Chapter 2 AN IRRESISTIBLE OFFER

Nella’s POV

Three weeks after that awkward encounter at the café, life didn’t magically get better. If anything, it got worse. The email from the fashion house in New York came two weeks ago.

“We regret to inform you…”

I didn’t bother reading beyond that point. Between hospital visits, unpaid bills, debts and trying to keep my brother smiling through chemo, I barely had any energy to chase dreams that seem so faraway.

Outside, snow fell quietly, coating the streets in white. It should have been beautiful. Mom would have loved the sight. Instead, it just felt cold like everything in my life lately. 

I pulled my coat tighter around me, about to head out when my phone rang. My stomach twisted in a knot when I saw the caller ID. 

My brother’s school.

“Hello?”

“Good morning Miss Dupree,” the voice on the other end said. “We need you to come in please. It’s about Josh.”

My heart skipped.

“Did anything happen? How’s he?” I asked quickly, already reaching for my bag.

“He’s fine, but we’d prefer to discuss it with you in person.”

That response was not in any way helpful.

“I’m on my way.”

I ended the call and rushed out into the cold, my thoughts spiraling. Was he okay? Did something happen? Did his condition get worse? The wind was in no way friendly to my skin as I hurried down the street, my boot hitting the snow.

I didn’t notice the car at first. It was parked awkwardly by the side of the road, the hood slightly open. A man stood beside it, his back turned to me as he fussed over the engine. I would’ve walked past. I mean I should’ve walked past. But something made me slow down.

“Need help?” I called out, more out of habit than intention. The man slowly turned to face me. For a second, none of us spoke. His eyes searched my face like he was trying to place me and I felt the same strange sense of familiarity. Not today again!

“Nella?” He finally said.

My brows furrowed.

“Yes…?”

“It’s me, Nick. Nicholas”

The name hit alongside the memory.

“Nicholas! Oh my God!” I let out a small laugh. “I couldn’t even recognize you.”

“It’s been years,” he said.

That was definitely an understatement. He looked… different. Taller, maybe. There was something more out together about him now. A slow smile spread across his face.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. 

“Generally? A lot. Right now? Car trouble, apparently,” he said dryly, glancing at the engine.

“And you? Where were you headed?”

“My brother’s school,” I replied, my earlier panic slipping back in. “They called, I need to get there.”

He didn’t hesitate. “I’ll drive you.”

“Oh! No, it’s fine. You really don’t have to. I can…”

“Nella!” His tone was firm, but not unkind. “You’re freezing and you’re in a hurry. Just get in.”

I paused for a second and nodded.

“Okay, thank you.”

The warmth of the car hit me as soon as I stepped in, and I didn’t realize how cold I’d been until then.

“Still the same,” Nick said as he started the engine.

I glanced at him. “What does that mean?”

“Always trying to handle everything on your own.”

I sighed softly. “Some things never change.”

The drive was quiet at first, filled only with the soft sound of the heater.

“So…” he said after a moment, glancing at me. “You disappeared after college.”

I raised a brow. “Disappeared?”

“Yeah. No calls, no messages, nothing.”

I let out a small laugh. “You weren’t exactly blowing up my phone either.”

“Fair,” he admitted.

There was silence after, but it was comfortable. We pulled up in front of the school a few minutes later.

“Thank you,” I said, already reaching for the door.

“I’ll wait”, he said.

I paused. “You don’t have to.”

“I know,” he cut in. “I want to.”

“Okay,” I said with a nod.

The meeting didn’t take long. It turned out my brother had gotten into an argument with another student. Nothing serious, but enough for the school to call me in. By the time I stepped back outside, I expected the car to be gone, but it wasn’t. Nick leaned casually against it, his hands tucked into his coat pockets.

“You stayed,” I said, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.

He shrugged. “I told you I would.”

I don’t know why that did something to me.

“Everything okay?” He asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “Just… life.”

He studied me for a moment, like he could see right through that simple answer. 

“Have you had breakfast?” He asked.

I hesitated. “Not yet.”

“Then let’s fix that,” he said, opening the passenger door for me. 

I should’ve said no. I had a lot to do, but for once, I was tired of rushing.

“Okay,” I said softly.

The café he took me to was warm and quiet. A complete opposite of the chaos in my head. We talked. At first, it was easy. Memories from college, random stories and small laughs. Then slowly, it shifted.

“How have you been, really?” he asked.

I stared down at my cup. “Well, I’ve been in and out of a lot”

“I’m sorry”

I shrugged. “It’s fine, I’m used to it.”

He didn’t say anything, just waited and somehow, that made it harder to pretend. 

“My brother’s been sick,” I added. “Chemo. It’s been… a lot.”

His expression changed immediately. 

“And the bills…” I let out a small, humorless laugh. “Let’s just say they don’t care if you’re trying your best.”

The silence that followed was heavy.

“I applied for a job at a fashion house in New York, but I didn’t get it. I thought if I got it, things would finally get better,” I said. “But now I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore.”

I hadn’t meant to say that much. But once it started, it was hard to stop. Nick leaned back slightly, his gaze fixed on me. Like he was thinking. Deciding something.

“Nella,” he said.

I looked up. 

“Marry me”

“What?”

His expression didn’t change.

“I’m serious.”

The world seemed to go quiet around us.

I stared at him, trying to figure out if this was some kind of joke.

It wasn’t.

“Nick…” I started slowly, my heart pounding. “What are you talking about?”

“Marry me,” he repeated.