Taming the Billionaire

#13 Confession

The morning after, Elise woke up balled up in her bed. She rubbed her eyes, trying to remember how she ended up in bed. She was tired when she left the hospital. All the restless nights and exhaustion had finally caught up with her. She had dozed off on their way back.

"Nolan!" Her eyes were wide awake when she remembered him.

She jumped from the bed to look for him. But she fell with a thud on the floor. How could she forget that sore ankle? The doctor asked her not to move around. And here, she was jumping? She cried in pain, holding her hurt leg. To her horror, the swelling had increased. It was a miracle she hadn't fractured it.

"Elise? Elise? Are you alright?" Nolan shrieked from downstairs when he heard the sound.

As soon as Elise heard Nolan's voice, for some reason, she felt like she was in more pain. Her cries were now loud moans for help, tears rolling down her cheek. She found it absurd. She didn't want to come off like a crybaby who couldn't even handle a hurt ankle. But she had no control whatsoever. Tears fell freely, and her sobs increased their pace. Her heart longed for Nolan's comfort despite her head trying to make her understand she was probably overdoing it by over-depending on Nolan.

"What happened?" Nolan rushed to her. He quickly picked her up and placed her on the bed. He brought her some ice packs to compress the swelling.

Nolan's kind gestures touched Elise. The last time she had hurt herself, Mike had sent her flowers and called her to check on her for a day. After that, it was a forgotten affair. But whenever Mike fell sick, she would do everything possible. She would send him homemade food and medicine and sometimes even sneak in to care for him. Why couldn't she see he did not value her? She could see the apparent difference now.

"I forbid you from getting off this bed," Nolan announced, placing the breakfast before her on the bed. It was the first time she had been going to have breakfast in bed since her mother died.

"What if I need to use the washroom?" Elise asked, smiling a little. But her focus was on the delicious-looking food.

She felt something warm inside her heart. Whenever she was sick, it was her mother who would feed her in bed. But after she passed away, she had to fend for herself even when she was sick. Sara would take care of her sometimes. But she never brought food to bed.

"I will carry you and wait until you are finished." Nolan didn't even think twice before answering. He blew on the soup and fed her with his hand. Then he made her eat a bite of the sandwich he had cooked for breakfast.

"Ummm... It is delicious. Did you make it?" Elise enquired. She was doubtful.

"Hmm! Do you like it?" Nolan smiled, seeing her enjoying his food.

Even though he was born rich, he didn't have many who cared for him. He moved out of his parent's house when he was an adult. He didn't like the people around him. So, he hired a housekeeper who would clean whenever he wasn't around. And sometimes down the lane, he learned how to cook. As he fed her another bite of the sandwich, he thought it wasn't terrible to live with someone else. He felt whole. He couldn't help but feel he could finally have a family that seemed impossible a few weeks back.

"I love it. But where is your plate? I will eat on my own." Elise flashed her hands, smiling perkily.

She was no longer sure whether she was in a relationship with Nolan. They felt like a couple to her. Whenever they were together, it felt right. She didn't want to debate her feelings at that moment. She was going to savor it.

"After I feed you," Nolan took her hands and kissed her palms affectionately, raising her heartbeat. She couldn't help but stare at him with wide eyes, shocked and flustered.

Nolan smirked, twisting his lips to one side. He clasped his fingers around hers, then kissed one palm, then the other, looking into her eyes. Elise swallowed hard, flushing. She looked down, feeling flustered. It was as if all the blood in her body had rushed to her cheeks, making them look like tomatoes.

"You look adorable." Nolan smiled, bending to kiss her forehead tenderly.

Elise gulped down her saliva again. She closed her eyes forcibly. As if that would stop her heart from exploding! She couldn't even feign ignorance when her body reacted in unexplainable ways.

"What will you do if I go down?" Nolan teased her, caressing the sides of her lips.

He swallowed her, feeling aroused just by the thought of kissing her lips. He would love to wake up every morning with Elise. If life with her was going to be this beautiful, he didn't want to wait long for it.

Elise was breathing heavily by then. She was confused about whether to push him away or kiss him. Her heart was going to explode or just stop beating. He was going to be the death of her.

