17 .

"For the records, it seems Mrs Clemonte merely suffered from a mild fainting spell due to shock. Of course if you'd like, I can get Dr Finnigan, the head of neurology, to run brain scans just in case -"

" That would not be necessary. " says Cara.

" Thanks for your help tonight, I'll contact you if we need anything else." says Gideon and Dr Finn nods.

After that Trinity and Dr Finn leaves. It's just Cara and Gideon in the room.

Gideon comes close to Cara. And he is very angry.

"I'm -" but before Cara speaks, Gideon takes out his black leather jacket and puts it on Cara's body.

"I'm going to have talk with attending team. Have they not heard of patient gowns? I don't even want to know why you're still in what looks like your PJs." says Gideon.

" You rushed over..."

" Of course I'd rush over! For f*ck's sake, you're in hospital, Cara!"

" My parents didn't. Trinity told them about it but they said they weren't coming down."

" Cara...."

" No...you don't understand. They are right not to bother. This is nothing to be alarmed about. Besides, I'm used to that - Them not showing up." she deep breaths. " But, I'm also not used to this."

CARA'S POV

He didn't sleep with the girl. It was all just a misunderstanding. Trinity said that the feelings we have for someone are something we cannot hide - I'm certain it's not everyday Gideon Clemonte would make a mad dash down the hospital hallway, frantically searching for someone as if his life in depended on it.

And that someone was me.

I don't understand - am I still in this to prove he's lying, or am I in this for more? Because it's no lie that all I want to do right now is be in his arms.

...

"I'm sorry I lied about staying over at Ian's apartment, I..."

" No... I'm sorry for losing my temper at dinner that night. I would give anything to take back the words I said. But I feel like you should know why I acted the way I did."

*Deep breaths*

" Why would you tell me something that's so important only because Ian prompted you to? I thought we were better than that. I thought I had done enough to show you that I cared and -" but Cara comes closer and tightly hugs him.

" Cara? Shall we go home now?"

"Yes please!"

" Just give me a second." Gideon says to Cara.

" W - where are you going?" Cara says while holding his sleeve.

" Is Cara Black actually tugging on my sleeve? Can't bear to let me go now, huh?" he laughs and Cara shows him the annoying look.

" I'll be back before you know it." he says while kissing her on the cheek.

After some time, He comes running.

Cara is sitting on the hospital bed.

"Back!" Gideon says hushing.

He comes and sits down near CARA'S legs,. he wears her toes shoes. Cara sees and gets surprised.

"Gideon? Where did you get these?"

"Let's go home." he says.

At apartment.

" So , are you feeling alright? No giddy spells? Nothing?" asks Gideon.

" Yes, I'm fine."

" Good."

Gideons arm snaked around her waist, pulling her backwards, towards him.

"Just wanted to make sure before I do this, wouldn't want you to make a second trip to the hospital." he teased, flashing his signature smirk.

"For a heart attack this time, no less." he winked.

" I miss you." he says.

She scoffs. "It's been only two days, Gideon. I wasn't in your life until about a month ago? That's crazy!"

" I don't think crazy is the word you're looking for."

CARA'S POV

I never felt safer than I ever did -wrapped in Gideon's muscular arms, his hands cupping my face gingerly as he gazed at me with such affection that my heart ached. It was a struggle to shake off the insecurity that gnawed in the corners of my head. But in this moment, this was enough.

Even if this is just an illusion? Hell, let this beautiful like delude me.

We both kiss each other.

I was so drunk in his intoxicating kisses: so eager to savor every bit of this moment, that h hadn't realised he had carried me into our bedroom.

"Stop me now or I'll ravish you tonight."

His hoarse voice did little to break me out of the trail of pleasure that his kisses left. My mind was blank as I lay my palm against his chest, over his heart.

Tentatively, I slide my hands further down, tracing the contours of his abs.

He must have seen the answer in my actions, because his lips captured mine in a heartbeat.

.....

The next morning,

"Why is it all so hard and warm?"

I slept with Gideon!

She moves away from him. But Gideon gets up and takes her close to him again.

"Five...more minutes..."

It should be illegal for someone to look so roguishly perfect in the morning.

But something felt different about him this morning.

And she also sleeps in his chest.

"This is right",she says.

Gideon comes from the shower and Cara is on her phone.

Gideon comes and sees hickey on CARA'S neck. He is surprised.

"Cara? I might have been little too excited last night."

And then she sees the hickey. Now she has to go to agency, how will she go?

At the agency,

Cara is drinking water in from water filter.

From behind here comes Trinity.

"Why are you wearing a scarf in the building? It's not that cold." Cara is shocked, now she will know that there's a hickey.

She examines her, and now she knows the reason.

