Chapter 5 The Kiss

"Come on Eleanor, you have to accept his offer. It is a great opportunity." Nova said for the umpteenth time since I told her about Gannon's job offer. If only I knew she was going to keep encouraging me to accept the offer which I already rejected, I would never have told her about it.

"I already told you that I rejected his offer. Moreover, you said you were going to give me a job right?"

"Yes, I did. But working with Gannon is a huge thing. I mean, his company is the biggest and takes the lead in this country. And I also heard that he and his girlfriend broke up recently." Nova smiled winking at me making me raise a brow at her in amusement.

"And what has him breaking up with his girlfriend got to do with me?" I asked with narrowed eyes. I could only imagine what was going on in Nova's head as she said those words.

"I was just thinking maybe you two could be a couple."

"Excuse you, I have no interest in him."

"Never say never best friend anything could happen, change is constant." Nova shrugged her shoulder and earned a glare from me.

"I see."

"Someone is at the door I'll go get it," I said as soon as the doorbell rang.

"What are you doing here?" Nova asked standing up when she saw him walk in.

"Blake make yourself comfortable ok, I will leave you two now." I smiled at Blake and gave Nova who stood looking stunned before I sauntered away.

"Why did you call Blake here?" Nova asked as she walked into the room.

"Is he gone? You came upstairs sooner than expected." I smiled.

"You are ignoring my question, do you know how much I dislike that good-for-nothing guy." Nova seethed in annoyance.

I stared at her before bursting into laughter. "You dislike him, are you joking or what?" I asked.

Nova rolled her eyes keeping a serious face.

"No, I'm not, you should have called him here."

I smiled upon hearing her response, she was probably kidding. The Nova I knew was head over heels in love with Blake so her words were foreign to me. " I see so where is he now?"

"He is gone, I asked him to leave," Nova said and my eyes crinkled in disbelief.

"What! Why? He wanted to explain things to you." I sighed. I couldn't understand Nova's behaviour.

"Well I don't need his explanations, he can go rot in hell for all I care." She huffed.

"You don't mean that, do you? I hope you don't regret it."

"You did that to get back at me, didn't you? For inviting Gannon over." Nova frowned staring at me angrily.

"Kind of but I really want you to be happy. You were on a whole different level of happiness when you met Blake."

"Whatever feelings or attractions I had for him are all in the past," Nova muttered.

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself?" I chuckled lifting an eyebrow at her.

Two weeks later......

"I don't want to go to the party," I said for the hundredth time but it seemed as though Nova didn't hear any of it.

Nova glared at me," Sorry but we are going."

"I don't want to," Eleanor whined.

"I've noticed you've been avoiding Gannon since the last time he showed up here, is there something you two are hiding," Nova asked gazing at me and I looked away.

"Of course not, is there something to hide?" I asked.

Nova smiled," I wouldn't know that," she mumbled staring at me intently not taking her gaze off even for a second as though she was doubting my words.

"What! Don't give me that look." I frowned.

"if you don't want that look get dressed and let's leave for Gannon's housewarming party."

"But," I started to say but Nova cut me off.

"Come on now, don't be a boring person. Do something fun for once in your life."

"Is that an insult?" My brows furrowed as I stared at her.

She chortled before shaking her head but I had a feeling she wanted to agree with me. "Of course not, I've selected an outfit for you to wear from the ones we bought from the mall three days ago." Nova smiled picking a gown that was laid out on the bed.

"This, it's way short and too revealing," I whined.

"Just try it out before you start with the complaints," Nova stated extending the dress to me but I was reluctant to take it.

"I thought you bought this for yourself?"

"No, it was for you. As a matter of fact, all the dresses were for you but if I had told you, you wouldn't let me buy them so don't even ask why I didn't tell you. Stop being so whiny and get dressed." Nova groaned grabbing my hand and putting the dress in it.

"I'm done," I sighed walking back into the room after I was done wearing the dress.

"Oh my! Elean!" Nova exclaimed her hands over her mouth.

"You are about to say something stupid, aren't you? You just called me Elean and whenever you do it means crazy mode activated." I facepalmed shaking my head as I awaited Nova's speech.

"You look beautiful, gorgeous, elegant, charming, sexy, smexy. You know what I'm short of words," Nova smiled.

I took my hands off my face and scoffed. "Thank you."

"Are you being sarcastic? I mean everything I just said. I wonder why you keep hiding those curves with your baggy gown." Nova kept a scrunched-up expression as she spoke.

"Don't insult my fashion sense!" I snapped

Nova chuckled," Of course not, how can I insult something which doesn't exist?"

I glared at her, " You..." I started to say but she interrupted me.

"I know I won, so shush." Nova mocked laughing even harder.

"I hate you!" I mumbled rolling my eyes at her.

"I know you don't, I love you Elean!" Nova giggled.

We spent some time getting ready, Nova did my makeup first and then she did hers after that. We headed to Gannon's place after getting fully set. Nova made me wear heels even though she knew how much I hated them.

