Twenty-three- A gorgeous wink and a wannabe prick

A much less sick Chloe could not help but nibble on her thumb as the day grew darker with no news about Nathaniel or what had happened to him. Gabriel and Amir had rushed out of her room after the call and since then, they had not come around.

With no intention of being confined any further to her bed or even to the room, she got off and made for a little box beside her bed that held her clothes. Even though she wasn't particularly sure what it was she was going to do after putting them on, she put them on anyway, hurriedly getting rid of the hospital gown.

She was about to make for the door when Amir came in. With his brows going up, he asked, "Are you going somewhere?"

"I am just tired of this place."

"And..." he moved closer, his arms folded with an amused look on his face. "Where were you going to go when you leave this place?"

Chloe's steps fell backwards and until she hit the edge of the bed, she didn't stop. Almost grimacing at how ridiculous she was about to sound, she said, "I was going to find my way home?"

Amir chuckled and moved closer to her. Suddenly, he pulled her down onto the bed and sat next to her. "You never fail to amuse me. How on earth were you planning to find your way home? You don't even have a map."

"Yeah, yeah." she rolled her eyes, her lips wearing a small smile. "I was not thinking that much."

"You are not meant to be thinking, you are supposed to be resting." Chloe turned and met his face at just few inches away. Clearing her throat, she shifted a bit.

"How is Nathaniel?" she asked.

"He is okay. He didn't sustain many injuries. In fact, if Sebastian hadn't been passing by at that moment, Nathaniel wouldn't have mentioned anything."

"So, he is absolutely fine?"

"Yes. All he has is a small injury to the head." Chloe felt relief all over her. She had been so worried all day and her crazy thoughts did not help her keep calm. She almost laughed at herself. So much for not letting hormones take over the mission. "I have spoken to the doctor."

"Yeah?" She seriously hoped she was about to be discharged.

"Even though he doesn't recommend you to, he says you can go home, but you have to rest well for the next two weeks or so. So, no more work for the next two weeks."

"Really?" Chloe could not help but be excited at the news. It really sucked to be doing so much for a fake job.

His lips broke into the kind of smile a bearer of good news would have. "Yes. But promise me you will rest. I must not see you near a broom or near the kitchen or wherever else you do your work."

Playfully, she straightened her back, chested out and with a silly smile she said, "I promise you sir."

Amir laughed. "God, you are fun to be with."

"Errr... sometimes."

"Well, Chloe, I have gotten all your medications from the pharmacy, so," he got up and extended his hand to her. ",let's go home."

"Definitely." She placed her hand in his and got up with excitement within her. Most of it was because of the work she would not be doing but a small hidden part of it was because she couldn't wait to see Nathaniel.

She wouldn't want to acknowledge it, but that was how it was.

~

Chloe had a lot of missed calls from the Agency already but she didn't want to bother herself with that part of her life yet, so she tossed her smart watch to some place and went for a long hot bath.

After she had dressed, she made downstairs for dinner reminding herself to thank Nathaniel for his help.

Soon, she was at the table and only Gabriel was in sight.

"You are looking better," he said as he took his attention off the phone in his hand. With his eyes smiling, he watched her as she moved closer and his eyes was still on her even after she had sat down.

Chloe cleared her throat. He was not shy about making eye contacts but he did it so confidently with her, it made her a bit uncomfortable.

"I got you something." He reached for the box in front of him and slid it towards her.

As she caught it in between her hands, she looked down at the unlabelled white box before she looked his way. "What is inside?"

"Check," he gestured with his head.

Her lips scruched as she played with the ends of the box. "What if it is a bomb?" He gestured again. "Ughh... if it something terrible, I will not forgive it."

"Well, ain't you fiesty? Makes me like you even more." Each time he made mentioned or refered to his intentions, his gentle look got replaced by a very bold, very determined look that made Chloe wonder if he would really try to win her over.

Clearing her throat again, she reached for the top of the box and opened it. "Cupcakes!" She found sweet things irresistible.

"Yes, the best for the most beautiful cupcake I have ever seen." He ended his sentence with a slow wink that got Chloe feeling suddenly hot. He looked so gorgeous winking, she knew she had to admit. Gabriel maintained a small smirk causing Chloe to avert her prolonged gaze and admire the creaminess in front of her.

"Where is Amir and Lucille?" Nathaniel's voice jolted her whole body. There was someone else who had been doing a good job of making her feel hot and even have crazy thoughts even after thousand of 'don't fall for him' lectures she had given herself.

"Lucille is helping with dinner and Amir... I guess he is on his way."

"Hmm." Chloe's eyes met his as he had his seat at the end of the table. He said nothing but held her look with his blue eyes that seemed to look even more alluring at that moment.

"Thank you Nathaniel."

"What for?" His eyes tore off hers as he reached for a bottle of water and downed it slowly.

Before she formed her response, she studied him quickly. His long lashes, the random movements in his jaws as he swallowed the liquid, his hair that just sat perfectly in their layers, they all seemed at that moment, attractive.

Gulping, she finally said, "Uh... for helping me to the hospital."

He dropped the almost empty bottle, smacked his lips then looked her way again. "Anyone could have helped you. I just happened to be passing by."

Chloe narrowed her eyes. She wondered why he was trying to sound harsh. He wasn't even doing a good job. " Thanks anyway. How's your injury?" Her eyes went to the little bandage on the side of his head.

"What's with these questions Chloe? Are you trying to play mum now?" Chloe sighed within her. He was going about being harsh in the wrong way. If only she had a way to coach him.

She was about to reply when Gabriel suddenly hit the table. "What is your problem?" Nathaniel eyes darted across the room with a little confused frown before he looked at Gabriel, one of his fingers pointed towards his chest in question. "Of course I am talking to you."

"What did I do?"

"Chloe here was showing concern for you and all you could do was dismiss her like she is some clinging strange creature."

Nathaniel frowned and folded his arms as he fully turned his attention to his friend. Chloe reached for a cupcake and dug in. "What nonsense are you spewing this time Gabe?"

"I just don't get why you are suddenly acting so stupid."

"Stupid? But I did nothing."

Gabriel laughed. "Nothing, he says nothing. Listen to me Nathaniel, you had better learn how to show her some respect or someone else will teach you how it's done."

"Do I look like I care?"

A look that Chloe could not help but see as mischevious took over Gabriel's face. "So, you won't care if another man walked in this second, walked up to Chloe and kissed her?"

Nathaniel shrugged. "No I won't." Chloe, at the moment did that thing where she wondered why she was falling for Nathaniel. But this time she wondered such because she could see how much of a prick he was trying to be.

"Good." Gabriel got up.

"Where are you going?" Nathaniel asked.

"Oh, you will soon know." Gabriel walked past him. Within few seconds, he made it to where Chloe was seated. "Chloe?" he called.

She looked up at him. "Yeah?"

And his lips met hers without any warning.