Page 87 of Strictly Business

Nicholas shakes his head, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “I didn’t fire her. I had her reassigned. There’s a difference.”

My jaw drops. “Nicholas…”

The smirk fades as his eyes meet mine. “She disrespected you,” he says simply. “I don’t tolerate that. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable when we take the jet. She won’t be an issue anymore.”

Heat creeps up my neck, and I glance down at my hands, suddenly unsure of what to do with them. “But I’m not going to be taking the jet once the contract ends,” I murmur.

He doesn’t respond immediately, and when I glance up, his jaw is tight, his gaze locked on me. For a moment, neither of us speaks. He just watches me, his eyes searching mine.

Before I can untangle the mess of emotions swirling between us, Astrid returns, setting our drinks down.

“Here you are. A scotch for you, and a coffee for Mrs. Blackwood.”

“Thank you,” I manage, forcing a small smile as Nicholas nods in acknowledgment.

Astrid disappears again, leaving us in silence.

The rest of the flight blurs by, my nerves simmering as the minutes tick closer to arriving at my nanna’s house. Nicholas remains unbothered, meanwhile, I’m doing my best to keep my leg from bouncing.

When the car finally pulls up to the little white bungalow, a wave of nostalgia and unease hits me all at once. The peeling paint and overgrown lawn tug at my chest, a bittersweet reminder of the home I grew up in.

Nicholas steps out first, smoothly rounding the car to open my door. “You ready?” he asks.

Not even a little. But I force a smile, placing my hand in his as I step out. “Yeah. Let’s do this.”

The door swings open before we even make it up the short path. Annie stands at the door, hands mid-wipe on her jeans, her messy bun frizzing in every possible direction.

“Hey, stranger!” she sighs, enveloping me in a hug that smells like cinnamon and dish soap.

“Missed you,” I murmur, my throat tight as I cling to her for just a second longer.

She leans back, her sharp brown eyes zeroing in on Nicholas. Her gaze sweeps over him, taking in every detail from his perfectly tailored jacket to his absurdly symmetrical jawline. Her brows arch, and a grin tugs at her lips.

“And you must be the fiancé.”

Nicholas doesn’t falter, meeting her gaze with one of his trademark polite smiles. “That’s me.” He offers his hand.

Annie stares at his hand for a beat too long, then shakes it. “Hmm. Handsome and polite. I’ll admit, I was expecting worse.”

“Worse?” Nicholas repeats, his brows lifting slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes.

She waves a hand vaguely. “Well, let’s just say you’ve exceeded expectations. For now.”

“Annie,” I warn, my lips twitching at my sister’s interrogation.

She sighs, stepping aside to let us in. “Come on in. Nanna’s in the living room.”

The moment I step inside, it’s like walking into a memory. Nanna is sitting in her wheelchair, her favorite knitted blanket spread across her lap. When spots me, her face lights up, her smile making the corners of her eyes crinkle.

“Amara!” she calls, her voice full of affection despite the pain I know she’s hiding.

I feel the lump in my throat instantly, but I push it down, forcing a smile as I lean down to give her a hug. “Hi, Nanna.”

“God, it’s been too long.” She squeezes me tightly before rubbing my back.

“I know,” I reply, laughing a little awkwardly when I pull back. “I’m sorry.”

She shakes her head, a soft tut escaping her. “Don’t be sorry. I’m just glad you’re here.” Her eyes flick to my ring finger, and I can’t help but stiffen as she reaches for my hand. She inspects the ring closely, then glances up at me with a raised brow.

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