Chapter 29 Unruined night💦

Chapter 29 Unruined night💦
Nora’s POV

Daniel’s hand rests on my thigh the entire way, his thumb moving in slow forming round circles on my skin. I don’t pull away. I didn’t say anything. I just let the warmth of his palm anchor me while the city lights blur past.
When we step inside the house, the foyer lights are low, and Pickles greets us with sleepy eyes. His tail wagging slowly before he flops dramatically at our feet like he’s offended we were gone so long. I bend to scratch behind his ears, using the moment to comfort myself. Daniel closes the front door behind. I straighten, turn to him.“Thank you,” I say quietly. “For dinner. Even though it got… ruined. While it lasted, I had a really nice time.”
His eyes soften calmly.
“You don’t have to thank me for something that ended with cameras in your face.”
“I know.” I step closer, resting my palm on his chest just over his heart. It’s beating too fast. “But I’m thanking you anyway. For trying. For wanting to give me something normal.”He covers my hand with his and presses it harder against his heartbeat.
“You looked beautiful tonight,” he says, voice low. “Still do.” I smile.“I’m going to shower,” I tell him. “Get this night off my skin.”
He nods and kisses my forehead gently then lets me go.I climb the stairs slowly, my heels dangling from my fingers. The emerald dress feels heavier now, and I can't wait to take it off. In my room I shut the door, lean back against it for a second, and just breathe.Then I reach behind me, unzip.The silk slides down my body and I step out of it, kick it aside, walk into the bathroom naked.

The shower is scalding almost too hot but I need it. I need the heat to burn away the flashes, the shouted questions, the sickening crunch of a heel on silk. I stand under the shower until my skin turns pink, until the tension in my shoulders finally loosens. I wash my hair twice. The condition of the coconut scent fills the steam. When I step out, my hair is towel-dried but it's still damp at the ends. I open the lingerie drawer and I choose the black lace set I bought months ago in a store but never wore it. It has delicate straps, sheer panels over my nipples, a thong that’s more suggestion than coverage, garters that clip to thigh-high stockings.

I slide everything on slowly. The lace feels cool against flushed skin. I look in the mirror. I look dangerous.
Good.
Pickles walks in while I’m brushing out my hair. He hops onto the bed, circles twice, then collapses against my hip with a contented huff. I lean down, kiss the top of his head, bury my fingers in his golden fur.
“You’re the only boy who’s never disappointed me,” I murmur. He licks my wrist then sighs like he agrees. My phone buzzes on the nightstand.
Maya.
I answer on speaker, still petting Pickles.
“How was dinner with Prince Charming?” she asks immediately. Did he fuck you on the table between meals?”
I laugh hard. “It was good. For a while. Really good. Until the press showed up.”
Silence.
“What did they do?”
“They swarmed the private room. Flashes through the window. Questions. One of them, a blonde woman, stepped on my dress on purpose. I almost fell.”
Maya lets out a string of curses.“That bitch,” she snarls. “I just saw the headlines. They’re already spinning it saying ‘Hawthorne’s Mystery Woman Snaps at Press. There's a video. You look fierce, by the way. But seriously how did they know?”
“I don’t know.” My voice drops.
“Daniel said it was secure. But I guess someone tipped them off.”
Maya makes a sound like she’s crunching on something. “I hate this for you. Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I exhale. “I'm pissed. Shaken. But okay.”
“And Daniel?”
I glance at the closed door. “I don’t know. He got us out fast. Didn’t say much in the car. He’s… processing, I think.”
“Tell him if he needs someone to bury a body, I’ve got a shovel and zero questions.”I laugh again. “I’ll pass it along.”
We talk for another few minutes then she yawns. “I’m stealing you for brunch this weekend. No excuses. Love you.”
“Love you more.”
Then the call ends. I set the phone down and stare at the ceiling. I wonder how long it will take for the headlines to reach my school inbox. I wonder if the headmistress will finally call to discuss my future. I wonder if Daniel will still look at me the same way tomorrow when the boardroom lights are on him and the world is watching.
I hear a soft knock on the door.
My heart jumps.“Come in.”
Daniel steps inside. He’s still in his white shirt with his sleeves rolled, top two buttons undone with dark slacks, and his hair slightly mussed like he’s been running his hands through it. He closes the door behind him gently, leans back against it for a second, his eyes on me.
“I’m sorry,” he says quietly. “For how tonight ended.”I sit up slowly. Pickles grumbles, shifts, then hops off the bed and trots out like he’s personally offended by the interruption.“It’s not your fault,” I tell him.