"Don't you think it kind of weird that Gannon decided to buy a house a few blocks away from ours?"I muttered as we stepped down from the car.

"No, what's weird about that?" Nova mumbled.

The loud music playing was the first welcome we received as we walked into the house, one didn't need to be told that the house was magnificent so long they had eyes to see. The guests already present danced to the music, they all radiated wealth and smelled of elegance. All eyes turned to us as we made our way into the party room. Judging from Nova's facial expression she was enjoying the attention but I on the other hand hated it.

"You came, you look beautiful." Gannon hugged Nova after he walked up to us.

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it. It's your party after all." Nova smiled.

Gannon turned to me and his smile widened as surprise etched his visage."Thank you for coming Eleanora, you are gorgeous."

Well, I decided to let Gannon call me Eleanora since he was always calling me that even though I warned him not to on several occasions.

"Thank you," I muttered.

I watched as a frown crept on Gannon's face as a lady and a guy approached us with their hands intertwined.

"Hey, Gannon." The lady smiled unlocking her hands from the guy beside her and stretched her hand to embrace him but he stepped away from her.

Gannon's brows furrowed his frown deepening as he peered at her." Jenna, I don't remember inviting you."

The lady chuckled trying to hide her embarrassment." I got an invitation from Alexander. I need to introduce you to someone, this is Nash, my boyfriend." She smiled locking hands with the guy whom she came in with.

The guy who was with Jenna stretched his hand to Gannon but he withdrew it almost immediately when Gannon glared at him.

Gannon's lips pressed together, clenched his fist as his eyes and his eyes darkened with rage. He tilted his head to look at Jenna before he walked away.

Shortly afterwards, I excused myself to go to the restroom after the Jenna lady and her boyfriend left us.

I was still trying to find the restroom which made me regret turning down Jenna's offer to come with me so she could help me find it.

"Hey," I felt a tap on my shoulder and a voice behind me which made me flinch but my fright vanished when I saw who it was.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Gannon apologised.

"It's fine," I nodded.

" Were you looking for me, Eleanora?" He asked with a small smile playing on his lips.

"In your dreams, I was looking for the restroom."

"Ouch, you just broke my heart," he winced placing his hand on his chest which made me chuckle.

"Just go straight and turn left, you'll find it." He directed and I nodded.

"Thank you," I mumbled before sauntering away.

When I got back to the party room the guests were all seated listening to what Gannon was saying as he was the only one standing and the room was filled with his voice only as everyone else listened keenly to his words.

"Baby, you are here. I would love to introduce someone special to you all, my darling girlfriend Eleanora, " He smiled pointing in my direction.

Everyone turned to me, my eyes widened as I looked at the guests expecting to see the girlfriend Gannon was talking about but no one stood up. I couldn't be the Eleanora he was talking about, could I? I realised I was wrong when I saw Gannon approaching me. When he got to me, he took my hand in his brought it to his lips and placed a kiss on the back of my palm before taking me with him to where he was standing before. The room filled with cheers and applause until Gannon turned to gaze at me.

"I love you Eleanora, I would like to say thank you for making me a better person. For loving me and being the amazing you that you are." He smiled leaning closer to me, so close that I could feel his hot breath on my face. The way he looked at me made my heart start to beat faster than usual and goosebumps crawled over my skin. And when his hand cupped my face, I leaned closer to him and before I knew it our lips were touching, the feeling that coursed through me had me thinking that my heart was going to rip off my chest that moment. I felt butterflies in my tummy and my chest doing cartwheels even after he pulled away. He planted a kiss on my forehead and gave me the sweetest smile before he pulled away from me but he held onto my hand. I stood speechless as the room started to fill with applause once again. "Thank you all for coming," he muttered before getting off the stage.

With his hand still enveloping mine, he pulled me gently with him until we got to a room.

We stared at each other in silence until he broke the ice.

"I'm sorry." I stood still silent, the gears in my mind turning quickly.

Gannon gulped, he ran his hand through his hair taking steps closer to me.

"Believe me, I'm truly sorry, I only did that to make Jenna my ex jealous."

My chest clenched at the sound of those words! He did that because of his ex and there I was feeling all manner of feelings and even enjoying the kiss.

Jenna was the girl from earlier. No wonder he reacted that way when she introduced the guy she came with to him as her boyfriend. If only I knew he had such intentions I would have walked out of this place the moment I saw her.

I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat and gazed downwards, heaven knew that if I continued to look at Gannon at this moment then I wouldn't be able to stop myself from crying because of how stupid I was feeling at this point. What did I think? What was I even expecting when he kissed me? I was mad at him for using me to make his ex jealous but I was more mad and disappointed that I enjoyed the kiss.

With my eyes still lowered, I stepped away from him till I got to the door, I didn't even turn to face him before speaking.

"Do not say another word to me, Gannon. Ever again." I stated before reaching for the doorknob, pulling it and stepping out of the room.