Ella groaned inwardly the moment she stepped out of the house and saw Nicholas leaning casually against his sleek black car, arms crossed, waiting for her.
He was wearing his usual dark suit, a cigarette dangling lazily between his fingers. The morning sun glinted off his glasses, making him look effortlessly dangerous—like he belonged on the cover of some forbidden romance novel.
Ella's heart gave a little traitorous flutter before she quickly smothered it.
"What are you doing?" she asked, folding her arms tightly across her chest.
Nicholas smirked, flicking his cigarette away with practiced ease.
"Taking you to work."
Her eyes narrowed. "I told you I can take the bus."
He arched a brow, completely unfazed by her glare. "And I ignored you."
Ella huffed, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he was getting under her skin, but his constant need to assert control over her life was infuriating.
