I never thought I'd say something like that but today I can't help myself but say, Nicolas Arnold was the most thoughtful and understanding person I'd ever met in my life.

After that little conversation we had in my bathroom, he told me to freshen up and come outside and when I did, I was left stunned. He and Kia were cooking something.

"... our Ari is a little upset today, we need to lighten her mood.", I heard him say when I stepped near the kitchen.

Our?

I don't know but that single world made me grow all warm.

I glanced at him who had an apron on over his clothes, his eyes fixed on the stove as if he looked away for even a second, he'll screw up the whole food. Kia was troubling him by putting ingredients here and there or on his face.

And in return, he'd just scowl at her. He never shouted at her.

"Isn't my Nicky uncle a perfect hubby material, Ari?", Kia's words rang in my ears and I couldn't help but agree with it.

He was indeed perfect in every possible sense.

As if he knew someone was gaping at him, he turned and I couldn't help but chuckle at his face, his nose had ketchup, courtesy to Kia. He gave me an inquisitive look as to why I was laughing. I slowly went close to him and flicked his nose with my finger, "You look like a clown."

"mhm.", he smirked as he tilted his head and rubbed his nose with mine. My cheeks heated as I tried to resist the urge to hide my face. "You're blushing due to me." The f*cking blush grew deeper.

My heart pounded in my chest at how much he had gotten from me with that single sentence. I need to find a way to get back to him but bloody hell! I was not able to think about anything." Kia.", I blurted taking a step back as if I'd committed a crime."Kia is calling for me."

I sprinted inside the kitchen and quickly grabbed a glass of water. "Ari." Kia shot a sweet smile my way, "Nicky uncle made breakfast for you. Looky.", she eagerly grabbed my hand and started showing me all that Nicolas made.

It was a perfect vegetarian breakfast. With beans, bread, and a salad. I smiled at him who had now wiped the ketchup off his face, much to my dismay.

Such a buzzkill.

He pulled a chair for me to sit, then he made Kia sit gently and offered her some milk. He served food for me and Kia and then he looked at me with a curious look on his face. I raised an eyebrow."I just, it's the first time I cooked something for a woman other than my Mama and Kia." He looked like a kid doing his first chemical test in a lab, nervous and unsure.

"I feel special." I really did. No man had ever done something like he did for me. That's a different thing that whatever he did made my heart skip its beat.

"You always have been.", my lips curved up into a soft grin as I took a bite and savoured it. He was a great cook was a complete understatement, his every work was a display of perfection. "It's amazing."

His face lit up with a broad grin as if he just won a huge lottery. He hi-fived with Kia and they both yelled."Mission passed."

It amazes me how this man makes me feel every time I see his smile due to me.

After breakfast, Nicolas gave me the clothes, Mama had sent. Taking a shower had been a task and when I came out, he was outside my room. I rolled my eyes. This man!

"Why were you standing outside? Come in."

"You want any help?", he asked me once he came in. I chuckled. "You will help me in drying my hair?

"Don't challenge me, amore." He made me sit on a chair and I couldn't help but stare at his gorgeous face while he brushed my hair with a beautiful smile on his face. "It will dry faster if you separate it in parts." He said with the smile of his. I was left speechless as he took a portion of my hair and wiped it with a towel so skillfully."You forgot it's me who does Kia's hairs."

I gasped and turned around with such a speed that I was afraid it'd sprain my neck."Those pretty hairstyles, you are the one who makes them?"

He chuckled and nodded."One and only."

He pulled out a hairdryer and started drying my hair. It was one of the first times I had experienced someone drying my hair besides my mom. He did a great job of it.

"Thank you.", I smiled at him through the mirror.

"You're very welcome, amore.", He watched me as I wore the pearl earrings. His eyes shone with delight and a warm smile spread over his face. "Jesus Christ!", he mumbled walking out of the room.

What happened to him?

I sighed and walked to Kia's room but she wasn't there. I spotted him who was walking out of his room dressed in a crisp black formal suit.

"Where's Kia, Nicolas?"

