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However, Nicole forced tone didn’t manage to lift the man’s mood. Instead, Drake felt as if she was forced to treat him to meals.




“Why did you let that jerk go instead of handing him over to the police? And how did you even appear at the hotel in the first place?” Drake still wanted to know the reason.




Nicole lied casually, “I got tricked into the hotel; I don’t even know that man.”




“Who tricked you?”




“Someone I knew over a meal.”




“So you needed him?” Drake kept interrogating.




Nicole couldn’t keep telling stories anymore, so she mumbled, “Yes.”




“Remember this, Nicole. Whatever you need, you should ask me first before asking anyone else. At least I won’t do something sneaky on you,” Drake reminded.




Nicole wasn’t quite ready to agree with him, for he had taken advantage of her many times, and she could hold him responsible if she wanted.




The more Drake thought about it, the more furious he got when he remembered how they just let that jerk go like that. Just then, Drake's car phone rang, and Amelia's name popped up on the control panel.




He did not pick up the call, merely looking at it, but when Nicole saw Amelia's name, disgust flitted across her eyes.




The ringtone was still sounding, but Drake didn’t move to pick up the call, allowing the ringing to stop on its own.




“Why didn’t you pick up the call? What if your girlfriend was in an emergency?” Nicole asked him on purpose.




"Amelia isn't my girlfriend; we're just

friends," Drake retorted..




-"Oh! Friends with benefits." Nicole

couldn't help but throw in an insult.




Drake eyed her, then asked in a hoarse

voice, "So you're bothered about the

thought that I slept with her?".




Nicole returned the question. “Why should I be? I don’t care who you sleep with; it’s none of my business.”

Drake's face darkened, and his eyebrows scrunched up. Every word this woman spoke was provoking him.




The atmosphere in the car turned awkward and heavy, so heavy that Nicole felt uncomfortable about it. While the man drove, she secretly studied him as the street lights cast dark shadows on his handsome face. He wore a fitting white shirt, and despite the day’s activities, the shirt was still free of wrinkles. His profile was clear and well-defined, as if God Himself had drawn perfect lines on him.




She had to admit that this man was so perfect that no one could find anything wrong with him. Noticing that she was about to arrive at her community, Nicole couldn’t help but let out a sigh. Home! At last!

No matter what, this man helped a lot to ensure her safe return.




"President Butler, thank you so much for tonight." Anastasia thanked him again, and she was absolutely sincere with her

words..




“If you run into similar trouble in the future, I should be the first person you ask for help. If you ask any other man to help you, I won’t help you anymore,” Drake ordered.

Nicole was speechless.




Do I even have to consider his priorities when asking for help? What sort of reasoning is this?.




Still, reasoning or not, her main goal was to appease the man, so she nodded. “All right, got it.”




Drake watched her get out of the car, the look in his eyes complicated and dark. Every time she left his side, he would feel a sense of longing, as if hoping that she would stay with him forever. 




His thoughts made him frown, for he was a little mad at the power the woman held over him.




As Drake watched Nicole walk through the main entrance of the community, he slowly drove away. 




Just then, Amelia called him again.




Finally, Drake answered the call this time. “Hello. What’s the matter, Amelia?”




"Drake, where are you? I just took a nap and had a terrifying nightmare. I’m so scared. Please come over and stay with me.” Amelia voice sounded as if she were still shaken.




"I have urgent business to attend to. I'Il send my assistant, Daniel Lancaster, to accompany you," Drake said in a low voice..




“No, I want you. No one can make me feel safe except for you. Please, Drake, I beg of you. Come over!” Amelia's voice was now tinted with sobbing.




“I really can’t go right now, Amelia. Please, be a good girl.” Drake could only comfort her over the phone.

On the other end of the line, Amelia's voice sounded disappointed, but she still obeyed.




 “Fine, then. You don’t have to send anyone over. Just give me a present as compensation tomorrow, and I’ll let this slide.”




“Sure, what do you want?”




“I just bought a white dress, but I don’t have any jewelry to go with it. You can give me a set!”




“Oh. Sure.” Drake's reply was quick and decisive, for he would rather compensate with material things than make it up to her emotionally.




Meanwhile, in the luxurious villa, Amelia had just ended her call with Drake. There was a fire burning in her eyes, for her plans tonight were ruined.




Half an hour earlier, Amelia had received a call from Alice saying that Nicole had found someone to save her. More importantly, that someone was none other than Drake himself.