Nichs hurriedly entered the Bengawan Restaurant on the first floor of Keraton Residence. From a distance, his eyes caught sight of a woman he knew well, enjoying the night view from behind the restaurant’s window.


    Before approaching, Nichs observed the woman from afar for a moment. His mind was still full of questions. What was the reason his secretary was suddenly so insistent on staying in his apartment? Even now, Kimberly was still wearing her work clothes, indicating she hadn’t returned to her ce yet. This only made Nichs wonder even more about what Kimberly was hiding or nning.


    “Is the view outside so captivating that you didn’t notice my presence?” Nichs asked as he took a seat in the restaurant.


    Kimberly suddenly realized and shifted her gaze to where Nichs was sitting. “The view here is beautiful, I like it.”


    Nichs crossed his arms. “So, exin everything to me!”


    Kimberly raised one of her eyebrows. “Exin what? I think I’ve already told you everything in front of your apartment.”


    Nichs sighed. “But you haven’t exined further why you’re so insistent on staying in my apartment.”


    “I’ve already told you. We need to deepen our roles as a couple before your parents actually arrive here.”


    Nichs shook his head. “What kind of reason is that? Convincing my parents doesn’t require us to live together. Besides, now you seem so enthusiastic about this game, even though you rejected my request tly before. You know? I’m getting more suspicious now!”


    “Oh my goodness, how many times do I have to convince you? I’m a good woman. So, you don’t need to worry that I’ll be a bother to you in the future.”


    With great effort, Kimberly convinced Nichs to allow her to stay in his apartment. But now, he looked at her with a sharp gaze as if he still doubted everything she said.


    Realizing Nichs’s intimidating gaze, Kimberly took a deep breath before speaking. “I promise I’ll tell you the reason, but not now. I’m really tired, and as you can see, I haven’t even changed my clothes yet,” Kimberly whispered.


    Kimberly didn’t want to be dishonest with Nichs. However, she wasn’t ready to share her personal story with anyone other than Keyra and Alex. In this world, only the two of them had Kimberly’s utmost trust.


    Nichs gazed at Kimberly closely. “Alright, you owe me an exnation. Nowe with me upstairs.” Kimberly nodded and followed Nichs to his apartment.


    Upon reaching the apartment, he immediately instructed Kimberly to enter. She scanned the entire room, examining every neatly arranged piece of furniture in its ce.


    “So, you’ve been living here alone all this time?” Kimberly asked when she realized there was no one else in Nichs’s apartment.


    Nichs nodded. “As you know, I’m a British citizen with no family in Indonesia. Unlike Kenzi, even though he’s a British citizen, both of his parents live in Indonesia. Besides, some of his father’s family is also from Indonesia.”


    Now it was Kimberly’s turn to nod. She understood that it couldn’t have been easy for Nichs to live alone without any family or rtives to help. He had to be self-reliant.


    “Aren’t there any housekeepers here?” Kimberly thought it highly unlikely that someone as busy as Nichs could manage an apartment this size without the help of a cleaning service or housekeeper. It was also unlikely that he always ate out.


    “There are, theye from 7 AM to 6 PM,” Nichs answered.


    Then he directed Kimberly to the guest room inside his apartment. Despite living alone, he had chosen an apartment with four rooms. In addition to having a private elevator, the apartment had a high-security system. This was what prompted Kimberly to insist on staying with Nichs. This way, Mario or Opa Arthur’s henchmen couldn’t disturb her.


    “You can sleep here,” Nichs said, pointing to the room he meant. It was a minimalist-designed room with shades of gray and a queen-sized bed. There was also a small walk-in closet. This would make it easy for Kimberly to store her clothester. However, wait a minute, speaking of clothes, she hadn’t brought a single one with her when she went to Nichs’s house.


    I can’t possibly borrow clothes from this ice-cold.


    But,


    I can’t go back now.


    Mario’s henchmen are probably still waiting outside my boarding house.


    Seeing Kimberly silently staring straight at the bed, Nichs asked, “What’s wrong? Is this room not suitable for you? I think it’s better than your room at the boarding house.”


    Kimberly sighed. “That’s not what I’m thinking about. I forgot to bring my clothes. So how am I going to change and go to work tomorrow?”


    “What’s your n now? Do you want to go home to get your clothes? If that’s what you’re thinking, you might as well go back. Stop insisting on staying in my apartment.”


    Kimberly shook her head. “No, that’s not a good option. I’ve already emphasized that I’ll stay here for a few days. As for my clothes, I can ask one of my friends to send them through a courier.”


    Nichs let out a long sigh. “It’s up to you; I’m really fed up with you right now.”


    “I’ve already said I’ll take care of myself and promise not to be a bother to you. You can hold me to my word,” Kimberly said with a sincere expression.


    However, unexpectedly, Kimberly’s stomach growled in the midst of her conversation with Nichs. Kimberly reflexively grimaced in embarrassment, scratching her non-itchy neck.


