face, he suddenly didn't feel lonely anymore.

It didn't feel empty or suffocating either.

it just felt... homey.

"Is it lonely now?"

Cara said and Nicholas shook his head, his heart beating fast. He wanted to kiss her, he wanted to feel her body next to him, that single thought was overriding every logical thought in his brain.

It was all he could think of as he looked at her.

He wanted it more than anything else at that moment.

He walked slowly to her, she turned to look at him, the look in her eyes told him everything he needed to know, she was feeling exactly the same way he was.

"Not with you here." he whispered huskily.

He pulled her waist slowly to him, snugly enveloping her into his arms with his hands wrapped around her waist. She laid her head back and rested in his chest, a smile on her face.

He pulled away strands of her hair from her face and stroked her earlobe gently.

Cara's breath hitched in expectation.

"Promise me you'll be awake by the time I wake up?"

He asked and she moaned again, his hot breath ticked her earlobes, sent chills down her spine.

"I promise."

She breathed out, barely able to get the words out as he turned her and kissed her deeply.

More deeply than he had ever did.




Malory watched Cara talk mindlessly and happily to the attendants in the store. They had gone dress shopping for her rehearsal dinner

Malory had not told Cara that Alexander called her and clearly it seemed like she had not settled whatever issues she had with Alexander because she would have known.

But why did she look so happy?

Malory couldn't understand. She knew it was risky but she had covered for Cara hoping it would stop Alexander from worrying too much, but she was also genuinely curious as to where Cara had gone to.

Malory was Cara's closest friend. And the only friend that Cara would stop by and crash at her place unplanned.

Cara didn't have so many close friends, sure she had acquaintances but Cara rarely opened to a lot of people.

"What about this?"

Cara asked as she raised up a lilac dress with delicate flowers and full skirt and Malory shrugged.

"It looks plain."

She answered and Cara shrugged.

"I kind of like it. Also. I don't really care."

She said as she dropped it back on the rack.

She has spent the night with Nicholas.
They had woken up together in bed, naked and happy.

It was the happiest she had felt in a long time.

Together they would find a way to call off the wedding, that was what they had decided on.

Alexander was the only one they could convince, it was the only way they could call off the wedding.

She had stayed a while and let Nicholas make her breakfast. She was in no particular hurry.
She had left her phone in the car the night before to avoid being distracted by calls.

She had barely settled in when Malory had called her reminding her about plans for the rehearsal dinner.

Cara didn't mind. She left as soon as she could, eager to avoid any confrontation with Alexander.

Luckily she had not run into him when she went back home.

She was still looking at dresses when her phone rang.

Her phone was on the sofa next to Malory and Malory picked it up.

She checked the caller ID and turned to Cara.

"If it's Alex, just ignore. I'll talk to him later."

She said and Malory nodded.

"Yea. It's Alex alright. Can I at least know why you're avoiding him?"

Malory asked as she folded her arms and narrowed her eyes at Cara who had buried her heads into the racks.

"I'm not avoiding him. We're fine."

Malory scoffed.

"Fine? What happened to you guys last night. Why weren't you home?"

Cara froze. Malory watched her slowly turn. Then she smiled nervously and adjusted her shirt.

"Excuse us please."

She told the attendants who nodded and left.

She rushed to seat next to Malory.

"Did he tell you about it?"

"No. I don't know what happened."

Cara was confused.

"Then how do you know I wasn't home?"

Malory sighed.

"Because he called me. And he wanted to know if you spent the night at my place and I had to lie. I said you did."

Cara sighed in relief.

Oh thank God.

She tried to hold Malory's hand but Malory swatted her away.

"Where did you sleep?"

"Thank you Mal. Really."

"You know how Alex can be sometimes."

She said with a small nervous laugh and Malory shrugged.

"You haven't answered me. Where did you sleep?"

Cara smiled, thinking of what to say. The tension between them was thick and becoming unbearable.

Malory was on to her. They were close, but she would also never understand.

"What do you mean? I slept at home. I just wasn't home when Alex came back to check up on me."

She said and rolled her eyes.

"He said some pretty mean things and I just couldn't stand him and I left."

Malory's face fell.

"Why are you lying?"

She asked and Cara's eyes widened.

"I'm not."

"I was at your apartment this morning Cara! I was at the door for at least five minutes knocking. You weren't in!"

"What are you hiding??"

She pestered.

In that moment Alexander called again and Cara decided it was better she faced Alexander than Malory, her best friend who she couldn't lie to anymore.