"Oh my, you did the nasty, didn't you? You're not in high school anymore, Cara. There's no need to hide the hickeys."

From Cara faces, Trinity realize she is embarrassed now.

"Either way, I'm glad you're in a good mood today because I have some bad news. Easton has a beautiful melody going for him, total billboard material, but he hasn't found a lyricist. He thinks Sana Takahashi would be perfect fit but she's is totally out of our league."

" I'll see what can I do." Cara says.

" We're going to grab lunch, would you like to join us?" Trinity asks.

" I have plan....Gideon." she simply rejects.

" It's finally happening!" she is glad to hear that.

At restaurant,

" No more diners?" Cara asks recalling the past incident.

" We agreed it would be my turn to pick this time, and I decided to go with somewhere less fancy for your taste, but not to gut - wrenching for me." Gideon says.

" Is it necessary to book the entire place though?" she looks around and makes her eyes to Gideon who is flashing his signature smirk.

"I might have my own selfish intentions for doing so. I was hoping we could talk about what happened to you at the beach. Pick up the conversation from where we left off the other night?"

She starts to speak but, someone calls Gideon's name

"Gideon Clemonte?"

And that's none other than Austin a famous singer.

"I was wondering who'd be obnoxious enough to rent out the entire restaurant at lunch."says him.

" Says the guy who walks around the NYC, shirtless. Meet Austin Taylor."

" The record producer for Jay - A?" Gideon nods answering her.

" The one and only. And this hot piece of ass is my fiance, Jasmine. Her family owns a buttload of island resorts around the world. And you must be Cara." and his fiancee is more annoyed as he is irritating her.

" You look way hotter in person." says Austin.

And Cara gets a bit awkward.

" Just the man I'd like to see. A word outside?" he asks. Gideon leaves and Jasmine walks over to talk to her.

" It's nice to finally meet you, Cara. I have heard so much about you. It's not often you hear of a Cinderella story among people like us."

" Cinderella?" she asks awkwardly.

" The rich marry the rich so the rich can be...richer. That's how it works around here. Why else would I be engaged to a guy who walks around NYC, shirtless?" she deep breaths.

" But you have a good old Cinderella story on your hands. Real envy of the ball actually. Especially it's, Gideon. That guy who can go out and cheat on me with as many girls as he'd like, as long as the monthly checks are coming in."

She doesn't reply as she is sitting all awkward.

"Loosen up! Judge all you want, but that's the closest thing to true love around here. I don't sugarcoat my words, but I don't bite either. You know what, we just met but I already like you. I'll see you at my weeding this weekend?"

At some shopping mall,

" Remind me again - we have a five coursed lunch prepared by a renowned chef, waiting for us in an comfortably restaurant, so why are we shopping? It's our first lunch date..... And why on Earth are we attending Austin and Jasmine's wedding? There's a good reason why I turned down the invitation the first time. The dude walks around half naked! And it's not just limited to just his top half. Plus, it's -", he is trying to change her mind.

" But the dude also happens to be the biggest singer around and he's friend with Sana Takahashi! She's is going to be at the wedding. " she explains.

" Are you actually blatantly making use of my connections, through our engagement, for your family's business?"

Uh Oh, she didn't thought of this before saying it.

" That's what our engagement is about....no? But that's not what our relationship is about....?"

" We're in a bit of an iffy situation, aren't we?" Cara laughs as Gideon says it.

" But you're not really going to show up at their wedding in a dress you got from a clearance bin, are you?" and Gideon leaves the store.

" Where are you going?" Cara follows him.

She follows him to a luxury clothes store.

And Cara is showing her first dress. And she comes wearing a green teal sequin dress but wearing it still with the scarf.

And as she comes Gideon laughs as he sees her.

"Maybe without the scarf?" says the fashion designer.

At home,

" I'm .....

FLASHBACK

Cara comes running at home, saying, " I'm home."

"Cara you're home! You're parents have to attend an event tonight but I've already prepared dinner for you!" says Mrs Longbottom, their maid.

" What time are they going to be home? I've a slip for them to sign."

" They didn't say, but I'm sure you can leave it on the fridge for them to see." says the maid.

" The fridge is full ..."

The next day.

"The breakfast in on the table." says the maid.

She searches the hallway and her parents are not here.

"They left for work already...?"

She nods.

"Did they sign my permission slip?"

She again nods.

At the school.

" I'm sorry, Cara. We would like to bring you along to the zoo, but we can't of your parents don't know about it." says her teacher.

" The slip has to be signed. We tried calling them but they didn't pick up either. You'll just to sit this one out."

She is sad and broken.

.....

" Home....?" she says.

She gets a message. It's from Gideon.

" Come up to the pool once you're home! ;)"

" What is he up to this time?" she thinks.