Confrontation

"I understand now," Nick said, his voice steady, though a flicker of frustration seeped through his tone.

Jane wiped the remnants of tears from her cheeks, her brows furrowing. "What do you mean?"

Nick exhaled, his jaw tightening as he pieced it together. "A few days ago, Paul was talking about the girl who saved him. He was desperate to find her. Jane... he has a crush on you. That's why he acted that way. We need to clear up this mess."

Jane's expression morphed from confusion to panic. "But my face is all over the news! They're saying I'm dating him. How do we fix this?"

"I don't know," Nick admitted, his eyes darkening with determination. "But first, we need to talk to him."

His gaze flickered to her lips—slightly swollen, as if they had bled. A surge of protectiveness flooded through him. His fingers clenched into fists. "I'll kill him," he muttered, his voice a low growl.

Jane instinctively touched her lips, her shoulders curling inward. "I'm sorry. I couldn't stop him... I was too shocked," she whispered, fresh tears brimming in her eyes.

Nick's expression softened. "But you did slap him hard," he pointed out, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

A weak but proud smile flickered across her face.

"Jane," he said, his voice gentler now. "I trust you."

The Next Day

Nick picked up his phone and dialed Paul's number, inviting him to his penthouse. His friend Adam sat beside him, arms crossed, the air thick with anticipation.

When Paul finally arrived, he looked perplexed—but undeniably eager. His eyes gleamed with excitement. "Why did you invite me here?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Nick leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "There's a misunderstanding we need to clear up. Care to explain what you did yesterday?"

Paul's face lit up with a wide grin. "I finally found her!" he blurted. "I met my dream girl, and I was just so happy I couldn't control myself. What I did was wrong, though. She must be shocked. I'll meet her and explain everything. I should have confessed first, but I was just so stupid!" He laughed sheepishly, oblivious to the tension in the room.

Nick exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face.

Before he could respond, the door swung open.

Jane stepped inside.

A wave of hesitation flickered in her eyes as she glanced around. She spotted Paul, her posture stiffening. Without a word, she moved toward Nick, standing protectively behind him.

Paul's grin faltered. His excitement faded, replaced by a flicker of confusion. His gaze darted between Nick and Jane, the weight of the moment finally settling in.

Nick's expression darkened. "Now," he said, his voice dangerously calm, "let's talk."

The tension in the room was almost suffocating. Paul, standing just a few feet away, looked at Jane with an confused expression. His voice softened as he spoke.

"Jane," he began, taking a tentative step forward, "I'm sorry for what I did yesterday. Please don't be scared of me." He reached out a hand toward her, his eyes full of guilt.

Nick's body stiffened at the motion. His protective instincts kicked in, and without thinking, he gripped Jane's hand tighter, pulling her closer to him. "Stop right there," he warned, placing a hand on Paul's chest with an edge of anger in it.

"Nick, what's happening?" he asked, his gaze flicking between the two of them. "Why are you… holding her hand like that?"

Nick's jaw clenched. "Paul, you misunderstood," he said, his grip tightening around Jane's hand as he held her closer. "Jane is my girlfriend. We've been dating for the past year. She's mine."

Paul blinked, stunned. His eyes widened as the realization sank in, his expression morphing from disbelief to anger. "What?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Jane stepped forward then, her posture straight and strong.. "I love Nick," she said, her voice unwavering, her gaze locked onto Paul. She didn't flinch, didn't look away. She was standing her ground.

Nick's heart surged with pride as he looked at her. "I'm planning to marry her," he added, his words filled with a fierce sense of certainty. "I asked her to come to the office yesterday, but then you came in and caused this huge commotion. You put her in a difficult spot, Paul."

Paul's mouth opened and closed as if he couldn't quite process what Nick had just said. His eyes darted from Jane to Nick and back again, trying to piece together what was happening. His mind seemed to be spinning, unable to catch up.

Nick stepped forward. "You should've spoken to her before you kissed her," Nick said, his voice firm. "Without knowing anything about her, you shouldn't have behaved that way."

The silence in the room stretched on. Jane stood beside Nick, the knot in her stomach starting to loosen as he spoke for her.

"I… I didn't know," Paul stammered, his face a picture of disbelief. "I just thought—"

"That's the problem," Nick cut in, his voice rising slightly, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "You acted on impulse, without thinking about the consequences. You never bothered to find out the truth before making your move."

The words hit Paul like a punch. He took a step back, his expression shifting to something more remorseful.

"I'm sorry," Paul muttered, his voice barely a whisper.

Nick's eyes narrowed, the protective fury still burning in them, but he wasn't about to let Paul off the hook. "You should leave her alone from now on," he said coldly, his voice firm, the finality in it clear.

Paul hesitated for a moment longer, looking between the two of them, his shoulders slumping as if he finally realized he wasn't going to get what he wanted. With a quiet exhale, he turned and walked toward the door.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Jane felt the weight on her chest lift ever so slightly. The tension started to dissipate.

She turned to Nick. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she hugged him tightly burying her face on his chest. "Thank you," she whispered.

Nick smiled back, his eyes softening. "Always," he said simply, hugging her tightly.