The doorbell rang loudly as Nichs had just seated himself on the sofa. With azy expression, he dragged his feet to see who hade to visit as soon as he arrived in Indonesia. When the door opened, thest person he wanted to see stood there, wearing a smile.


    “Sebastian Edward, what do you want here?” Nichs asked without pleasantries. When he mentioned someone’s full name, it was a sure sign he was annoyed.


    The man in front of him smiled broadly. “Why are you always so gruff with me? Even though I’m the friend you can always rely on.” Edward put on a fake sad face.


    “I asked, what do you want here? I’m tired after a long journey. If there’s nothing important, you better leave,” Nichs repeated.


    Edwardughed heartily. He had expected this reaction from his friend. For some reason, since their college days, Nichs had always considered Edward his eternal rival. Even though whenever Nichs needed help, it was always Edward who came to his aid.


    “I’ve brought some documents that you need to review tonight. I also need to inform you that you have to leave for Ku Lumpur tomorrow. There’s a meeting with the Petronas Group that can’t be represented by someone else.”


    Nichs sighed deeply. He then motioned for Edward toe in and sit on the living room sofa.


    As he sat down, Edward immediately took out several sheets of paper from a transparent folder he had brought along and handed them to Nichs, waiting for his friend to review them.


    Nichs frowned. “Why is this happening so suddenly? I just got back, and I have to leave again tomorrow?”


    “I offered to go in your ce, but the legal team at Petronas insisted that the Owner or CEO of Alpha Beta had to attend their major meeting. It wouldn’t make sense to send Kenzi, considering you’re in control in Indonesia. That’s why-”


    “Nick, have you seen my pillbox?”


    Edward’s attention shifted as he unintentionally heard and saw Kimberlying out of Nichs’s room. However, it wasn’t that fact that made Edward’s eyes widen. It was the sight of the auburn-haired womaning out of the room wearing only a bathrobe.


    “Oh my!” Kimberly eximed in shock, crossing her hands in front of her chest.


    “Dear God, Kimberly!” Edward eximed in equally shocked tones.


    Kimberly then hurriedly ran back into Nichs’s room. Due to a broken faucet in her room, Kimberly had no choice but to use Nichs’s bathroom for her shower. It wasn’t her fault that she didn’t know Edward was outside.


    A sharp grin was clearly visible on Nichs’s face. He observed the scene with clenched fists. He felt regretful about letting the freckled-nosed guy enter his home, especially when he realized how stunned Edward was by Kimberly’s body wrapped only in a bathrobe.


    “If you keep looking at Kimberly with that lecherous gaze, I swear I’ll gouge your eyes out!” Nichs threatened, deadly serious about what he said.


    Edward turned to Nichs with a probing look.


    “No wonder you forbade me from visiting here. Kimberly’s behavior at home is like this?” Not stopping there, Edward leaned in and whispered, “Have you two already done it?”


    This time, Nichs felt his patience wearing thin. “Don’t you have any other topics to discuss?”


    Edward smiled, raising an eyebrow.


    “So, have you two really done it?”


    “Enough, Ed! It’s better if you leave now,” Nichs openly kicked his friend out.


    Edwardughed heartily this time.


    “But I still want to stay here. When else can I see Kimberly looking sexy like that?”


    “Ed! I think you should go home now,” Nichs swore to God; he wanted to punch the guy right now. Shortly after, he shoved all the sheets of paper he had previously read into a folder and handed them to Edward.


    “I’ve read and signed everything. Now, get out of my apartment!”


    Edward grimaced while epting the folder Nichs offered. “Oh my, you’re really kicking me out, Nick. Even though I’m the friend who’s always by your side!”


    “There’s still Kenzi, who’s much more useful,” Nichs replied.


    “But right now, I’m the one who’s helped you a lot. Tomorrow, when you’re on duty in Ku Lumpur, I’d be happy to help you take care of Kimberly.”


    Nichs clenched his jaw hard, his patience had run out this time. He then got up from his seat. He forcefully dragged Edward out of his apartment. There was nothing more to discuss.


    “This is thest time you visit my apartment. Don’t expect me to allow you toe in, let alone enter.”


    Nichs mmed the door without waiting for Edward to respond. However, just a few steps inside, he heard a knocking sound. For a moment, Nichs ignored it, but it grew louder over time. Still filled with anger, he turned back and reopened the door.


