Several days had passed since Nicole and Jarrod parted in the hospital.

Nicole had thought Jarrod wouldn't give up that easily, yet he hadn't sought her out until now. Was he so easily irritated? It all seemed so dull. She still needed him around. His interest in her couldn't fade just yet.

With a subtle smile, Nicole murmured, "I need to head home."

Jarrod gave her a look and offered a smile. "Unless you want me to carry you inside the car, you better hop in the car."

Jarrod had a small dimple on his left cheek that only showed when he smiled, which Nicole had to look closely to notice.

Lost in thought, Nicole recalled how much she used to enjoy his smile. His dimples, usually a sign of shyness, added a touch of charm to his appearance, making him seem both shy and attractive.

Yet, Jarrod's dimples, typically associated with charm, now took on a hint of menace. His smile suggested that beneath his handsome exterior lurked a deadly threat.

Seeing her absent-minded look, Jarrod chuckled. "You seem captivated by me. Have you been missing me?"

Nicole felt disgusted. She approached her car with a stern expression, wanting to open the door.

But before her hand reached the handle, she felt a strong pull from behind. Jarrod had stepped out of his car, gently grasped her neck, and teased, “Since you don't get in yourself, I'll take that as a sign you prefer me to carry you."

Nicole found his audacity exasperating. Irritated, she inquired, “Where exactly are we going?"

Jarrod, clearly in high spirits, quirked an eyebrow and cheerfully suggested, "Join me for a late-night snack."

Just as Nicole was about to rebuke him, her phone rang.

Recognizing the caller ID, her expression turned serious. She brushed off Jarrod's hand, saying, "Hold on. I need to take this call."

Her reaction seemed casual yet intimate. Jarrod's eyes darkened as he finally released her.

Nicole advanced a couple of steps and grabbed the phone near the flowerbed. “Yes, Mr. Steve?"

"Nicole, I need those case documents immediately. Can you send them?"

“Apologies, Mr. Steve. I'm not at the office. I'll forward them as soon as I return," Nicole responded apologetically.

"Understood."

After ending the call, Nicole reflected on Jarrod's ruthless handling of Deniz from the Vipo Group. That was a move that had been essential for her success in securing the Hampton family project. Her next target was a close associate of the Hampton Group's chairman.