*The phone rings!*

Nolan hissed, getting away from Elise to pick up his phone. If it were anyone else, he wouldn't have budged. They had a moment before the phone buzzed. But that ringtone belonged to Drake. He would never ignore his call.

"Did you handle it?" Nolan queried.

"No! You have to help me!" Nolan probed, sounding impatient.

"Please! Just this one time!" Nolan pleaded, making Elise curious.

Even if she didn't want to eavesdrop, she couldn't help it when he was talking to someone in her presence. It wasn't like she was purposefully listening when he was that loud.

"I owe you! Thank you!" Nolan smiled, ear to ear.

Elise gaped at him, thinking his smile was innocent as a child's smile at that time. She wondered who was on the other side and what they were talking about. He was beaming now.

Nolan narrowed his eyes, looking at Elise, who was now pretending not to have heard him. But he knew better. He knew she was glaring at him the whole time, curious to find more.

"It was Drake. Apparently, your friend Sara is giving him a hard time. She wants to get out of the team to see you since you have hurt yourself." Nolan summarized their conversation.

Elise's eyes widened. Who did inform Sara? Was it Nolan? Well, no matter how good his intentions were, he shouldn't have, especially when it was Sara. She didn't do it because she knew this was exactly how Sara would respond. The girl always prioritized her as if she was some toddler. She scoffed, looking for her phone.

"You should never tell her things like this in the future. One time, I bruised my knees in school, and she didn't go to school because I might need help from someone to go to the washroom. It wasn't bad, and I could do everything without help." Elise explained to Nolan, reminiscing about their childhood.

Sara was her neighbor, and they started on the wrong foot when the boy Sara had a crush on was chasing Elise. They were teenagers at each other's throats. Later, when the boy noticed Sara liked him, he turned his focus to her. In truth, he simply wanted to push his tongue inside a girl's mouth and maybe do more. He had assumed Elise was an easy target. But after finding out about Sara's crush, he lured her to a party. After seeing Elise there, she didn't mind when he kissed her out of jealousy. But when he wanted to do more, Elise was the one who actually rescued her. In the end, Sara found Elise had never liked him, nor did she enjoy parties like that. Elise only went to the party because she had overheard his ulterior motives. She was worried about Sara. Even if it was a terrible memory, it was the foundation of something solid. And now, they cherished each other.

Elise texted Sara that she was doing fine as Nolan was with her. She knew she had to do a lot of explaining later. But Sara wouldn't be able to focus if she thought Elise was alone.

"I am sure it isn't one-sided. I can tell you adore Sara." Nolan got back to bed, tucking her hair behind her ears. The soup and sandwich had gotten cold, but Elise didn't mind having it. The company was warm.

"It isn't. There isn't a thing I wouldn't do for Sara. She is my only family." Elise's smile reached her eyes.

Nolan made a hurtful face, pouting his lips and narrowing his eyes. "I am hurt! And a bit jealous." He squeezed his lips to make an impact.

Elise giggled, finding it funny. "Why?"

Nolan looked down, taking a deep breath, making Elise nervous. How did the funny situation turn dense in a split second? He looked at her intently.

"Because you think she is your family," Nolan whispered, his eyes never leaving hers.

"What?" Elise asked, shocked. Her eyes widened as she looked at his perfect face to read his expression.

"I want to be your family, too," Nolan declared. Maybe he hadn't expressed the words of love yet, but asking her to be his family was much more. He was broken and empty inside. She seemed like the only thing he could hold onto to make his barren life greener.

Elise didn't know how to respond to that. She had always longed to marry, do things with her husband, raise a dog, have kids, and live happily with her family. She had always been jealous of people who had families. With Mike, it felt like a never-ending wait. But Nolan wants her to be his family? There were no sweeter words to her ears. It was probably better than a love confession. She couldn't stop that single teardrop that escaped her eyes.

"Hey! I am sorry if I offended you. I know I should propose to you properly, take you on dates, and do many things before marriage comes into the picture. But believe me when I say I want to be your family someday." Nolan wiped that tear.

He took out the table and food between them and pulled her into a warm hug. As soon as Elise was in his embrace, it was like a dam was bursting. She clutched onto him, holding him tightly as tears fell freely. Nolan didn't know what he did, but he felt overwhelmed. He pulled her closer, caressing her hair and kissing her forehead to solace her.