    “What else do you want, Ed?” Nichs scolded.


    “Ex-cu-se me, sir. I’m from Global Water. I was asked to repair the damaged water pipe in this apartment unit.”


    Nichs roughly rubbed his face as he had just scolded the wrong person. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he allowed the plumber to enter and promptly fix the damaged water pipe in Kimberly’s room.


    “Nick, can Ie out?” Kimberly shouted from inside her room.


    Nichs, who was waiting in the living room, responded, “Stay there. I’lle in when everything’s done.”N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    After twenty minutes of repairs, the plumber finally bid farewell. Nichs quickly locked the door and then went to Kimberly, who had been waiting in her room all this time. She must have been cold, as she hadn’t put on any clothes after her shower.


    When he opened the door, Nichs found Kimberly sitting on one side of the bed,bing her hair. He approached and sat beside her.


    “Has Mr. Edward left?”


    Nichs nodded without speaking. He then handed her a bottle of medication.


    “Is there something so important that he came here?” Kimberly asked, changing her sitting position to face Nichs.


    “Tomorrow afternoon, I have to go to Ku Lumpur. It might take two or three days.”


    Kimberly frowned. “So sudden? Should Ie along?”


    Nichs shook his head and then reached for a ss of water that was previously on the nightstand, offering it to Kimberly as a signal for her to take her medication.


    “Tomorrow, ask Randy to take you to the hospital. As far as I remember, yourb test results should be ready.”


    Kimberly nodded in agreement. She then reached for the ss of water that Nichs had offered. Choosing to drink her medicine first, she replied to Nichs’s statement.


    “During my break tomorrow, I’ll get them. I can ask Alex to apany me,” Kimberly replied casually.


    Nichs should have been the one apanying her to the hospital to collect her test results. However, considering that this time, the schedule couldn’t be dyed, he had no choice but to let Kimberly go on her own.


    “Kimberly Rayder!”


    Right when Kimberly was about to get up, Nichs grabbed her wrist.


    “What now?” Kimberly asked, trying to free her hand from Nichs’s grip. However, instead of letting go, Nichs tightened his hold, causing Kimberly to be pulled andnding perfectly on top of Nichs.


    For a moment, both of them remained still in their respective positions. Their eyes locked in a silent exchange, gazing at each other. Then, the next moment, their positions changed. It was unclear who initiated it, but their lips finally met.


    It only took a short while for their lips to meld together. They were racing to kiss, to suckle, and to devour each other. Kimberly’s fingertips were even dancing on Nichs’s neck, slipping inside his shirt and caressing his body gently.


    A gasp escaped from Kimberly’s lips when Nichs pulled away from her lips and moved to her neck. The wet and sensual kisses he nted there left Kimberly surrendering herself to the moment. She closed her eyes, enjoying how Nichs’s lips pampered her.


    Kimberly’s moans only fueled Nichs’s desire further. He continued to caress every inch of Kimberly’s body tenderly and lightly. It became more and more seductive as time passed. Kimberly could only hold her breath and try to enjoy where Nichs’s fingers were ying.


    Nichs’s fingers continued to move gently, as if worshiping every inch of the beautiful woman in front of him. For God’s sake, Nichs had never done this to any woman before. He could even hear Kimberly softly moaning and uttering something from her lips.


    “Nick…”


    Hearing her name being called, Nichs halted his activities. He released his lips, then looked deeply into the woman’s face in front of him.


    Still with theirbored breaths, Kimberly could see Nichs repeatedly taking deep breaths, trying to calm himself. His gaze was even hard to decipher. After a while, he slowly spoke.


    “I’m sorry, I can’t continue with this.”


    Kimberly’s forehead creased. “Why? Don’t you want to touch me? Am I really not your type?” Kimberly asked in frustration.


    “No,” Nichs shook his head firmly. He appeared to be taking a deep breath, his shoulders dramatically rising and falling, trying to control his mixed emotions.


    “I’m just not ready for it. I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you, Kimmy. You should give yourself to a man you truly love.”


    Kimberly swallowed hard. The next moment, she replied, “I love you, Nick. So what’s wrong?”


    “I’m sorry, I can’t.”


    Kimberly clenched her jaw tightly. She felt embarrassed for assuming that Nichs truly loved her. After a moment, she pushed Nichs’s body away and got up.


    “Please forgive me, Kimmy.”