Page 33 of “Not” Engaged to the Grumpy Billionaire

Her jaw drops, and for the first time, she is caught off guard. But then she starts laughing an incredulous, mocking laugh.

“Oh, please. You’re bluffing. I’ve been in Ocean Bay for over a week now. If you were in a relationship, I would have heard about it by now. Everyone in this town gossips.”

I clench my teeth, anger rising in my chest. I don’t owe her any explanation. But before I can respond, the door swings open, and Liz steps in, holding a file.

“Nate, I have the—” She pauses, seeing Becky still in the room, and the tension instantly thickens.

And then it hits me my way out of this mess. Without thinking, I step forward, wrapping my arm around Liz’s waist and pulling her to my side.

“Actually, you’re wrong, Becky,” I say, my voice steady.

“This is Liz. My girlfriend.”

Liz freezes, her eyes widening in shock as she glances up at me. I can feel her stiffen, clearly taken off guard, but to my relief, she doesn’t pull away.

Becky stares at us, her face shifting from disbelief to confusion.

“Your... girlfriend?” she repeats, obviously thinking this is some kind of joke.

“That’s right,” I say, holding Liz a little tighter, as if to prove the point.

“And I’d appreciate it if you'd respect that.”

Becky laughs again, though this time it is more bitter than amused.

“Oh, please. You’re not fooling anyone. Nate Kingston doesn’t get involved with his staff.”

I grit my teeth, my hand still resting on Liz’s waist. I can feel the warmth of her body through her blouse, and it’s a danger that's distracting. But Becky’s smugness pushes me over the edge, and before I can stop myself, I lean down and press my lips to Liz’s.

The moment our lips touch, everything else fades away. Becky’s presence, the office, the entire world it all disappears. There’s Liz, soft and warm against me, her breath catching as she melts into the kiss. My heart races, and for a split second, I forget why I did it. All I know is that it feels right, too right. Time seems to stand still as the kiss deepens, my hand tightening around her waist as she moves closer.

But then, as suddenly as it started, it ends. A loud slam echoes through the room, jolting both of us back to reality. Becky is gone, the door banging shut behind her.

Liz pulls away from me, her eyes wide, her breath shaky. For a moment, neither of us says anything, the tension hanging thick in the air.

What the hell just happened?

We stare at each other, the realization of what I’ve done crashing down on us like a tidal wave. The kiss... It wasn’t just for show. It was real. And it felt like everything I've been denying myself for weeks.

Liz blinks, her lips parted slightly, and I can still feel the heat of her body against mine. My heart is pounding in my chest. And I know—I know—that something has shifted between us, something that I cannot take back.

“I... I’m sorry,” I mutter, stepping back, my mind racing to catch up with what just happened.

Liz’s breath hitches as she tries to say something, but the words seem stuck in her throat. She looks as stunned as I feel.

Liz stares at me, her eyes flashing with anger and confusion. I don’t blame her. After what I just did, I owe her more than a simple explanation.

She crosses her arms, standing firm in front of me.

"Nate, what the hell was that? You kissed me... What were you thinking?"

I run a hand through my hair, my mind still reeling from the kiss. The feel of her lips against mine is still fresh, messing with my head in ways I hadn’t expected. The kiss, brief as it was, is the best I’ve ever had. I can’t push it out of my mind, but I need to, for both our sakes.

"I’m sorry," I say, my voice low and strained.

"I didn’t know what else to do. Becky was pushing, she’s been trying to worm her way back into my life, and I panicked. I thought... I thought if I made it clear that I’ve moved on, that I’m with someone else, she’d finally back off."

Liz blinks, her expression softening slightly as she processes my words.

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