Page 93 of Fifth Avenue Devil

"Wait!” He sticks his foot in the door and stops it from closing. “Can I apologize?"

I laugh, then I realize that Nate is one hundred percent serious. “What? No! After what you accused me of, why would you think that I want anything to do with you?”

He reaches and gently grabs my wrist. A shudder runs through me at the feeling of his fingers on my skin. “Please, Annalise. Just hear me out,”

I hesitate, studying his face. It looks like he's been through the wringer. The pain etched across his features tugs at my heartstrings.

I can't let myself fall into his trap again.

Nate looks at me with those gray eyes of his, pleading, and I’m lost. I find myself agreeing to let him talk, even though we both know what I’m going to say at the end of his little speech.

Get out and never return.

"Two minutes," I warn. I open the door wider to let him in. The scent of his cologne fills my nostrils as he moves closer. I'm reminded of the last time we fucked. When we were naked in his bed, the whole damn room smelled just like that.

"Thank you, Kitten," Nate murmurs. He steps inside and shuts the door behind him. His presence in my home feels like an invasion. But I’m tougher than he knows. I won't let him see how much he affects me.

My voice is sharp as a razor's edge when I speak. "Start talking.”

Nate has the audacity to look both contrite and determined. His eyes lock onto mine. "Annalise," he begins. "I have been walking around all week, completely miserable. Not understanding why I felt this… this sense of doom. I wrecked your life and then tried to walk away from you. Like you aren’t the only woman who ever made me feel anything at all.”

I suck my teeth. “I’m so sorry your life has been so hard, Nate.”

Glancing at the clock on my phone, I’m almost ready to call an end to his two minute time limit. Nate grabs my hand, pleading.

“Not just hard. It’s been impossible. My life stopped in its tracks the second I pushed you away. I was a fool, Annalise.”

“I don’t see how any of this is my problem.” I cross my arms, trying to ignore my galloping heartbeat.

“I love you.” Nate stops me cold with those words. “Annalise, I hurt you. I pushed you away. But I only did it because I got scared. It got too real for me. Saying I love you was not in my plans.”

I stare at him, perplexed. “Scared. Scared of what?”

He waves his free hand. “Of you, baby. I was really scared of the way you made me feel. Until now, I’ve only cared about money. But then you came along and messed with mypriorities.”

“I need to sit.” I walk back toward my couch and turn off the TV. I beckon him to sit. “So you dumped me, and publicly humiliated me in this spectacular fashion because… you’re emotionally a little boy?”

For the first time ever, Nate’s face flushes bright red. “It was a convenient escape. My associates were planning to take over Gellar Industries anyway. It was going down either way."

I curl my fingers into fists at my sides, nails biting into my palms. My anger simmers dangerously close to the surface.

"I'm beyond sorry for what I've done, Annalise," Nate confesses. His voice is laced with genuine remorse. "But I think I know how I can make it up to you."

I scoff, the sound harsh and bitter. "You think you can fix this? You destroyed my life, Nate. My company? My reputation? In ruins. Everything I've worked so hard for is gone."

"Give me a chance to prove myself," he pleads. "Please, Annalise."

"Prove yourself?" I repeat. "You expect me to give you another chance after everything you've done?"

He swallows hard and looks down. In that moment, I see a glimpse of vulnerability beneath his arrogant facade. It doesn't sway me, but it does give me pause.

Maybe he isn’t a two-faced rat demon after all.

"I made a mistake," he admits. His voice cracks on the last word, sending a chill through me. "I’m sorry. You have no idea what a piece of shit I feel like. But I want to set things right. I promise you, I can make amends."

"You publicly humiliated me, Nate," I hiss. "I am the laughingstock of the business world because of you. And now you waltz back in here, asking for my forgiveness?"

"Annalise.”

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