Chapter 17
Chapter 17:
Every time Paige heard Elliana call Cole “darling,” it was like a knife twisting in her chest. She’d always believed Cole was hers, but now Elliana was tossing around that pet name, pushing her to the edge of a breakdown.
Elliana, meanwhile, was having a blast. She leaned into “darling” a few extra times, just to twist the knife deeper.
Cole watched Elliana’s bold little performance, his eyes glinting with warm amusement. His voice came out low, almost lazy. “Yeah p>
Elliana grinned, thrilled at how smoothly Cole was playing along. She turned toward Paige with a smug smirk. “You hear that? Try hitting on my husband again, and I’ll make sure the whole internet knows what you pulled p>
With that, Elliana grabbed Cole’s hand and gave it a sharp tug. “Come on, darling, let’s head home p>
The six-foot-three CEO, usually colder than a winter night, trailed after Cole like a loyal puppy.
Paige stood there, frozen, her brain fritzing out. She couldn’t wrap her head around it. Why was Cole indulging Elliana like this? How did that plain Jane manage to do so?
Elliana didn’t let go of Cole’s hand until Paige was out of sight. Only then did she finally release him.
Cole had been enjoying the warmth of her grip, and when she pulled her hand away, a twinge of disappointment hit. “Weren’t you supposed to be busy? Why did you come back p>
Elliana arched a brow. “Our agreement says I’m supposed to keep those unwanted admirers off you, right? I was just doing my job. How’d I do p>
Cole’s lips quirked into a sly smile. “And who told you I don’t like Paige p>
Elliana blinked, caught off guard. Before she could respond, Cole’s deep voice rolled in again. “I don’t recall ever telling you that p>
Read exclusive stories.c〇m
It was like a bucket of cold water to the face. Elliana pressed her lips together. He was right. He had never actually said he disliked Paige. She had just assumed it from how he acted around Paige. Now he was teasing her, and she was left scrambling for a comeback.
Still stewing, Elliana didn’t notice Cole lean in, his teasing smirk growing. “Honey, that excuse is cute, but it’s not hiding the jealous vibes you’re throwing off p>
Elliana nearly laughed out loud. Was he saying she came back because she was jealous? True, it wasn’t about their agreement. If another woman had been all over Cole, she wouldn’t have batted an eye. She only came back to mess with Paige. Anything that wiped that smug grin off Paige’s face was worth her time.
“So you’re saying you like Paige?” Elliana shook her head with a dramatic sigh. “Man, what a waste of those flawless Evans family genes. You look all polished and high-class, but your taste is straight-up garbage p>
Cole coughed, nearly choking on air. He hadn’t braced for that level of shade.
Elliana shot him a glare, her tone sharp. “Sorry for crashing your time with her earlier. But it’s not too late. That fool’s probably still out there, daydreaming about popping out your babies p>
Cole rubbed his temples, a headache brewing. When Elliana opened her mouth again, he stepped forward, backing her against the wall. His voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Elliana, keep talking like that, and I’ll kiss you quiet p>
Her breath caught, and she dialed back the sass fast. “Alright, fine. But you got to tell me who you’re into and who you’re not. How else am I supposed to know who to fend off next time p>
“I don’t go for fools. And I’m definitely not planning on kids with any of them p>
“Fair enough p>
For a second, they just stared at each other, then burst out laughing at how absurd the whole exchange was.
And their posture wasn’t exactly subtle.
“Heard a kiss can cut through awkwardness,” Cole said, a sly grin on his lips. “Want to test it p>
Elliana shoved him back and turned to leave. Who’d have thought the cold Cole could turn into a full-on flirt in a heartbeat? One minute he was all business, the next he had her against a wall, slinging cheesy lines. She was at her limit. To hide her flushed cheeks, she booked it out of there.
As Elliana stepped out of the Royal Club, a soft meow stopped her in her tracks.
She froze. That sound hit her like a memory. Scanning around, she searched for the source.
Cole, following casually behind her, paused, watching her with curiosity.
A tiny white kitten sat at her feet, gazing up with bright eyes. “Meow! Meow p>
“Darling?” Elliana crouched down, heart racing. After a closer look, she was sure. It was the kitten she’d lost over a year ago!
Darling had been a gift from Elliana’s best friend, Adah Norris, who had brought the kitten from a small town. When Darling first arrived, it had been a fluffy little thing, and Elliana had raised it with care, showering it with love. They’d been inseparable until Paige, eaten up with jealousy, dumped Darling somewhere far off. Elliana had sobbed her heart out over it.
Seeing Darling alive and well, tears welled in Elliana’s eyes. She scooped up the kitten, hugging it tight, and kissed its tiny head. “Darling, I’m never letting you go again. Never p>
Cole stood nearby, watching quietly, his expression unreadable. It then hit him who Elliana had been calling for in her sleep.
Elliana stood, clutching the cat close, and looked at Cole with hopeful eyes. “Can I bring Darling home p>
Cole wanted to say no. His allergies would make him suffer. But somehow, the refusal never slipped out. “Yeah, it’s cute p>
“For real?” Elliana beamed and shoved the kitten into his arms. “Then you hold it p>
Cole stared at the fluffy bundle, instant regret washing over him. He wished he could rewind and staple his mouth shut. To him, this cat was not cute. He could already feel the misery coming. He would deal with a stuffy nose, itchy eyes, sneezing fits, and possibly even wheezing…