    “Sorry, I haven’t eaten sincete afternoon. Do you have any food in stock? I’m really hungry right now,” Kimberly asked.


    Nichs shook his head once again. “Not even five minutes after you promised not to inconvenience me, and look at the reality now.”


    “Oh,e on, Nick. Are you really going to let me go hungry? Do I need to report you to the women’s protectionmission for letting your girlfriend go hungry? Besides, if I starve to death, you’ll be in trouble too, right?”


    “Stop your nonsense,” Nichs said with an elevated tone. His patience had run out this time.


    “You’re really bothering me!” Nichs continued.


    You’re in trouble now, Kimberly! It seems you’ve awakened a sleeping lion.


    “Fine, I’ll fast tonight. No need to get angry!” Kimberly said with a rxed expression. Shepletely ignored the now irritated Nichs.


    “I’ll order food for you from the restaurant on the first floor of the apartment. Now, quickly ask your friend to send your clothes, and you can take a shower or whatever you want. I’ll call you when your food is ready.” Then Nichs left, leaving Kimberly behind.


    “Such a grouch!” Kimberly muttered under her breath.


    “Kimberly!!! Do you think I didn’t hear that, huh?” Nichs shouted from a distance. Quickly, Kimberly closed the bedroom door and locked it.


    Damn! This time, Kimberly only dared to curse in her mind.


    ***


    After taking a shower and waiting for about thirty minutes, Nichs knocked on Kimberly’s bedroom door.


    “Your food has arrived; you can eat now,” Nichs said.


    There was a moment of silence.


    Kimberly actually heard Nichs’s words, but she was currently confused.


    “Kimberly…” Nichs called again. “… you’re not asleep, right?”


    “I’ll be out soon,” Kimberly replied.


    Nichs waited for her at the dining table.


    Kimberly was still debating whether she was confident enough to leave the room now. There was a reason that made her uncertain at the moment.


    What should I do? Should I stille out? But I’m really hungry right now.


    Kimberly took a deep breath, trying to convince herself.


    Okay, rx, Kimberly. Just treat it like your own house.


    Not long after, Kimberly came out, and once again, Nichs was taken aback by Kimberly’s appearance, as she was wearing only a bathrobe.


    “Why are you looking at me like that?” Kimberly asked as she sat down at the dining table. She tried her best to maintain aposed expression.


    “Oh my God, you’re only wearing a bathrobe; you’re really crazy!” Nichs protested.


    While chewing her food, Kimberly tried to speak. “The clothes I was wearing earlier identally got wet. I can’t wear them, or I’ll get sick. Besides, even if I wear a bathrobe, you won’t be tempted, will you?”


    Nichs sneered. “Sorry, you’re not my type.”


    Instead of getting offended, Kimberly chuckled at Nichs’s words. “Really? If I were to open this bathrobe in front of you, would you still not be tempted?” Kimberly challenged.


    “Don’t mess around, Kimberly! If you forget, I’m your boss. Do you want me to fire you?”


    Kimberly pouted in annoyance. “Ugh, I’m tired of hearing your threats!”


    “Hurry up and finish your meal; do you think I’m not tired of waiting for you like this?”


    “I didn’t ask you to wait for me; you can go rest.”


    Nichs shook his head. “No! I have to make sure that after eating, you clean up my kitchen. Just so you know, I hate things being messy.”


    Nichs’s words seemed to be true. As far as Kimberly’s eyes could see, Nichs’s apartment was neat and clean for a man’s standards. It was very rare for a man to maintain the tidiness of such arge space without the help of household assistants.


    After arguing with Nichs for a while, Kimberly chose to remain silent and enjoyed the food served on the table until it waspletely gone. On thest bite, Kimberly was surprised when Nichs suddenly reached for a tissue on the table and gently wiped the edges of Kimberly’s lips.


    “Easy, no one is going to steal your food,” Nichs said, still touching the corners of the woman’s lips in front of him.


    Kimberly was briefly silent, enjoying the treatment Nichs was giving her.


    “Thank you,” Kimberly replied softly. She didn’t expect the usually cold Nichs to be this sweet.


    “No problem,” Nichs replied shortly. Then, not long after, Kimberly’s heart began to beat faster. Who would have thought that Nichs would move his face closer to Kimberly’s, just a few centimeters away?


    Oh my. Is this Mr. Ice going to kiss me? Is this like a scene I often see in Korean dramas?


    Oh my God!


    What should I do?


    I’m really nervous now.


    Should I close my eyes?


    Kimberly followed her instincts, closing her eyes when she felt the warmth of Nichs’s breath on her skin.


    Dear God.


    I might go crazy.


    Nichs is about to kiss me.


    “It seems there’s a piece of spring onion stuck between your teeth,” Nichs whispered.


    “Huh?” Kimberly immediately opened her eyes and found Nichsughing at her antics earlier.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    “Kimberly! You embarrassed yourself twice. Now you’ve really lost your dignity.”