"She left for her school." He came closer to me and kissed my forehead gently."I need to leave for the office urgently, Arielle. Mama is on her way to accompany you. Stay safe and call me if you need anything."

I smiled at his concern and hugged him."You too."

He kissed the crown of my head."I'll see you in the evening, amore." After making sure that I'd locked the door after him, he left.

The whole day I spent with Mama who had bought snacks with her, in her words she had always wanted a daughter but didn't have one so she wanted to fulfil her all wishes with me.

So here I'm watching a movie, eating popcorn and chatting with Mama. I was very content at that moment.

I was happy.

I looked at the clock and it was already eight. Kia was out with Aiden. Two of them were crazy.

"Mama it's late," I said to her. She frowned and sighed."Will you be fine?" I kissed her cheek lovingly."Of course."

She also once again made sure that I locked the door and then only she left. Like mother, like son.

I walked back to the couch and pulled the blanket over my shoulders. I was bored and somewhat impatient. I felt the need to call him and tell him to come home right now but since it'd sound a little bit extreme, I reluctantly dropped the idea.

I sighed as I watched the next episode of Friends.

"Amore.", I felt a soft touch on my cheek. Soft grey eyes stared at me when I opened mine."Why are you sleeping here?", he asked softly.

"I was waiting for you.", I said sleepily.

He hummed and muttered something under his breath."Did you have your dinner?"

I nodded in a daze. He chuckled and picked me off the couch making me squeal."I'm afraid if I made you walk to your room, you'd hurt yourself judging by how sleepy you're."

"No no... I'm not." He frowned and placed me on my feet.

"Freshen up till then I'll serve your dinner," I said walking to the kitchen.

"You don't have to, amore. I'll do it. Go and sleep."

I scowled at him."Shut up and do as I say."

He grabbed my hand pulling me towards him. My back against his chest. My heart raced out of control being this close to him."You realize you're acting like you are my wife."

I felt as if I was drenched in cold water in winters."Wife?"

"mhmm.", he chuckled and it made a jolt run down my body." I don't mind though."

"But I'm not your wife."

"Yet.", he completed, his lips lingering on the skin of my neck. What the f*ck is he saying, my god?

And just like that, he left me in a trance.

That man will surely be the death of me someday.

I tried to clear my mind and walked to the kitchen. I heated the food and organized it well on the dining table. As much as I wanted to run away before he could come, I didn't do that.

I knew how it felt when you had to eat food alone on a huge dining table, one of the worst feelings in the world.

He came in a grey t-shirt and sweatpants. His hair was messy but he looked fine.

"You didn't have to do all this, Arielle." He sat on a chair and I placed the plate filled with food in front of him.

"I wanted to.", I smiled and sat beside him. He beamed as he looked at me and then at the food.

"Thank you, amore.", he said after eating a mouthful of rice. "I never heated the food before eating it but if you stayed awake like today for me to finish my dinner then surely my habits will change."

"How was your day?", he asked me with a smile on his gorgeous face."It was amazing. Mama told me how she dressed you in a princess dress for a fancy dress competition." He froze and then choked on his food. His face reddened so fiercely I couldn't control my laugh.

I passed the glass of water to him and he chugged it down immediately."It's not funny.", he groaned.

"Right." I laughed."The part where the frock blew and you collapsed in front of your classmates was funnier."

"Jesus Christ! She really told you the whole incident.", he groaned rubbing his temple.

"She did.", I laughed seeing him getting so embarrassed but the laughter soon died when the pain started surging in my wound. I hissed and he smirked."Karma."

I rolled my eyes and served another spoon of curry in his bowl."Is my amore angry?"

As if I could? The moment he called me his amore, I melted like a f*cking ice cream.

"No.", I shook my head as I paused to study his expression. He looked really pleased."How was your day?"

"I had meetings all day. It was really tiring but then I came home and saw you sleeping on the couch and my all tiredness flew away.", he said casually, his whole concentration on the food now.

"You're so cheesy sometimes, Mr Arnold." I glared at him who in return just gave me a smirk."Only for my amore."

***