"Don't tell me things that can't be true." Elise stuttered between her sobs.

"Shh... I am not lying. I promise." Nolan coaxed her, hugging her tightly.

"Even if-" Elise stopped. She didn't want to speak about it. She knew she had told Nolan that she was a product of an affair and an illegitimate child. But that was when they were under the influence of alcohol.

"Even if what?" Nolan probed, worried that she was feeling burdened by something.

Elise swallowed hard, pushing him to wipe her tears. She didn't know what to say. She looked at him with red, watery eyes, trying to see if he would reject her by any means. Yesterday she was conflicted about him, but now she couldn't help but want his validation. Despite her retaliations, doubts, hesitations, and apprehensions, she didn't know how and when this man started becoming such an integral part of her life.

"What if I am undeserving? What if I only hold you back? What if I am only a burden? What if you find something undesirable about me?" Elise stammered and stuttered, trying to gather herself.

Nolan sighed. He had a brief idea of where she was speaking such things. Her fear wasn't baseless. He reminded himself again to do something about it. Her pain was his problem. He vouched to take her revenge. He didn't care whether she was an illegitimate child. She was the woman who made his heart flutter and life charming.

"I wouldn't mind anything about you until you are with me, Elise. I am afraid there is nothing that can stop these feelings now." Nolan brushed the ears that had fallen again. He gently kissed her forehead and embraced her to comfort her.

"Even if I tell you I am an illegitimate child?" Elise asked, swallowing hard. She didn't want to lie to him, especially when he might have remembered it from their earlier conversation.

"Silly! I know it already. Remember?" Nolan caressed her hair and patted her back. She was shocked, but she also felt relief. It was like a huge burden was off her chest. Maybe they would have to talk about it in detail, but at least he didn't mind it.

Elise had never felt more comfortable and happy in her life. How did she bump into this amazing man? What did she do to deserve this unbelievably kind and handsome man?

He filled her heart with warm emotions, making it flutter and pound. She had begun to like him so much that she felt sick inside. She tightened her hands around him, inhaling his cologne.

"So, am I your boyfriend now?" Nolan asked, trying to ease the tension.

Elise's eyes widened at that. She moved to see his beaming face. Nolan raised his brows, teasing her a bit. She bit her lips, looking down in shyness. She was red like a cherry.

"Is it because of the rumors?" She asked, looking elsewhere, playing with her fingers. She had felt infuriated when his secretary had asked her to be Nolan's girlfriend. But now she was feeling happy.

"Maybe." Nolan teased her more.

"What benefit will it bring to you?" Elise glared, feeling a little angry. Couldn't he be more direct when he wants her to be?

"Umm... I have scores to settle with Mike," Nolan replied. He wasn't lying about settling scores with Mike. But at that time, it was a meaningless joke.

Elise glowered, feeling offended and dejected. She didn't know the complications and why he despised Mike. But she didn't want to be an object of vindication.

"I don't want to be your girlfriend." She pouted, turning her face away.

"And if I say it is because I want you to be my girlfriend?" Nolan chuckled at her fussiness. He would like to spoil her.

"Why?" Elise pouted, still looking elsewhere.

He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. He prepared himself for what he was about to say. It was going to be his declaration of love. There wouldn't be any turning from there.

"Elise," he called for her attention in a sincere voice, turning her face towards him with his hand. He cupped her cheeks and looked into her eyes. He looked at her profoundly, making her serious.

"I am more complicated than you, Elise. It isn't a lie that I want to settle scores with Mike. And the list is long. But they have nothing to do with you. Being with me will not be easy. I have more enemies than friends. I have more people who want bad for me than well-wishers. But still, do you want to be my girlfriend? Even if I am bad to everyone, I will be good to you. I promise I will treasure you in any situation. I promise my feelings won't change even in the darkest days." Nolan declared his love for Elise, waiting for her answer.

Her heart thumped. No one is ever prepared for such an honest proposal. But how could she refuse one?

"Yes," Elise blushed, hiding her face in his chest.

Nolan wrapped his hands around her, smiling ear to ear. "You can't go back from your words now." He reminded her.