The Stranger I Married-Chapter 39: Taking you to work

Ella groaned inwardly the moment she stepped out of the house and saw Nicholas leaning casually against his sleek black car, arms crossed, waiting for her.

He was wearing his usual dark suit, a cigarette dangling lazily between his fingers. The morning sun glinted off his glasses, making him look effortlessly dangerous—like he belonged on the cover of some forbidden romance novel.

Ella’s heart gave a little traitorous flutter before she quickly smothered it.

"What are you doing?" she asked, folding her arms tightly across her chest.

Nicholas smirked, flicking his cigarette away with practiced ease.

"Taking you to work."

Her eyes narrowed. "I told you I can take the bus."

He arched a brow, completely unfazed by her glare. "And I ignored you."

Ella huffed, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he was getting under her skin, but his constant need to assert control over her life was infuriating.

"Nicholas—"

"I don’t argue before coffee, dolcezza." His voice was smooth, teasing. "Get in the car."

Ella clenched her jaw, her fingers curling into fists at her sides.

"You can’t just... show up and act like—like you’re responsible for me!"

Nicholas’s smirk deepened, his dark eyes glinting behind his glasses.

"But I am. You’re my wife"

Her breath caught.

Bastard.

"You can’t just decide that—"

"I already have." He stepped closer, towering over her effortlessly. "Now get in the car before I throw you over my shoulder and carry you there myself."

Ella’s mouth snapped shut, her cheeks flushing hot.

He wouldn’t.

Would he? freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

The lazy amusement dancing in his eyes told her exactly what would happen if she pushed him any further.

God, he was impossible.

With an exasperated sigh, she stalked past him and yanked the car door open, sliding into the passenger seat. Nicholas’s deep chuckle followed her as he rounded the car and slid behind the wheel.

He didn’t say another word as he started the engine and pulled onto the road, but the smug smile tugging at his lips was enough to make Ella want to throttle him.

By the time they reached the small coffee shop where Ella had started working, the silence in the car was suffocating.

Nicholas finally glanced at her, one hand lazily draped over the steering wheel.

"Nervous?"

Ella blinked, caught off guard by the sudden softness in his voice.

She was nervous—not that she’d ever admit it to him. She was working at a new place, and the humiliation from yesterday still clung to her like a second skin.

But she wasn’t about to let Nicholas see any more of her cracks.

"No."

Nicholas’s smirk returned, like he’d caught the lie rolling off her tongue.

"You’re a terrible liar, dolcezza." His fingers reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The simple touch sent a shiver racing down her spine. "You’ll do fine."

Ella swallowed hard, hating how easily he could undo her.

"Thanks... I guess."

His lips twitched, but he didn’t push.

Instead, he leaned back and flicked his glasses down the bridge of his nose, eyes locked on her.

"I’ll pick you up after your shift."

Ella’s heart stumbled.

"You don’t have to—"

"Don’t argue."

Her stomach flipped.

She hated how easily he made her feel small—like she was something fragile that needed to be looked after.

She hated how a small, traitorous part of her liked it.

Ella sighed in defeat, pushing open the door.

The day passed slowly.

Ella buried herself in her work, taking orders, wiping down tables, and trying not to think about the fact that Nicholas would be waiting for her when her shift ended.

But it was hard to ignore the subtle glances from her co-worker—Sienna.

The girl was tall, slim, and effortlessly pretty, with perfectly curled brown hair and a bright smile that never quite reached her eyes. Every time Ella passed by, she could feel Sienna’s gaze flicking over her like she was sizing her up.

It didn’t take long for the first comment to slip out.

"Didn’t think girls like you would need to work in a place like this."

Ella froze, her heart sinking.

Girls like her?

She turned slowly, wiping her hands on a towel.

"I’m sorry?"

Sienna’s smile sharpened, but before she could respond, another girl—Sofia—piped up from behind the counter.

"Don’t mind her," Sofia said, throwing Ella an apologetic smile. "She just hates it when someone prettier shows up."

Sienna shot Sofia a glare, but Ella barely heard them.

Her mind was already working overtime, trying to piece together what Sienna had meant.

It wasn’t until lunchtime, when she caught two girls whispering and glancing her way, that it finally clicked.

They must have seen her getting out of Nicholas’s car.

Ella’s stomach twisted.

They thought she had a sponsor.

That she was some spoiled little kept woman playing pretend at having a job.

She should have been used to rumors like this by now.

But it still hurt.

By the end of her shift, Ella’s head was pounding, and her nerves were stretched thin.

The last thing she needed was him walking through the door like he owned the place.

The little bell above the door chimed.

Ella’s heart dropped straight to her stomach.

Nicholas Carter.

All dark suits and lazy arrogance, his glasses perched low on his nose.

He leaned casually against the counter, ignoring the whispers that broke out the moment he walked in.

His eyes locked on hers instantly, like there was no one else in the room.

"Hey, dolcezza." His voice was smooth, low. "Busy day?"

Ella’s pulse skittered.

God, why did he have to sound like sex when he talked?

She gripped the counter tighter.

"Nicholas—what are you doing here?"

His smirk deepened, slow and deliberate.

"Picking you up, like I said I would."

Ella flushed, painfully aware of the way Sienna’s eyes were practically burning holes through her back.

"I could have taken the bus."

"You could have," Nicholas agreed easily. "But then I wouldn’t have gotten to see you in that cute little uniform."